Hi dave:

I take my X5 to brigantine beach in NJ all the time, at the begining I was i letting air out to 20lbs, driving it in manual mode and keeping it in 1st and pressing the DSC button once. Now i don't even let the air out, but I have mastered the skills of driving off road.

I suggest that on your first attempt lower your tire pressure. Trust me I have seen jeep cherokees stuck while i was driving by no problems at all. The sand was dry, deep and 5% of the true 4x4 got stuck, not me.

Now a days I don't even lower the pressure, I just drive it like I stole it in 1st gear with DSC off. But again now I am more carefull not to brake suddenly, not to make sharp turns, i try to follow other vehicle tracks, and approach an elevation in a diagonal fashion. Try it its a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!