Guy, when you lease.....you're not paying the full value of the car over 3 years. You're paying the difference between the value and the "expected" value after 3 years. I have no idea what the lease rates on an X5 are......but let's say just for shits' and giggles that the depreciation of that car would be 10k over 3 years.. So the bank that buys the car outright from the dealership, will charge you 10k over 3 years......because they're still expecting to be able to sell that car for 55k after the three years is up. So in that scenario, you'd be paying about 280 a month....but there are other variables, like down payments and other "hidden" costs that the dealership or the bank or both try to put on you......so you have to be a hawk with those agreements.