APRIL 2019 15of tight corners and put the xDrive four-
wheel-drive system to the test.
This has a distinct – and pleasing- rear bias, and the M50d’s agility is
further assisted by the standard fitment
of the M Sport rear differential. This is
an electronically-controlled locking item,
regulated by the Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) system’s brain and sensors.
Most owners will probably benefit from
its operation when on loose ground but,
those who explore the outer edges of
the M50d’s handling envelope, will also
enjoy how it helps slingshot the big X
out of sharp corners. In the dry, there’s
little need for the car’s electronic traction
control, so immense is the mechanical
grip. And yet, it’s no benign operator,
either, as it doesn’t isolate the driver from
proceedings completely.
DEVASTATING EFFECTIVENESS
Not for a second am I suggesting that the
X5 M50d is a delicate B-road tool that
you drive with your fingertips and the
seat of your pants. But, together with its
devastating cross-country effectiveness, it
moves around on the throttle and feelsfar livelier and more agile than any car of
this size deserves to. The way it allows that
sensation while still being utterly stable
and trustworthy, is testament to BMW’s
chassis engineers. And, if you get a chance
to take it off the beaten track on to, well, a
dirt track, it’s a real hoot. Not that anyone
will want to take those gorgeous 22in rims
too far away from terra firma, no matter
how impressive the off-roading angles
BMW quotes.
And actually, fear for your wheels may
not be the first thing to slow you down
when the going gets rough, as the M50d’s
suspension is, shall we say, in keeping
with the M image. It’s firm. Like all G05-
generation X5s, the M50d gets adaptive air
suspension and Dynamic Damper Control,
the latter with two maps, all tied in with
the Driving Performance Control switch.
The M50d gets its own spring and
damper rates, though, along with
Adaptive M suspension. The aim of all
this is enhanced steering precision, faster
cornering and snappier direction changes.
It certainly achieves the latter two goals,
though the steering is completely bereft of
feedback to the driver’s hands, sadly.ENGINE: Quad-turbocharged, six-cylinder
diesel, longitudinally mounted
CAPACITY: 2,993cc
MAX POWER: 400hp @ 4,400rpm
MAX TORQUE: 560lb ft @ 2,000-3,000rpm
0-62MPH (secs): 5.2 seconds
TOP SPEED: 155mph
ECONOMY: 33.6mpg
EMISSIONS: 179g/km
WEIGHT (EU): 12,275kg
PRICE (OTR): £71,X5 M50d tech specs
Like all variants of the G05 X5, you really have to
climb up into the interior of the M50d
FIRST DRIVE
Above: The M50d comes with
a choice of 22in alloy wheel
designs as standard, which
do a great job of filling the
considerable wheel arches.
They can also visually shrink
this large vehicle in certain
colours and specifications.
In the dry, there’s little
need for the car’s
electronic traction
control, so immense is
the mechanical grip.