The exterior was dressed up in Sapphire Black Metallic and, unlike regular M Performance cars, all the trims were also done in black. That included the usual Cerium Grey kidney grilles, air intakes on the front bumper, side mirror covers and tailpipes. The wheels were also sporting a dark theme and this whole dark theme worked perfectly with the Tartufo interior all dressed up in Merino leather.
But how can you tell this is a special edition model if you can order all those features separately? Well, the Final Edition versions, be it the X5 or the X7, come with a special dashboard trim, confirming in black and white that you’re sitting inside one of the 220 units scheduled for production.
Leaving this special inscription behind, what can you expect from a BMW X5 M50d? Seamless acceleration, tons of torque and probably the sportiest experience a diesel BMW SUV can offer.
An Incredible And Fun Drive
The throttle response is extremely sharp for a diesel, but then again, that was the whole point of the tri-turbo and then quad-turbo setup the M50d models got. I mentioned the former because this is how it all started, by ruffling some feathers when BMW unveiled its tri-turbo diesel M550d model back in 2012. Back then, M Performance models were still a novelty for many people and having a diesel one on offer was considered offensive.
That engine, the N57S had two small turbos, one for each three cylinders of the 3-liter straight-six mill, and a bigger one to which they were connected. Therefore, we were dealing with a parallel turbo setup for the two small ones that transformed into a sequential setup. Why all this complicated design? To make sure throttle response was as sharp as possible. The smaller turbos would spool up faster at lower revs, while the big one would take over at higher RPM. It was a setup that worked but in 2016, BMW came up with the new version, the B57S.
BMW X5 M Final Edition in Black Sapphire
In this case, the four turbos had a parallel configuration and a sequential one at the same time. Each small turbo got a bigger one attached to it for an even more complicated design. Care to guess why BMW engineers went for this setup? For even better response, of course. In the process, they reached 400 HP and 760 Nm of torque, numbers that are simply unbelievable for a 3-liter mill.
However, as complicated as it may all sound, all of this work paid off. Driving an M50d X5 is an experience that could very well be used as means to convert petrolheads to ‘dieselheads’, if you will. Anyone dismissing diesel engines should drive this piece of amazing engineering at least once and I can guarantee you they will change their minds. The beating heart under the hood is smooth, refined, and shows more force in an instant than you would expect.
Shines Under The Lights
Other than that, the BMW X5 M50d Final Edition is a refined recipe. The current generation is the best ever made and that reflects in the sales figures. Unlike the previous F15 model, that used a revised platform based on the E70 model, the G05 finds its roots in the CLAR architecture and that comes with certain advantages. It has a refined ride, thanks to the air suspension, better room inside, a more premium interior and better looks all around.
Since this is the fourth generation X5, you’d expect that from a reputable German car maker and it’s clear to see why this SUV is a best seller. That’s also true for the M50d model, which was sold in more numbers than anyone anticipated so it will be hard to say goodbye.
A Great Road Trip Companion
Costly, But Arguably Worth It
The BMW X5 M50d without the Final Edition kit on it starts at 93,000 Euros in Germany and that’s a hefty amount of change. Being an M Performance model and coming with that brilliant engine under the hood does explain some of the cost. It also comes rather well equipped as standard, but if you add the Final Edition package to it you arrive at over 110,000 Euros and our tester pushed it even further, carrying a 127,162 Euro price tag.
That’s is not an easy price to digest and the bigger issue is that for that money, you can get the real M model – the
BMW X5 M – and have some change left over. And no matter how much I love the M50d X5, I can’t honestly say I’d pick it over the BMW X5 M or the X5 M Competition.
Where does that leave us? At a tipping point. Albeit I’ll be sad to see this jewel of an engine go and with it the BMW X5 M50d model altogether, I think this is the perfect time for it to happen, as we now have the
BMW X5 xDrive45e on offer, which will take over from now on. It has almost the same amount of power (394 PS) and a straight six under the hood that uses petrol instead of diesel. It has instant torque and a refined ride, being the perfect surrogate for those who will be missing the M50d, all the while releasing zero emissions driving it around town, as long as you use it as a PHEV and not a conventional SUV.
