Third brakelight
 

Does anyone knows why some X5's have a white brake light and others have a red one? At least this is the case in Europe.

Early models had red, later years had clear. Can't remember exactly what year the clear hit, I think maybe it was in 2004 concurrent with the facelift. They are interchangeable. My 2002 had a red, and I installed the clear one.

all 2000-2002 models have red ones
2003 sport models have white
all 2004 models have white
all 2005 models have white except some 3.0s (without premium?)
2006 sport models have white excluding the 4.8s

don't really understand why BMW keeps changing them :dunno:

and how to explain that my X5 (year 03-2006) has a red one?

i would guess that your
03 is non-sport
04 is non-sport or without premium
05 has no premium
and 06 is non sport

it may vary from country to country...

believe me, it really is a sport version...
To it is also a mistery why and when BMW uses a white brake light!

It is just the cover that is red or white, there are red LEDs inside. It's purely cosmetic.
Mine is red.
:thumbup:

Mine is also red and I like it! 4.4i Sport, 2000...red one for me better matching with the taillights...