If you have an extra $1,350 in spare change, the BMW X5 Premium package gives you a remote engine start, a wireless smartphone charging pad plus WiFi hotspot for the center console, and a heads-up display.

You know the BMW X5 is already pretty extra on its own, with a starter kit boasting a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and 335 horsepower, a host of safety features, and enough power to get you from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. If you’re looking for even more, the Premium package adds tech features that you can actually use.

If you’re debating about adding the Premium package to your BMW X5, you’ll want to know more about it before deciding.

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What is the BMW X5 Premium package?

The BMW X5 Premium package is an optional extra you can add to two of the 2023 BMW X5 trims that give you two convenient tech upgrades and one major safety feature. You’ll get a heads-up display, remote start, and combo wireless charging pad/WiFi hotspot if you pick the Premium option.

If you’re interested in the Premium package, you can add it to either the BMW X5 SDrive40i with Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) or the BMW X5 XDrive40i with All Wheel Drive (AWD). It allows you to spruce up the base model and get some great features.

What’s included

If you add the Premium package, you’ll get three tech upgrades for your BMW X5:

heads-up display for the driver’s seat

remote engine start that works with your smartphone

wireless smartphone charging pad that includes a WiFi hotspot for the center console

What it does

Two items fall more under the “convenience” category, but the heads-up display is definitely a safety feature that helps the driver and allows custom display options.

The

heads-up display

is the most futuristic extra in the package. If you’re unfamiliar with the technology, it’s a feature that allows you to see dashboard information up on the windshield so the details are within the driver’s line of sight. You don’t have to look away from the road to check your speed or warning messages, among other things.

The display can show you more down-to-earth options like your current speed, but it can also give you turn-by-turn directions, the infotainment menu, and more. You get to customize what you see so it fits your needs. You can even adjust how bright the readout is and the height so the settings work for the current driver.

While less flashy, the

remote start feature

can be useful in bad weather or even help you locate your car if you forgot where you parked. It works with your smartphone, so you don’t have to carry around an extra fob. It works with the BMW Connected app to turn on your BMW X5 within 100 to 230 feet of your vehicle and get the climate control going.

The last feature is the wireless charging device that doubles as a WiFi hotspot. It uses inductive charging, plus makes it easy to connect your smartphone so you can stream the newest audiobook or a favorite podcast. The charger sits on the center console so it’s within easy reach of the driver.

You’ll take advantage of all three features if you add the Premium package to your BMW X5 SDrive40i or BMW X5 XDrive40i.

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How much is a 2023 X5 Premium package?

Okay, having some nice extras is useful, but you also want to know how much it will cost.

Fortunately, the price tag is a steady $1,350 regardless of which vehicle you add it to, so you don’t have to worry about too much number-crunching. The Premium package is available for both versions of the BMW X5 Drive40i:

BMW X5 SDrive40i

with Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

BMW X5 XDrive40i

with All Wheel Drive (AWD)

Since this is the base car for this model, you’ll be able to upgrade your vehicle with some great extras.

2023 BMW X5 trim pricing

Trim	Starting price
sDrive40i (RWD)	$62,595
xDrive40i (AWD)	$64,895
sDrive40i (Premium included)	$63,945
xDrive40i (Premium included)	$66,245
xDrive45e	$66,695
M50i	$86,395

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Is the Premium package worth it?

Since none of the extras in the Premium package are standard, it comes down to whether you want a heads-up display, a remote start, wireless charging, and a wifi hotspot. The most expensive component, the heads-up display, cannot be added easily or cheaply after the fact, so it’s the big-ticket item to center your decision around.

A heads-up display makes it easier to see dashboard items, like your speed, and gives you extra features like directions, all within your immediate field of vision. It’s a safer way to drive and get turn-by-turn directions. You don’t have to look away from the road to check a map or your speedometer.

However, the visual display can also be a matter of preference–not everyone likes having those extras popping up on the windshield. While the display can be turned off, if the primary driver of the BMW X5 doesn’t want a heads-up display, it defeats the purpose of paying to add one.

The other features, like wireless charging, are easier to add on your own, so it really does come down to the heads-up display. If you want several practical additions to your BMW X5, then the Premium package gives you a lot for a reasonable price. And you’ll get it for less than some of the other package deals.

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Premium package vs. the Executive package

The Premium package gives you some of the best features at a more affordable price. You’d have to pay more than double for similar features if you get the Executive package ($3,350), especially if you want the heads-up display.

Besides the price tag, the biggest difference between the Premium and Executive packages is what the features focus on. The Premium option is about practicality, while the Executive is about adding bling, like LED lights for the moonroof. With the Executive package, you’ll pay more for a flashy look—which is nice if you want a lot of showy features, but it’s all about the aesthetics.

If you’re wondering what the Executive package has, here’s what you would get for that $3,350:

Heads-up display

Remote start option

Adaptive LED headlights

Panoramic glass with LED lights (added to the moonroof)

Glass shifter and infotainment knob

Shades for rear window

If you want a lot of flashy extras, then you might want to consider going for the Executive option instead. However, stick with the Premium package if you just want practical elements for less.

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The bottom line

The biggest question you need to ask yourself is whether you want practical upgrades like a heads-up display and remote start options.

You’ll get features you can use consistently if you add the Premium package, and you won’t be paying a lot for a bunch of bling that doesn’t do much for performance. But if you genuinely do not want a heads-up display, you’re better off skipping the Premium package.