Win a 2010 BMW X5 from BMW Financial Services

The North American division of BMW recently announced a new sweepstakes put together by its Financial Services arm, which offers a 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35d as a grand prize. Participants, however, will have to be from North America only and purchase or lease their car through BMW Financial Services.

Those who log into their account at least once prior to January 31, 2010 will automatically be entered in the sweepstakes. Moreover, they will automatically earn up to 4 additional entries if they choose to sign up for online monthly statements and if they make payment online or have the payment automatically deducted from their bank account for the months of November 2009 through January 2010.

BMW Financial Services sweepestakes prizes are listed below:

• A trip for two to the 2010 BMW Championship in Chicago, IL
• A brand-new 2010 BMW X5 Advanced Diesel
• A trip to the BMW Performance Driving School
• BMW Lifestyle Collection Merchandise

First introduced in 1999, the E53 (as the X5 was codenamed), became an instant hit. It was then revised in 2003, with the introduction of the xDrive all-wheel-drive technology. The second generation X5 model, codenamed E70, featured a longer wheelbase, a new third-row seating option, a revised suspension and an improved xDrive. The current engine configurations range from 3.0 liter diesel with 231 hp to 4.4 liter petrol V8 with two turbochargers, which delivers an impressive 555 hp.

The 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35d is powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder diesel that produces 265-hp and 425 lb-ft of torque and propels the car from naught to sixty in 6.9 seconds. Fuel-economy wise, the EPA rates the vehicle at 19/26 mpg, which means a single trip can last 585 miles before refueling.

The vehicle is available at US dealerships with pricing starting at about $53,000.