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An EVSE is basically a fancy on/off switch with a cord to plug into the vehicle...all charging is done IN the vehicle where it takes the ACV in and converts it to DCV to charge the batteries...Tesla works the same way (but it also allows DCV inputs that can charge it faster). Your home unit is just passing ACV through it...you need the right plug to get it into the X5. That's what the adapter is for if you want to use it. It can also be useful if you travel and there's a Tesla destination charger at, say, your hotel...it would allow you to plug that into your vehicle.
A simplistic way to think about it is if you have an iPhone, but want to try to plug it's charging cable into your Android device...the plugs are different...doesn't work, but plug in the right cable to say your computer's USB socket, and you can charge whatever you want as long as the cable is correct...the Tesla Tap, or other adapter is just an adapter to get from the Tesla box to your BMW (and every other EV) so it can charge.
You won't damage your cellphone charger plugging it into the 120vac 15A socket, but that same socket will let you plug in a space heater that draws maybe a thousand times more power. IOW, it doesn't matter that the X5 can only use 16A if there's more available just like you can put a 40W or 100W bulb in your lamp...the vehicle is smarter, in that the EVSE is sending it a signal that says the max you can pull is X, and the vehicle won't try to pull more than that.
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