The BMW E53 X5 was made between 1999 and 2006. The E53 was developed at a time when BMW owned Land Rover and benefitted from Land Rover technology. It shared components the Range Rover HSE model, specifically the Hill Descent System and Off Road Engine Management system.

 

The BMW E70 is the second generation X5 it replaced the BMW X5 E53 in November 2006. The second generation X5 featuresnew technological advancements including BMW's iDrive system as standard equipment and, for the first time in a BMW, an optional third row seat raising passenger capacity to seven.

 

This generation incorporates safety innovations such as a unique rear framing section to protect 3rd row occupants from injury due to an impact. The branding for the X5 from 2008 onwards follows the new BMW nomenclature scheme, for example the X5 3.0d is now called the X5 xDrive35d, and the 4.8i is called the X5 xDrive48i.