Read here about another member's experiences in fording a creek a few years back. Make sure you read post #13, where he lists the components that had to be replaced after this (mis)adventure.

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...f-roading.html

Yup, JCL, that's the one I was thinking of.

Official wading depth for the E53 is 500mm at 7km/h. So, if this guy went to 600mm at 8km/h, there's not much margin for error.

Me too.

Yeah. Should always carry the official BMW measuring stick to make certain that the entire river is no deeper than 500mm. Here's a little tip that I've come up with... after wading through the river with the BMW measuring stick make sure to dry yourself off before getting back into the car to drive it across. That will prevent you from getting the urge to dry yourself off with the seat heating function which unfortunately doesn't work all that well.

If anyone doesn't understand that those are specially prepared non-stock cars, then I wish you a lot of luck in repairing your X.

hahahahahaha. what's the big deal? drive it thru the mud, it can be washed.

Yeah, you can drive through mud but not through water more than knee deep. See what BMW recommends.

ive done it and survived. not often, but it has been done

http://members.shaw.ca/allbusiness/x5/x5-5.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/allbusiness/x5/x5-7.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/allbusiness/x5/x5-8.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/allbusiness/x5/x5-9.jpg