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BMW X5

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BMW X5 Review, For Sale, Colours, Interior, Specs & News

The BMW X5 marked the German prestige carmaker's first foray into the world of SUVs when it launched in 1999.

The five-door medium sized SUV was also the first of the German makers to debut a unibody-style SUV. Now into its third generation - priced from $134,900 to $241,900 - which launched in 2014, the X5 is available in all-wheel drive form with a range of engines including frugal diesels in the X Models X5 Xdrive30D M Sport Mhev, through to the turbocharged V8 petrol monster under the bonnet of the X Models X5 M Competition Mhev.

In a first for the model, the X5 is also available with rear-wheel drive. It can be specified with seven seats, as well.

BMW X Models Price and Specs

The price range for the BMW X Models varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $53,500 and going to $247,900 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2024 SUV 1.5L, —, 7 SP AUTO $53,500 $247,900
2023 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $47,850 $266,970
2022 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $43,780 $275,550
2021 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $42,900 $235,840
2020 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $34,980 $204,710
See All BMW X Models Pricing and Specs

BMW X5 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the BMW X5 here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • Is a 2015 BMW X5 suitable for country highway driving and some tough terrain?

    The biggest determining factor in how a car copes with tougher terrain is driver behaviour. Drive the car sensibly, sympathetically and to the conditions and you'll be amazed where most cars will happily take you. But get it wrong and drive in a ham-fisted way, and even the roughest, toughest four-wheel-drive will suffer and fail.

    The BMW X5 is a soft-roader at best, but should definitely have the suspension to tackle rough roads (as opposed to off-road). The biggest challenge will be the tyres fitted. Many of these vehicles had huge wheels with tyres with very little sidewall. These tyres are easily damaged on rough roads.

    Since luggage space is not a critical issue for you, I'd suggest buying a full-sized spare tyre that fits the car, as the SUV's usual space-saver or tyre repair kit can be fairly useless in such conditions. But you also need to be honest about your intentions. By mud and water, do you mean the odd puddle, or 10km of rutted farm track with bog-holes for good measure? If there's any off-road work at all, then you need an off-road four-wheel-drive, not an SUV.

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  • BMW X5 diesel problems

    Despite the price and BMW’s reputation, this series of X5 was not without its problems. Specific to the diesel-engined versions was a raft of things to watch out for when shopping for a second-hand X5. Those start with a poorly designed intake system which used small flaps in each inlet trat designed to create better air and fuel mixing and, therefore, more complete burning of the fuel. The problem was that these little flaps were secured by two screws each, and these could become loose and fall into the engine with catastrophic results. In some cases, the screws could even migrate into the turbocharger unit, destroying it.

    Like many other brands of modern turbo-diesel, the X5 could also be afflicted by problems caused by a blocked Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). If the vehicle was used for urban work rather than highway running, the DPF could become clogged and unable to regenerate itself. Any X5 diesel with a `Service Engine Soon’ light illuminated on the dashboard is a potential problem child.

    The car’s exhaust gas recirculation valve could also leak, causing faults within the emissions-control system, while the electronics associated with the fuel injectors could also be damaged by water entering the engine compartment.

    Beyond the diesel engine, the rest of the X5 package was not without problems, either. Those can include electronic issues, poor water sealing around the body, noisy suspension and problems with petrol-engined variants as well. Fundamentally, this was not BMW’s finest hour quality-wise. It’s also worth noting that even though the BMW brand is a German one, this generation of X5s was manufactured in South Carolina in the USA.

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  • Would swapping 20-inch wheels for 18-inch wheels affect the handling and safety of my BMW X5?

    Urban dwellers love the look of huge wheels and low-profile tyres, but their country cousins generally hate them. That’s because those some giant wheel and tyre packages make the car ride more harshly and the tyres themselves are more prone to damage because there’s less sidewall to soak up impacts.

    Switching to an 18-inch wheel and a tyre with more sidewall would definitely make the car ride better, but it’s not always that simple. For a start, you might run into problems in a legal and insurance sense because you’ve suddenly modified the car. To get around that, you should stick to the smallest wheel and tyre package that the manufacturer specified for that vehicle. In the case of a current model BMW X5 that’s a 19-inch wheel and tyre. That’s going to give a better ride than the 20-inch items you currently have, but it won’t be as big an improvement as an 18-inch package. If, however, yours is not the current model X5, then previous models did, in fact, offer an 18-inch package.

    Either way, check with your insurance company that you’re not transgressing at some pedantic level and check, too, that the smaller wheels won’t drastically alter the overall gearing and suddenly make your speedometer inaccurate.

