Is it true?

[bestvaluestore]

Hi .A friend of mine who sells cars told me that the X 5 is not a real off road vehicle.I believe him because he is very experienced in cars in general,sells all kinds of vehicles for many years now.I'm thinking of buying one BMW X 5 but not so sure now.I need it to drive it in the city and on black mountain roads but mostly on a regular roads and motorways.

[Clockwork]

its not a typical off-roader no.
thats why BMW calls it sn SAV (Sports ACTIVITY Vehicle).
if you want an SUV that will climb rocks, drive through streams, destroy snowbanks, then buy a jeep grand cherokee or a raised pick-up. the X5 is a pretty city vehicle with performance for handling/braking and not rock climbing.
it has a great all wheel drive system, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee is better. I've had both and hate to say it but the Jeep wins 10 fold over a BMW

[Qsilver7]

What are black mountain roads? (never mind...I googled it).

[525iT_Feen]

Just drove my 4.8is to the store and back in mild snow conditions on DWS's and came back to start looking at snow tire/wheel packages. I wouldn't stray to far off of pavement with it in its current form.

[ants_oz]

The X5 has neither the ground clearance, suspension articulation, underbody protection, nor traction aids to be a "true" off-road vehicle. Doesn't even have a centre diff lock. Lift one wheel off the ground, and apart from the input of traction control, will sit there spinning that one wheel and not go anywhere.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by ants_oz

Lift one wheel off the ground, and apart from the input of traction control, will sit there spinning that one wheel and not go anywhere.

Not true with X-Drive after 2004. Also, not true in my direct experience with this summer with as many as *two* wheels off the ground. X-Drive will send up to 100% of available power to the wheel(s) in the front *or* the rear it senses has traction.

Now, having said that, I agree with most here: Not an offroad, nor even an *any* road vehicle. The air suspension in my X5 got all hot and bothered (literally) when travelling over some VERY rough/ribbed mountain dirt roads in Colorado this year. I got the SLS error. Get this though: I reset it, and it happened *again* while running through the twisties on a PAVED US14 through Big Horn National Forrest.

I got the error reset when I returned home and have not had a problem since.

[StephenVA]

What is a dirt road? Dust on the wheels? Criminal!
Most X5 owners stay on hard surface roads as they were looking for extreme performance or a capable family hauler when they purchase these vehicles. Adventure around the corner with a Sports activity vehicle. Dry, wet, snow, and a bike rack ....or so showed the ads.
Now that we are all 10 years or older I think some of the Xers are finding new life as "hard use" vehicles. Some are even showing up on the drag strip. Running these vehicles in heavy off road usage I might choose a Jeep or a four wheel drive P/U as there are a lot more of them and rock crawling parts are readily available.
Pick a vehicle that meets your needs and plans. You will be happier in the long run.
I don't even like gravel parking lots due to the dirt and dust.

[upallnight]

Get yourself a Trail rated SUV if you plan on going off road. The only off road the X is rated for is unpaved parking lot at the Soccer field.

[bestvaluestore]

I guess it's not for me than although I read some previous posts saying the X 5 is way better than a grand cherokee and now I just do not know what to think and do.

[Clockwork]

way better for luxaries adn handling performance on a street road.