The X5 xDrive30d M Sport is powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine that makes 262 BHP and 620 Nm.

According to a media report, BMW has silently introduced a new variant of the X5. The SUV is now available in a top-spec 'xDrive30d M Sport' trim, priced at Rs. 97.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

The BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport comes equipped with M-specific exterior elements including a sporty front bumper, side skirts, body-coloured wheel arch trims, rear diffuser and exhaust tips, blue brake calipers and an M-Sport key.

Additionally, the SUV gets BMW Laserlight LED headlamps, 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension and an electrically-operated tailgate. Inside, this variant comes with an M leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and a 360-degree camera.

The X5 xDrive30d M Sport is powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine that makes 262 BHP and 620 Nm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system.

Source: Carwale

We stayed as a group for the most part & it was fun communicating with walkie-talkies.

BHPian vj123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Rust Belt States meetup #7 - Tail of the Dragon

We were considering an overnight trip for a while and it was worth the wait. This was one heck of a trip and will be right at the top as one of my best road trips. A big shout out to Rohit for initialling this trip and meticulously planning the route with every possible detail. We drove along roads in and around the Smoky mountains for two days. Since all of us drove anywhere between 9-12 hours for this meet, we factored one day before and after to reach our destination. We were lucky to get this AirBnB as it was booked for all weekends except the one we chose. It was plush with tons of amenities and the host was friendly as well.

This meet had performance vehicles, twisty roads, great weather and to top everything - amazing people. It was fun as everyone had bought their vehicles within the last year and was trying to explore the capabilities of their vehicles. We had the right amount of driving on both days with planned breaks. Except for a very few occasions, most roads had minimal or zero traffic which was another plus. Glad that we did not zero in the previous long weekend for this trip. We stayed as a group for the most part and it was fun communicating with walkie-talkies. Switching cars gave us a taste of each other's vehicles as well. There will be detailed summaries in the following posts and I am attaching the pictures which I clicked during this meet.

Mpower with his Mini Cooper

rohittunga with his Ford Fiesta ST

jeevadeepan with his Genesis G70 3.3t

vj123 with his BMW M3 competition

fusionbang with his BMW X3 M40i

Pradeep (non member) with his BMW X5

nikhilarni with everyone's favorite

Tail of the Dragon meet - Day 2

Route: AirBnB - Cherohala Skyway - Tellico Plains - 129 Hub - Tail of the Dragon - Fontana Dam - AirBnB

AirBnB

Cherohala Skyway - Stop 1

Cherohala Skyway - Stop 2

Cherohala Skyway - Stop 3

129 Hub

Tail of the Dragon - Tree of Shame

Tail of the Dragon - Deals Gap

Fontana Dam

Continue reading about vj123's car meet-up experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

For reference, I own a remapped Octavia 1.4 TSI and this was my first time driving any BMW.

BHPian livezero recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took a test drive of the X5 40i here in Pune. Was planning to try the 30d but dealer offered this citing unavailability.

Sharing a few observations.

For reference, I own a remapped Octavia 1.4 TSI and this was my first time driving any BMW:

• The X5 is huge and you sit really high. And it has a massive road presence. People make way for you.
• Interior is top-notch. Loved the new generation layout.
• Leather is great.
• Excellent seats with 16 way adjustments. You can adjust side bolstering too.
• Plenty of leg room at the rear, more than Octavia. Seat width is adequate. Leather touches on door panel feels nice.
• Boot space is as good as Octavia.
• Split-tailgate is cool feature. Also has option to lower the car with a touch of button to load luggage easily.
• Ground clearance can be adjusted between approximately 160 to 250mm.
• Lower part of tailgate can act as a sit-out place while camping or a lunch break.
• Spare wheel has proper space.
• Comfort access means driver seat moves back and steering moves upward. Once you get in the car, seat moves forward and steering comes down.

Coming to the  drive, the car is extremely fast. It does 0-100 in 5.5 seconds. But it lacks the drama you come to expect from a 3.0 turbo petrol. The power delivery is super quick but linear. There is no push in the back feeling. The one I get in my humble Octavia. Like Turbanator said in one of his posts, there is no kick like the one you get in the 30d. I didn't get to try Sport mode for a long distance, maybe that will take care of that. I wish I would have tried manual Sport mode. That must be something else.

