[BeEmVee]

It’s an SUV, but it’s also a luxury highway cruiser. Any thoughts on how much offroad capability the X5 has? Are there specific driving modes for gravel, snow, etc? Anything special about the differential for offroad use? On the stock 20” wheels in base or M sport design, there’s a durable amount for sidewall and ground clearance seems reasonable. Nothing too hardcore, but how would it handle an occasional drive up a gravel hill at a mountainside? Thanks all!

[Photographer918]

I’ve had no issues driving on unpaved roads in national parks and in the Dakotas…..

[BeEmVee]

Originally Posted by Photographer918

I’ve had no issues driving on unpaved roads in national parks and in the Dakotas…..

Good to know, thank you. And I take it you photograph 918 Sypders?!

[tooloud10]

I guess I don’t consider a gravel road to be difficult for any car, but this is my second X5 and I would consider them both to be among the worst off road vehicles I’ve ever owned. That’s just not what they’re designed or intended for.

[Tejas1836]

-Earthen Roads
-Gravel roads
-Murram Roads
-Kankar Roads
-Pasture

[BeEmVee]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

I guess I don’t consider a gravel road to be difficult for any car, but this is my second X5 and I would consider them both to be among the worst off road vehicles I’ve ever owned. That’s just not what they’re designed or intended for.

What did you try to do in in that made it the “worst” offroad vehicle? Ground clearance seems decent, as does xDrive system and chunky base tires.

[Oldgixxer]

I dunno,the X5 I drove(briefly) at the Performance Center in SC was pretty damn capable especially on that scary ass rock hill climb/descent section. I swear I had that X5 leaning so far over,teetering on 2 wheels I thought I was gonna roll it. That being said,it's not an F-250 or a Jeep so YMMV

[Qsilver7]

Know (or learn) the difference between AWD & 4WD (not the same). Also understand the type of tires mounted...are they for offroad use or are they sport tires with low sidewalls & tread patterns designed for track use or spirited highway driving?

There should be at least one video embedded in the iDrive owners manual that shows examples of how iDrive operates. If not, I'm sure there's videos on Youtube about how iDrive works.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

I guess I don’t consider a gravel road to be difficult for any car, but this is my second X5 and I would consider them both to be among the worst off road vehicles I’ve ever owned. That’s just not what they’re designed or intended for.

Yes, exactly. You don't buy a BMW X5/X6 with the intentions of real "off-road" use.
Jeep is the way to fly off-road.

[Gene Horr]

I've spent a small amount of time on relatively flat pasture. For a relatively heavy vehicle without proper off-road tires it was OK. It isn't anything like the 1st generation MB ML-class, which was actually a pretty darn good off road vehicle (*). But I've also driven worse. The suspension works well in the relatively undemanding areas I've been in.

I'm concerned about the transfer case and so would be hesitant to take it on hard uneven surfaces. There can be a downside of so much power as any kind of binding and you try to plow through can result in things breaking.

Otherwise as long as the surface/tires can handle the weight and you take things slow and carefully it seems like it can handle it.

(*) Edit - ...for a somewhat heavier luxury vehicle... No, it wasn't a Jeep but would come surprisingly close in everything but ground clearance.

[cobramite]

Off-roading is not my cup of tea but I would never attempt this in a European luxury SUV.

[eelnoraa]

Technically, X5 is a crossover not an SUV. It has monocoque body, independent suspension. It is designed to be a on road vehicle, with the capability that if road starts to get a little rough, it will get you home. If you buy X5 and with the goal to use it as an off road vehicle, then I think you are buying the wrong car.

And I would say, for offroad capability, X5 is in the same categories as other crossovers like MDX, RX, Q7, GLE .... It is not in the categories as 4Runner, GX, Wrangler, Range Rover, G wagon ... those real body on frame SUVs

[cobramite]

^^^^^^This.

[ScaldedDog]

Originally Posted by cobramite

^^^^^^This.

Yep!!

