On Road? What about off road? :)
 

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7...71large4jo.jpg

Got stuck in the mud last week. Much softer than expected.
Anyone got any off roading X5 experiences?

looks like ground clearance became your issue :)

I don't want to know!:tsk:

It was, I had high centered as well as tire slippage (as a result of high centering). It was a beginners mistake. :(

My friend has a similair copy to the Four Wheeler TrailLex GX470 and he was doing quite well.

On the other hand, I had to get my buddy to pull me out.
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/9586/dsc043873an.jpg

you learned, you'll do good next time.

Next time will be a lot more fun. We should have another four of five trucks come with us.
The most fun I had that day wasn't really mudding or anything, but navigating through the trail and dodging the holes where I could get a wheel stuck in or bottom out.

I've only driven my X5 off-road on a beach, but good on you for tryin' your hand at muddin'!

BTW- the Bronco looks vintage! Like the paint job too!

JV

Having driven Ford Broncos from '79 thru '01, I will say the X5 is not the ideal offroader. You need high clearance and limited-slip min. Alot of 4-wheeling is done as 2-wheel, using 4-wheel to get unstuck. Winches and come-alongs are also high priority. Another thing, it's like diving. You use the buddy system, so someone is there to help when you get stuck. It can be fun, but there is a high probability of dents and suspension damage. My Broncos were definitely cheaper to repair.

First thing you gotta do is get rid of those car tires and get some like bridgestones duelers or something. Those tires are horrible for anything except pavment.

Nice, looks like a lot of fun. Anyone from Michigan looking for an off-roading buddy? Sure the X isn't the best, but listening to Vivaldi on my heated seat while I'm climbing a muddy slope or doing donuts on wet grass is pretty nice. Good pics, get some new tires and keep having fun!

Yeah that's what I'm saving money up for. Get some new wheels (wider and smaller diameter) so I can put some wider more aggressive off roading tread on them.

Do you have any experience with some hardcore tires on the BMW if I run them for off road use only? I couldn't mind swapping out rims once we get to the park.

Did you ever look at what they race on at Baja? Tall tires and not as wide as you think. Depends on what terrain you plan on tackling. Sand - fat tires and not an aggressive tread. Mud - tall tires, big grooves, medium to narrow depending on the mud depth. You have to plan what you need to fit where you're going. I don't know if they make a winch to fit the X. Sounds like you may need one.

What model is your X? Does it have X-Drive? I have been in worse situations and as long as one wheel had traction which your rears appear to do I was Ok. BTW leaving tonight for Mocambique into an area where tar roads do not exist, will post some pics when I get back

I wasn't sure if taller tires would have fit, wouldn't that require some body work on the X5?

X5SA - it's a 2004 and yes, it has X-Drive.
How did you get out? I was high-centered. No traction and the tires I have were pakced with mud so they were slipping easily through the wet gushy mud. I can't wait for pictures!

I've got Bridgestone Dueler A/T's on my Pathfinder in 31" X 10.50. Wheels are 15" diameter. The wheel well is about the same size as in the X5, but you may need to offset your wheels if you wanted to go with that type of setup on the X5.

Just remember- independent rear suspensions are great for handling, but not quite the ticket for offroading.

JV

never taken my X5 offroading. I would not trust taking her off road to save my life. I leave that to the Jeeps. Not only am I limited by ground clearance and mechanical limitations, but shhhhiiitttt I have estoril blue paint and that was a $2500 extra ass rape, so I am not scratching her up on some expendable branches and twigs. :)

Some Pics
 

Here are the first pics, unfortunately the photographer was afraid I would run her over so angles are not great.

Nice! Keep 'em coming!

JV

HahhAHAahAHa *NICE*!!!!!! :D

Damn that is a steep hill. I have to admit i didnt think the X5 was that capable offroad.

Nice looking stable! Are you on the M5 board to? My name is the same on both, GBOGH3

How steep is that hill? Looks pretty gnarely. How was it going up, pretty smooth or did you slow down a little?

NICE WORK.

One of the most important things I learned at the Land Rover off road drivig school was about speed. The entire time I spent driving with the instructors we barely got over 10mph... maybe more like 5! Especially with the X5 I would take it slow. This way you do not get in over your head and you do not start snapping parts left and right!!

Tires will make a huge difference!

Did you try turning off the DSC? I hear that can get you unstuck sometimes.

I don't have the balls to take my X5 to the hills, first of I will hate to scratch it or break something, it doesn't feel very strong to me, I look at it more like a big car, now on the streets, it performs excellent. Just my .02

If you are really thinking about going off road then you have got to change those wheels.

I would get a set of 17"s alloys and fit general grabeer M/T.

Then I would only do light offroading like in the pictures on this thread.

We off road but not in the X over here it's known to be crap at it.:confused:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

It was pretty steep, the trick is keeping momentum. If you accelerate to hard to soon the wheels spin and then you are done for. I had it in 2nd all the way up. I lost speed near the top as it gets a bit steeper and softer, bit still had to brake when i got over the top.

x5 is pretty good for light off-roading, but must be carefull of the ground clearence. Do not drive X into water deeper than 500mm, it will damage the video module, radio module and air supply control unit which are located in the lower trunk. I always drive my X for light off-roading like climbing hills, running through mud, etc... The most important thing is to keep rearly low speed saying below 8 KM/H. I am using 17" rims and Dunlop AT20 tires. The tires are not good enough but just merely ok. Several day ago, I drove my X into a river where I guess the water was around 500-600mm. After I got out from the river, the 'Selflevl susp. inact' got on, onboard monitor was dead and the radio worked unstable. I got my X to the dealer for inspection, dealer told me that my video module, radio module and air supply control unit which controls rear suspension unit were dead and must be replaced due to flood. Except these 3 things, every thing runs without any problem. So I think if my X had 200mm groud clearence more, then everything should have been ok.

im in houston ill go with you next time :) where were you off roading?

edit.... arnt you around my age?