No complaints on gearbox. It never feels strained and is always in the right gear.

Body roll is extremely well controlled, less than my 75k run Octavia.

It almost feels like an electric car, such is the refinement.

The ride quality is exceptional. I test drove the Citroen C5 a day before and it was too soft. Whereas the X5 is rock solid. It gobbles up bumps and potholes like anything. My wife who felt dizzy in the C5 had no complaints with X5.

The X5 reeks of sophistication - the way it picks up speed, NVH, suspension, cornering, etc. This car is made for long distance trips. And its a great answer to the extremely bad roads of Maharashtra.

And worth every penny if you can afford to ignore 30-40 lakhs you would pay to the government in taxes (customs, GST and coad tax) if you decide to buy this 1.1crore BMW which doesn’t get the legendary 10 lakh BMW discounts we are familiar with.

Here are few clicks:

Probably the only BMW besides the X7 which has some road presence. I mean the Fortuner type:

That’s my Octavia in the parking at the back:

That’s my wife at the wheel. She is sold. Gotta get back to work to earn it:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Several such incidents have been reported in BMW forums. Some say that it happens because of manufacturing defects.

BHPian niruvrs9669 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Yesterday our 2016 BMW X5 sunroof shattered as I was just moving it out from the parking space. The noise was audible enough “thud”. Enclosed is a pic. No damage was done as the roof visor / padding was below it. Interesting that the glass was intact for 6 years.

Little bit of online research says that it’s due to a manufacturing defect in these sunroof glasses. A lot of such incidents have been reported in BMW forums though. Not sure how the warranty plays out in such cases. Any light on this from the forum members would help. Thank you.

Here's what BHPian mukeshgoel had to say about the matter:

Reading this, it will be a good idea to get a transparent (or a shade of your choice) sun film installed on the sunroof glass.

Sunfilm will hold glass fragments together in case of glass shattering.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say about the matter:

Wow. This is quite incredible.

Please do keep the forum updated on whether or not your car is within warranty and even if it's out of warranty how is BMW treating this incident - any goodwill coverage for instance. This is not the kind of tab I’d like to pick up on my car at any age of ownership. It's simply not a routine item and I’d expect a manufacturer to stand behind the costs from such an occurrence.

Here's what BHPian VW2010 had to say about the matter:

A friend of mine had the same problem with the 5 series. Some dealers will push it down as customer-paid repair. If the car is under warranty please write to BMW directly if the dealers play tricks. This problem is very common as you said if you search in the bimmer forums as well. Post-warranty even BMW will not cover this and you will have to shell dearly out of your pocket. That friend is very clear that he will never buy a car with a sunroof as he had to shell out of his pocket. He said the feature that is used very rarely and for smug value is not worth spending that much for repair.

Here's what BHPian Tony2298 had to say about the matter:

As described by other folks on the forum the most probable reason would be the thermal stress factor. My friend who owns a Volkswagen Polo 2013 Highline had a similar issue when the rear windshield automatically shattered, the service centre told him that there are some particles trapped inside the glass during the manufacturing of the glass and with time and heat these particles expand and cause stress on the glass and shatters it down. He did have to claim insurance through IIRC. Keep us updated about the progress, it is indeed very worrisome to know.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The X5 Li model carries forward a design similar to the standard SUV.

Images of the BMW X5 long wheelbase has been leaked in China. The pictures showcase the updated BMW X5 with the 'Li' badging. The SUV with the extended wheelbase is positioned between the standard X5 and the much larger X7 offering in the brand's lineup.

The X5 Li model carries forward a design similar to the standard SUV. However, the Li version does feature an extended wheelbase which offers more legroom for the rear-seat passengers. The SUV in the images also has the 'M Package', which includes a number of cosmetic and feature upgrades, both inside and out

The X5 LWB SUV can be seen with the 'xDrive 40 Li' badge, indicating it is powered by BMW's 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing around 340 BHP, paired with an automatic transmission sending power to all-four-wheels.

Source: Cochespias/Instagram

It was a fun experience and yes, obviously not a patch on driving a car on a proper track, though keep in mind it was free and a controlled environment to get to know the limits of the cars as well.

