[drilling]

Hi Guys,

Trying to get a new BMW X5.

I need to tow a trailer weighing around 6500lbs and with its 875lbs payload, the tongue weight worries me.

So is this even accurate? This is not even the difference of gross weight - kerb weight.

Also, BMW germany shows payload as 1200lbs.

So what's true?

[Multimodal]

Bumping this thread. Can anyone with a 50i or M50i share the payload capacity listed on their door panel?

If true this would take the G05 out of consideration for me - and I'm about to buy one!

[Multimodal]

The X5's GVWR is 6,691 lbs according to Car & Driver. The technical training manuals available in this thread say the curb weight of a 40i is 4,991 lbs, which should mean a payload capacity of up to 1,700 lbs.

However, here is a sticker from a 2019 40i with 2-axle air suspension, M Sport brakes, 20" wheels and factory installed trailer hitch, which I expect would be the ideal configuration for maximum payload capacity. But the sticker shows only 849 lbs. A sticker on a 2019 50i with 2VF dynamic suspension shows 871 lbs. I wonder if BMW is putting the same stickers on every vehicle, which would require printing worst-case scenario numbers.

[Multimodal]

So far I've found "yellow sticker" ratings of 849 lbs on two very differently equipped 2019 40i's, 871 lbs on a 2019 50i, and 881 lbs on a 2020 M50i. This is interesting because the yellow sticker rating should vary based on installed options (it didn't between the two 40i's I examined) and it should be much higher in all cases based on the GVWR.

If you take the difference of the GVWR and the curb weight, the 40i should have a payload capacity of 1,349 lbs (6,162 lbs - 4,813 lbs), the 50i should have a payload capacity of 1,290 lbs (6,460 lbs - 5,170 lbs), and the M50i should have a payload capacity of 1,299 lbs (6,559 lbs - 5,260 lbs).

I haven't been able to find any answers through dealers or the BMW Genius line so I've dropped LinkedIn messages to some chassis engineers at BMW. I hope someone replies!

[Multimodal]

Here are some of the G05's official technical specifications that the dealer printed off for me:

[Multimodal]

I asked a BMW chassis engineer via LinkedIn and got the following reply:

The official technical specification of “Curb Weight” is using a completely base version of that model, i.e. all standard equipment only, and NO options specified (+full tank of gas).

The GVWR is the technical specification for the total amount of loading the vehicle can handle, which includes any factory options. Since each vehicle is optioned completely differently, the technical specification provided for Payload Capacity therefore assumes a “fully loaded” vehicle, i.e. every possible option box ticked. This can be upwards of 550+ lbs (not an exact number), and therefore results in the perceived lower payload capacity. This is essentially the most conservative estimate, as it really depends on each vehicle.

So, in summary, if you do wish to purchase a G05 X5 and have the most available payload capacity, you would therefore want to select a base model with as few options as possible. I know it may be more complicated, but perhaps the dealer has a vehicle scale and could weigh a few differently optioned vehicles for you (with a full tank of gas), so you knew the true payload capacity for each.

And as a side-note, while air suspension might add some weight to the vehicle itself, it also will help with self-leveling when you do have a full payload, and should improve the overall handling in those situations.

It sounds like BMW is using the worst-case scenario in terms of optional equipment for the payload sticker, similar to what they did with the F15. GVWR is the real capacity rating of the vehicle and the only way to figure your vehicle's payload capacity is to visit a vehicle scale.