When working for GM, I "dug" through some spy files back in 2001-2002 in regards to BMW development stuff. One such thing involved BMW's now current hybrid design. The BMW e53 X5 was at the top of BMW's list, and I bet there is a prototype out there from 2001.

I adapted an idea, back in the day, about attaching a high output electric motor with a drive belt to my e36 325i drive shaft (kinda like a piggy back design), with some sort of clutch mechanism that would allow me to engage the electric motor mostly on acceleration, where a majority of your fuel consumption occurs. My own hybrid of sorts with all kinds of initial torque.... wasn't ready to take a torch to my beloved e36. 350,000 miles later, she's still going strong!

Just a side note, they had disassembled an e53, documented the process and cataloged every part, and gave it a score based on function, strength, and etc. It seems like their assessment if I remember right, was everything was over engineered to make a statement as this was BMW's first foray with an SUV. They gave it high marks. Little did they know.... all they had to do was talk to someone that owned one about the weird B.S. quirks like a CCV design that is plain less than optimal. My rant for the day.

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2005 X5 3.0, 6MT, Alpine White on Truffle Brown, Sport, Preim, and Cold Weather, Alpina Stainless Headers, AFe Intake, UUC SSK, OEM 87's, 3.64 Differential Swap,Performance Modified Euro 2 Tune, UUC LTW Flywheel and HD clutch, Bilstein B12 Suspension kit
Future mods ZHP/Schrick Cam Shaft upgrade, Operation code name:Doppelschrauben-Kompressor

Wife's Ride: 2011 e70 X5 351 M///Sport.

Also in the fold: 2004 X3 3.0, 6MT, Black Sapphire on Terracotta, port, Premium, Cold Weather.