    As for handling and braking, the differences between an 18-inch and 20-inch wheel tyre package would only be felt on a race-track and not in everyday driving conditions. But the improvement to ride quality will be felt every time you drive the vehicle.

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  • BMW X5: Replacement key cost

    An automotive locksmith might be able to help you on the cheap, but if they can't you'll need to go to your dealer. You can read more about how to replace your key fob here.

     

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See All BMW X5 Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

BMW X5 Colours

Standard 'Alpine White' (solid). Optional metallics include 'Skyscraper Grey', 'Black Sapphire', 'Mineral White', 'Manhattan', 'Carbon Black' and 'Brooklyn Grey'. BMW Individual metallics include 'Dravit Grey', 'Tanzanite Blue' and 'Ametrin'.

  • Alpine White
  • Skyscraper Grey
  • Black Sapphire
  • Mineral White
  • Manhattan
  • Carbon Black
  • Brooklyn Grey
  • Dravit Grey
  • Tanzanite Blue
  • Ametrine
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website.

BMW X5 Seats

The X5 comes standard with two front bucket seats and a rear bench seat which combined can seat up to five occupants.

BMW X5 Seats

BMW X Models Wheel Size

The BMW X5 has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 275x45 R20 for SUV in 2024.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2024 SUV 275x45 R20 305x40 R20
2023 SUV 275x45 R20 305x40 R20
2022 SUV 275x45 R20 305x40 R20
2021 SUV 275x45 R20 305x40 R20
2020 SUV 275x45 R20 20x9 inches 305x40 R20 20x10.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All BMW X5 Wheel Sizes

BMW X5 Interior

At a minimum all versions of the X5 come standard with Verino synthetic leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, an automatic tailgate, power-adjusted and heated front seats, a panorama sunroof, wireless-charging, driver's head-up display and more.

BMW X5 Interior

BMW X Models Dimensions

The dimensions of the BMW X5 SUV vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2024 SUV 1765x2004x4935 mm 214 mm
2023 SUV 1745x2004x4922 mm 214 mm
2022 SUV 1745x2004x4922 mm 214 mm
2021 SUV 1745x2004x4922 mm 214 mm
2020 SUV 1745x2004x4922 mm 214 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All BMW X5 Dimensions

BMW X5 Accessories

At a minimum all versions of the X5 come standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, 'Driving Assist Professional', 'Parking Assist Professional', adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, alarm system, 'Iconic Glow' grille and more.

BMW X5 Accessories

BMW X Models Towing Capacity

The BMW X5 has maximum towing capacity of 3270kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2024 SUV 2700kg 3270kg
2023 SUV 2700kg 3500kg
2022 SUV 2700kg 3500kg
2021 SUV 2700kg 3500kg
2020 SUV 2700kg 3500kg
See All Towing Capacity for BMW X5

BMW X5 Boot Space

All BMW X5s provide 650 litres of luggage space with the rear seat upright and 1870 litres when folded.

BMW X5 Boot space

BMW X5 Engine

The xDrive 30d X5 is powered by a 3.0-litre six cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The xDrive40i is powered by a 3.0-litre mild-hybrid in-line petrol six, while the M5 Competition is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8.

BMW X5 Engine

BMW X Models Fuel Consumption

The BMW X5 is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Diesel, —, Hyb/PULP and PULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 7.8L/100km for SUV /Diesel for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2024 SUV 7.8L/100km 3.0L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2024 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L 8 SP AUTO
2023 SUV 2.3L/100km 3.0L Hyb/PULP 8 SP AUTO
2023 SUV 6.9L/100km 2.0L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2023 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L 8 SP AUTO
2023 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2022 SUV 2.3L/100km 3.0L Hyb/PULP 8 SP AUTO
2022 SUV 6.9L/100km 2.0L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2022 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2021 SUV 2.0L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2021 SUV 3.0L Hyb/PULP 8 SP AUTO
2021 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2020 SUV 2.0L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2020 SUV 3.0L Hyb/PULP 8 SP AUTO
2020 SUV 9.2L/100km 3.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
* Combined fuel consumption See All BMW X5 Pricing and Specs for 2024

BMW X5 Speed

BMW claims the xDrive 30d X5 base model can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds while the X5 M Competition will reach the same speed in 4.3 seconds. Top speed on all models is limited to 250km/h.

BMW X5 Range

The XDrive 30d X5 base model has a theoretical driving range of up to 1126km from its 80-litre diesel tank. At the other end of the spectrum the flagship X5 M Competition's range is around 660km.