X5 "M" Testing At BMW PC Track-Pic's-Vid's

[palbay]

Caught the X5 M out testing this week.This X5M just as the X6M seems further along than the test mules seen in Death Valley this summer.I do believe these are the first published pic's of the X5 M w/ the camo'ed M side gills or slits.The testers in the desert and on the Ring did not have the gills.This X5 has also picked up the white LED fog lights at the bottom of those huge front air intakes like the X6M.The first pic shows a pretty production ready rear bumper.Also,the roof rails look to be more integrated into the roof...a little more like the X6 roof rails.The engine sounds more like the TTV8 found in the 50i X6 vs the V10/V12 sound of the X6 M.I was not able to get as close to the X5M as I was able to w/ the X6M.The engine in the X5M has more of that deep NASCAR Roar,than did the X6M.I'm just real confused on all this engine stuff right now.I intially though the X5M and X6M would use the same engine.But because the X6 is positioned above the X5 in the regular marketplace...maybe the X6M will be more high strung than the X5M????!!!! I just don't know.In the 2nd vid a diesel X5 goes by (pretty quite exhaust note) and you hear this growing rumble as the X5M approaches from behind......I was thinking JAWS or something,kidda funny how the timing worked out on the vid.Thanks! PalBay http://palbay.smugmug.com/gallery/57...56994796_4hHtV

[cue03]

Nice. Thanks. What are you using to take the video? Also looks like you are hiding out in a field. lOL

Is that just yellow tape on the side mirrors or are those blinkers?

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by cue03

Is that just yellow tape on the side mirrors or are those blinkers?

yellow tape.

Good job, palbay.

[palbay]

Originally Posted by cue03

Nice. Thanks. What are you using to take the video? Also looks like you are hiding out in a field. lOL

Is that just yellow tape on the side mirrors or are those blinkers?

It's the vid on my Olympus 18x Zoom camera. That's why the shake is so bad...the zoom is always extended to 18x when I'm at the PC Track.The long zoom just exaggerates any small movement.I'm gonna get a camcorder soon.I will say this SmugMug outfit does wonders w/ even crappy vids like mine...they upload everthing in HD format...you can really tell the difference from UTube vids.The uploads are very loooooong...48 mins for a 50 sec vid.Thanks! PalBay

[jimsaq]

top stuff
and yeah smugmug is great

[ekelly]

Visually the M X5 is not that dissimilar to the M Sport pack. Obviously the front bumper has those larger air intakes while the rear bumper incorporates those M exhausts. The roof rails and the fenders appear to be taken directly from the M Sport pack. Do BMW intend to release a M Sport pack for the X6? I wonder will the M X5/X6 go with 20'' or 21'' wheels? I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product in 2009.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by ekelly

Visually the M X5 is not that dissimilar to the M Sport pack. Obviously the front bumper has those larger air intakes while the rear bumper incorporates those M exhausts. The roof rails and the fenders appear to be taken directly from the M Sport pack. Do BMW intend to release a M Sport pack for the X6? I wonder will the M X5/X6 go with 20'' or 21'' wheels? I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product in 2009.

They will have new M wheels for X5 / X6 in both 20" and 21". The new M3 also has 2 wheel sizes.

[TahoeM3]

Wow...good job! Could you hear the engine sound? Hard to tell on the video. I'm guessing V8TT?

[palbay]

Originally Posted by TahoeM3

Wow...good job! Could you hear the engine sound? Hard to tell on the video. I'm guessing V8TT?

The X5M engine sounds much more like the TTV8 in the 50i X6.Big,deep,loud V8 roar.The X6M had a much higher pitch engine note.I'm just not sure how this engine deal will shake out.Thanks! PalBay

[cue03]

I am hoping it will get paddle shifters and clearly be distinguishable from the 'regular' X5. Wonder what the special M wheels will look like?

Some special colors will be awesome as well.