BHPian agambhandari recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Rewind back to 2019 when after years of ogling and thinking, my family finally decided it was a good idea to get a nice German car, and the X1 was chosen for the practicality, comfort, build quality and last but not the least, the Image. Had it been me choosing the car on my own, I would have picked the 330i any day but it was my Dad's car and the higher seating position and much better ride quality coupled with actual usable backseat, the X1 made more sense. Anyway, it is still a BMW and a good entry point into the brand.

We hoped there would be some more BMW events (as they regularly used to) where i could check out the rest of the cars and get to know the limits of the cars but alas, the pandemic put a stop to everything. I pretty much checked the BMW India website without fail every month to check if they are restarting the events (Joyfest/xDrive/M driver sraining) and finally after over a year of waiting, I see at the start of October; there was finally a schedule. And the best part? First 2 cities on it are Delhi and Ludhiana( I was fine with attending it at either city).

With the BMW website being utterly useless to register or get any info on how to sign up for it, I got help from member Turbanator who gave me the contact of the coordinator for the Delhi event and gave me the tip to contact the Ludhiana dealer who would be making the list of attendees for the event in that city. Unfortunately, as I got to know the Delhi event was totally booked out and I was told I was late by 2-3 days, so I made sure to get in touch with my dealer in Ludhiana (helps as we bought the car from the same place). Of course, they didn't do it at once but I had to call the BMW India coordinator as well to get the dealer to get me in. This also gave me an excuse to visit home (to Ludhiana).

The event:

First look:

The Pavilion:

We reached 15 min early for our slot so that we are able to choose the cars we drive on the event (it is first come first serve), but we ended up so early that we were given an option to go on the previous slot if we were okay with driving the cars that were left. After a good 5 min of me explaining that No I did not want to drive the 2GC or X1 (already drive a FWD BMW), they agreed to let me try for the next (my scheduled slot).

Meanwhile my Dad and I looked around and inside, and put in some fuel for us as well (High Tea):

The lineup of cars:

Finally as the next slot was opening up, I pretty much ran to get the keys for the 330Li (it was either this or the JCW). It was a short slalom course with an acceleration run at the end. So didn't feel like the 520d or 620d options would be well suited.

The SUVs were to be driven on an emergency maneuver course and I chose the X5 30d, as I haven't driven this generation yet, and hoped this would be a bit of a challenge with its size and weight. I was obviously wrong as this car doesn't seem to obey physics with its large size and weight, going about its business like a much smaller car.

Here are short videos showing both the events:

Slalom course Done in G28 330Li M Sport

Emergency Maneuver in SUV done in G05 X5 xDrive 30d Luxury Line

And yes, both cars were in Sport mode and in true Bhpian style, the X5 was in the lowest (Air) suspension setting that I could get and also switched to Sport traction for the final run.

Kudos to both the instructors, got good feedback on every lap so could improve subsequently.

A parting shot:

Closing thoughts:

It was a fun experience and yes, obviously not a patch on driving a car on a proper track, though keep in mind it was free and a controlled environment to get to know the limits of the cars as well. No need to worry about wearing out the tyres, brakes or having a fender bender anywhere.

I would definitely suggest any Bimmer owner to get in touch with their dealer and definitely sign up for this to do at least once. Even my Dad who is always paranoid with me behind the wheel (aren't all Dads?) liked the activities, and instilled more confidence in him about these cars. This is a good place to drive like hell without reaching there (See my signature).

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The X5 SportX Plus is available with 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engine options.

BMW has launched a new variant of the X5, called the SportX Plus. The xDrive40i (petrol) costs Rs. 77.90 lakh, while the xDrive30d (diesel) is priced at Rs. 79.50 lakh (ex-showroom).

On the outside, the BMW X5 SportX Plus variant gets a one-piece hexagonal kidney grille. It is flanked by a set of LED headlights. The SUV also gets LED fog lamps, LED taillights and roof rails with a satin aluminium finish.

On the interior, the SportX Plus variant comes with a Sports leather steering wheel, Sports seats, a panoramic sunroof, Welcome Light Carpet, ambient lighting with 6 settings and 4-zone automatic climate control.

