BMW X5 (2007 – 2013) Review

November 2006

New X5 revealed New for 2007 seven-seater X5. Optional head-up display of speed, navigation and check control messages. BMW’s Adaptive Drive active suspension system. Optional Active Steering and Run-flat tyres for added safety. All new 6-speed automatic transmission. X5 3.0si has 272hp, 315Nm, 0-60mph 7.8, top speed 140, 25.9mpg combined; X5 3.0d has 231hp, 520Nm, 0-60 8.0, top speed 134, 32.5mpg combined (231g/km CO2); X5 4.8i has 355hp, 474Nm, 0-60 6.2, top speed 150, 22.6mpg combined.

June 2007

BMW X5 4.8i M Sport £53,44030 355PS 475Nm 0-60mph 6.2 top speed 150mph with 22.6mpg. The new BMW X5 4.8i M Sport comes equipped with 19-inch V-spoke M light alloy wheels, Sports suspension, M Aerodynamic body styling, Sports seats, matt aluminium surround to the side window frames, high-gloss Shadowline roof rails, Anthracite headlining and M leather steering wheel. Optional upgrade to 20-inch M V-spoke light alloy wheels.

New BMW X5 3.0d with 214g/km engine for lower emissions and improved economy. Only conventionally-powered vehicle in its segment with a CO2 emissions figure that falls below the 225g/km banding for Vehicle Excise Duty.

Achieved by EfficientDynamics including Brake Energy Regeneration and various needs-only control of ancillary devices including an air-conditioning compressor that decouples from the drivetrain when not in use and air flaps that can close off air flow to the engine to improve aerodynamics when the engine is not at full load are two such examples.

Now Band F instead of Band G VED, saving owners £95 a year 2007/2008 and £190 2008/2010. Combined fuel economy also improves from 32.5mpg to 34.9mpg, as does acceleration from zero to 60mph – down to 7.8 seconds from 8.0 seconds. Fuel saving technology also applied to range-topping 4.8-litre petrol and 3.0-litre petrol-engined variants. The BMW X5 3.0si now records an improved combined consumption figure of 27.7mpg compared to 25.9mpg. Emissions have been cut from 260g/km to 244g/km. Meanwhile, the BMW X5 4.8i sees its consumption figure improve from 22.6mpg to 23.5mpg and the CO2 emissions figure drop from 299g/km to 286g/km.

July 2007

Efficient Dynamics changes brought the CO2 of both diesel down below 226g/km. Adaptive Drive uses active hydraulic anti-roll bars to counteract the cornering forces of the car to keep the body from leaning too heavily and unsettling the occupants.

In addition to this Adaptive Drive incorporates an Electronic Damper Control system that uses sensors to continuously adjust the damper setting for optimum comfort. Active Steering uses an electronically operated planetary gear intersecting the steering shaft that adds more lock than inputted by the driver at slow speeds to make parking effortless. When driving at speed the opposite occurs for a smoother, more composed ride.

The BMW X5 comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and Run-flat tyres as standard with optional 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels offered. The new X5 can be specified with an optional third row of seats allowing up to seven occupants to be transported in comfort. An increase of 19cms in overall body length and an increase in body width of 6cms, combined with innovative design, has made it possible to introduce a brace of seats in the rear, while still retaining luggage space.

Even with all seven seats in place there is still 200 litres of boot space. The two extra seats, complete with three-point seatbelts and head restraints, are stowed under the boot floor when not in use. BMW X5 owners who do not specify the third row of seats benefit instead from an additional 90-litre storage compartment situated below the boot floor. In a standard five-seat configuration the boot takes 620 litres and luggage capacity increases to 1,750 litres with all rear seats stowed.

Supplementing the standard fit front and rear Park Distance Control, X5 customers have the option to specify a rear camera for added parking convenience. Automatically activated when the reverse gear is selected, the driver is presented with a wide-angle colour image on the iDrive display in the centre console.

