Phil ,   Welcome?  The one thing I like about my XKR is the sound system,it is a Bowers and Wilkins,  it also reads the USB stick very quickly (have you tried a different one?) . The paddles are tacky, I'll give you that , but I find the ride very comfortable   Also agree with you on the BMW front , and my dealer was a jerk also, but saying that, so is the Jag dealership where I bought mine.   My last six cars have been two jags (sound like John Prescott now) , two Aston Martins, and two BMW's. The Jags have been the best cars by far, in every way .   ATB,   Trevor