X5 SportX Plus features:

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Heads-up display Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera
• Reversing Assistant

The xDrive40i SportX Plus is powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder petrol engine that produces 335 BHP @ 5,500-6,500 rpm and 450 Nm @ 1,500-5,200 rpm. The xDrive30d comes with a 3.0-litre diesel unit that puts out 261 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 620 Nm @ 1,500-2,500 rpm.

Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to all four wheels via an all-wheel-drive system. The SUV comes with Automatic Differential Brakes / Locks (ADB-X), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control and Adaptive Suspension.

The price of the 220i Sport variant remains unchanged whereas the X7 gets the biggest price hike.

BMW has increased the prices of its models by up to Rs. 3.80 lakh, effective from April 8, 2021.

The prices of the 2 Series Gran Coupe have gone up substantially since its launch. The 220d Sportline now costs Rs. 80,000 more, while the 220i M Sport gets a price hike of Rs. 60,000. The price of the 220i Sport variant remains unchanged.

The 3 Series sedan has also become more expensive. The 330i Sport gets a hike of Rs. 1,00,000, while the prices of the 330i M Sport and 320d Luxury Edition have been hiked by Rs. 60,000 each.

The prices of the X1 sDrive20i SportX and sDrive20i xLine have been increased by Rs. 1,30,000 and Rs. 90,000 respectively, while the diesel variant costs Rs. 1,10,000 more.

The prices of the X3 xDrive30i SportX, xDrive30i Luxury Line and the xDrive20d Luxury Line have been hiked by Rs. 1,00,000, Rs. 90,000 and Rs. 1,20,000 respectively.

The X4 has also become more expensive. The xDrive30i M SportX is dearer by Rs. 80,000 and the price of the xDrive30d M SportX variant is up by Rs. 1,00,000.

The petrol and diesel variants of the X5 are dearer by Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 respectively.

Finally, the X7 gets the biggest price hike. The xDrive40i M Sport now costs Rs. 2,50,000 more. The prices of the DPE and DPE Signature diesel variants have gone up by Rs. 2,90,000 and Rs. 3,80,000 respectively.

The aggressive looks are complemented by a 617 BHP V8 engine.

BMW has launched the X5 M Competition in India. The SUV will be imported as a completely built unit (CBU) and is priced at Rs. 1,94,90,000 (ex-showroom).

The X5 M Competition is the high-performance version of the X5. The SUV is characterised by its aggressive looks. It gets a blacked-out twin kidney grille and a sporty front bumper with large vents. At the rear, the SUV comes with a roof and lower tailgate spoiler. It rides on M lightweight alloy wheels with 21-inch rims at the front and 22-inch rims at the rear.

Inside, the X5 M Competition comes with M multifunction seats, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit with iDrive Touch controller, BMW Gesture Control, BMW Live Cockpit Professional with navigation and BMW Virtual Assistant, wireless charging, Harman Kardon audio system and an optional panoramic sunroof. Rear seat entertainment, a Bowers and Wilkins Diamond audio system and BMW Laserlight are also available as options.

Powering the X5 M Competition is a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 617 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 750 Nm @ 1,800-5,600 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and power is sent to all four wheels via the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. BMW claims the SUV can do 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The X5 M Competition comes with four driving modes - Comfort, Sport, Road and Track. It is equipped with adaptive suspension and M compound brakes.

BMW has introduced a new entry-level diesel variant of the X5 called the xDrive30d SportX. It is priced at Rs. 74.90 lakh, compared to the xDrive30d xLine which costs Rs. 82.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

As expected, the cheaper SportX trim misses out on a few features. It does not get the aesthetic elements that come with the xLine and M Sport variants. It neither comes with laser headlights nor 20-inch alloy wheels.

The SportX trim also misses out on the Comfort Access System for the split tail gate. Features such as 360-degree camera, wireless charging, BMW Display Key with LCD colour display and touchscreen as well as the Harman Kardon audio system are also not offered in this variant. Instead of leather upholstery, the SportX variant gets Sensatec seat upholstery.

The xDrive30d SportX is powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine that produces 261 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 620 Nm of torque @ 1,500-2,500 rpm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system.