What the OP seemed to describe is just driving on a dirt road, which the X5 will do fine. I have an occasion to do that in ours, and it handles even washboards OK. Even so, doing that enough will turn anything into a rattletrap.

Mark

[nZtiZia]

specifications aside, the X5 can likely handle a graded gravel hill just fine, but there’s not enough info here: fine gravel, loose gravel, wet or dry, small or big rocks, tires type and condition? when I read “off-road”, to me that means bouldering for which I wouldn’t use the X5, though the maneuver mentioned earlier the PCD takes it through is pretty impressive, but even so I would think they only take drivers through it “when the conditions are right” (anyone who’s been through it can correct me if I’m wrong)

mark 20:00

[aaaaaaaaaz]

It will do fine for most use case you expect for a midsize SUV but any scratch and dent would be quite expensive to repair

[arRod1981]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

specifications aside, the X5 can likely handle a graded gravel hill just fine, but there’s not enough info here: fine gravel, loose gravel, wet or dry, small or big rocks, tires type and condition? when I read “off-road”, to me that means bouldering for which I wouldn’t use the X5, though the maneuver mentioned earlier the PCD takes it through is pretty impressive, but even so I would think they only take drivers through it “when the conditions are right” (anyone who’s been through it can correct me if I’m wrong)

mark 20:00
specifications aside, the X5 can likely handle a graded gravel hill just fine, but there’s not enough info here: fine gravel, loose gravel, wet or dry, small or big rocks, tires type and condition? when I read “off-road”, to me that means bouldering for which I wouldn’t use the X5, though the maneuver mentioned earlier the PCD takes it through is pretty impressive, but even so I would think they only take drivers through it “when the conditions are right” (anyone who’s been through it can correct me if I’m wrong)

mark 20:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8b2vycL2c

The hubby did that portion of the course, whilst I road passenger. To me that part was nerve-wracking, as I felt like it was going to flip over. The instructor gave the option for me to switch out to try it myself, but I passed. Can't comment on the weather aspect as it was a clear sunny July day.

Edit: I will add that I looked at the tires when we first got to the vehicle we'd be using, and they weren't anything special. Just some A/S (forgot the brand) that were clearly near the end of their life (worn and some cracking), and it still handled amazingly.

[BeEmVee]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

specifications aside, the X5 can likely handle a graded gravel hill just fine, but there’s not enough info here: fine gravel, loose gravel, wet or dry, small or big rocks, tires type and condition? when I read “off-road”, to me that means bouldering for which I wouldn’t use the X5, though the maneuver mentioned earlier the PCD takes it through is pretty impressive, but even so I would think they only take drivers through it “when the conditions are right” (anyone who’s been through it can correct me if I’m wrong)

mark 20:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8b2vycL2c

Hah, offroad to me means driving through a canyon with dirt or gravel hills

[tooloud10]

Originally Posted by BeEmVee

What did you try to do in in that made it the “worst” offroad vehicle? Ground clearance seems decent, as does xDrive system and chunky base tires.

Nothing, if I need to drive on anything other than pavement I use my Ford Raptor.

That said, the low profile RFT street tires, the suspension, the weight, and the lack of a proper 4WD system work against the X5 going off road. Can it be done? Probably, but it won’t work nearly as well as any number of other similar vehicles.

Heck, my last X5 had this note in the owner’s manual that actually said not to drive the car on unpaved terrain:

[CeEl]

specifications aside, the X5 can likely handle a graded gravel hill just fine, but there’s not enough info here: fine gravel, loose gravel, wet or dry, small or big rocks, tires type and condition?

And most importantly: European, African or American gravel? 😁

[kiw1]

For what its worth, I live In a ski town and with the right tires I have found the AWD system in deep snow to be extremely capable. Didn't get stuck once year and we had a huge winter.

[Photographer918]

Originally Posted by BeEmVee

Good to know, thank you. And I take it you photograph 918 Sypders?!

Nope….. :-) I’m more interesting than just a car dude….. :-)