Apparently, there was a method to the madness. He told me that he bought it used at a great price and it is European Specification, plus he received a 16 percent tax break... which makes it a more than admirable package for the price. Plus when he drove his car to work the first day; before I had even talked to him I knew he had received it because everyone had something to say about it. Personally, I went through that changing European to American Specification with my 5 series, and found it not worth it in the end, even though you can get the bimmers so cheap here. Old school fellows tell me it happened all the time in the past, but for as long as I have been here, I have yet to see one (hmmm, seems like a good thread to start). Maybe since all X5s are made stateside he will have a better chance on the conversion, and if not believe me, THIS (Germany) is definitely the place to enjoy it!