April 2009

X5M announced

4,395cc twin turbocharged V8 engine producing a maximum power output of 555hp at 6,000rpm. Twin-scroll twin-turbo technology, also capable of better than diesel engine flexibility with a peak torque of 680Nm from just 1,500rpm through to 5,650rpm. 555PS at 6,000rpm, 680 Nm torque 1,500-5,650rpm, 0-60mph 4.5, 155mph limited

September 2009

BMW X5 xDrive35d 10-Year Edition comes as standard in Sophisto Grey metallic paint with unique 20-inch Y-spoke light alloy wheels, Matt Aluminium exterior trim, Matt Aluminium roof rails, Panoramic glass sunroof and Comfort Access. Inside, and Comfort seats, Anthracite headlining, Carrara Shades Nappa leather upholstery and BMW Individual Piano Black trim are just some of the product highlights. ‘10-Year’ plaques are fitted to the front doors, front door sill plates and on the dashboard to underscore the merit of the vehicle.

Only 2,000 of the 286hp BMW X5 xDrive35d 10-Year Edition models will be sold worldwide with approximately 10 per cent of production destined for the UK. This latest X5 is on sale now priced from £53,075 OTR.

February 2010

Three new engines launched: xDrive30d and xDrive40d replacing the xDrive35d and the xDrive50i replacing the xDrive48i. All meet EU5 standards. Entry level xDrive30d upgraded to provide increased performance, making this the first conventionally-powered luxury SAV to record a sub 200g/km CO2 reading. The engine consumes just 38.2mpg on the combined cycle and emits only 195g/km of CO2 – a 10 per cent improvement – yet produces 245hp, up 10hp on the previous xDrive30d. Acceleration to 62mph now takes only 7.6 seconds – a six per cent improvement over the previous model.

The replacement for the twin-turbocharged xDrive35d called xDrive40d sees an improvement in emissions of 10 per cent, emitting only 198g/km CO2 whilst delivering 37.7mpg on the combined cycle. The zero to 62mph time is now just 6.6 seconds, down from 7.0 seconds, courtesy of a 306hp output, 20hp more than the outgoing engine.

Powered by the world’s first twin-turbocharged V8 engine with the catalytic converter located in the vee, the xDrive50i has an extra 53hp compared to the model it replaces, taking the total to 408hp. This leads to a lower zero to 62mph time of 5.5 seconds, an improvement of 1.0 second over the outgoing powertrain.

The BMW X5 has a standard eight-speed automatic transmission that helps to lower the X5’s CO2 output and allows smoother shifting and greater driving dynamics. The new BMW X5 includes a number of exterior changes. Revised front bumpers with enlarged vents, to increase the air supply to the engine and brakes, and matt aluminium-look lower scuff plates and vent fins, now feature to underscore its performance credentials.

New xenon headlights, with bright white LED corona rings, modernise the face of the car whilst the more centralised front fog lights complete the new front end. At the rear is a revised red light cluster, enhancing the lines of the car with horizontal LED light bars. Enlarged tail pipes, within a redesigned rear bumper, finish off the look.

March 2012

BMW launched a new 'M Performance' brand that includes high performance diesels. The M550d, X5 M50d and facelifted X6 M50d models are all powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel that's fitted with no less than three turbochargers.

This new M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology means the engine produces 381PS and an immense 740Nm of torque, available from just 2000rpm. To put that into context the M5 with its 4.4-litre V8 engine develops 560PS with 680Nm of torque. The diesel engine may be down on power but it's not far behind in terms of performance with an official 0-62mph time of just 4.7 seconds for the M550d saloon compared to 4.4 seconds in the M5.

The big difference is of course fuel economy. The M550d, which is available as a saloon and Touring, returns a claimed average of 44.8mpg (44.1mpg for the Touring) and emits just 165g/km of CO2 - remarkable figures considering the performance. All models with the new 50d engine come an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox as standard.

The X5 50d and X6 50d come with four wheel drive as standard and are still rapid with 0-62mph times of 5.4 seconds and 5.3 seconds respectively. The X5 returns a claimed 37.7mpg (with 199g.km of CO2) while the X6 has a figure of 36.7mpg and 204g/km CO2. Prices haven’t been announced for the M550d but the X5 50d and X6 M50d will cost £60,325 and £62,260 respectively.