Can this POSSIBLY be for real?
 

What do you guys think? (It's a diesel btw. How much torque DO they have???

Could be or its just coincidence that its parked in front of the plane.

I'm sure the X has enough power to move that small plane. Have you seen those tiny things that move the planes around at the airport? They look kinda like jeeps but with bench seats up front.

BTW .. I think that's one of them LeMans Blue Special Edition 3.0ds! Stole the dang 4.8s color! :D

X power :p:

If you look at the plane towbar, the support wheels are off the ground. That suggests that the hitch is connected, and that the X5 isn't just parked in front of the towbar. So yes, it is for real, IMO.

Edit: Decided to find out what kind of plane it is. Seems to be a Dornier 328JET. Empty weight liusted at just under 20,000 lbs, maximum takeoff weight 30,000 lbs. The X5 will pull 9000 lbs on the highway at 120 km/hr, so 20,000 lbs at low speeds around the taxiways doesn't seem like a stretch.

It's a good thing BMW NA doesn't allow importing those cheapo BMW AG hitches. Clearly they are pieces of junk. (BTW, how did you identify the plane so fast!?)

that is one very sexy diesel.

The 3.0L diesel is 218 HP & 500 Nm :flex:
And with chip tuning ca. 260 Hp & 600 Nm

You can tow much more than the approved weight as long as it's flat, you are not significantly above tounge weight and you don't care what you do to your transmission.

YouTube - VW Touareg towing a Boeing 747 - Fifth Gear
 

Okay this I saw on t.v a while back, either way 747 or private jet don't think there are many of us who would tow them around eh?

YouTube - VW Touareg towing a Boeing 747 - Fifth Gear

Think that maybe he hooked up to the plane for the picture (since the X5 and the plane are basically the same color), but didn't actually tow it?

That would be my guess.

I'm not saying he COULDN'T tow it.... just saying he probably didn't.

ummm
have you guys seen Worlds' Strongest Man?

I bet Zack's Champion could give it pretty good go as well!!

I have had these pics since last year. A member on motortalk forum had posted these. :thumbup:

Not saying that it could not be done....but it does look a little staged to me, especially since the door is down and in the later shots it does not look like the plane has moved. CSI X5World!

The real question is:

Is he selling his trailer hitch?

:rofl: :rofl:

You're probably right. Good photo op.

To answer your question: "Can this possibly be for real?"

Yes, there is no reason to believe the X5 couldn't push or pull that plane. Now, is it a good idea? Of course not.

Redirect your angst at the DOT, not BMWNA. The hitches are obviously strong, they have a higher tow rating in Europe than NA. The issue is the hitch ball style, and the lack of safety chain attachment points, both DOT issues.

The plane was easy to identify as it is a high wing. I don't think I've flown on one, but there are lots of Dornier turboprops, and this was a late variation with the turbofan. This one was owned by Gandalf, who went broke several years ago. It isn't really that small a plane, as was noted by another poster; it seats 32, and has a crew of three. Still, it would be easy to move it with an X5 at low speeds, although I don't know if they actually did so or not in this case. Given that the plane has clearly been moved in the last photo, I'd say he towed it.

NIce. There are 20+ of those 328 jet and turboprop versions parked in myrtle beach due to a lack of parts. That guy has some balls, I see fine written all over this if the governing body got a hold of this picture.