Recall Alert: 2009 BMW X5 and X6

BMW has issued a recall for all 2009 BMW X5 and X6 vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The vehicles are being recalled because the rear brake discs may not have been manufactured according to correct specifications. This could lead to reduced braking performance in the rear wheels, significantly increasing stopping distance and increasing the potential for a crash.

BMW hasn’t provided NHTSA with its remedy or notification schedule for the repair, but owners may contact BMW at 800-831-1117. They may also contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2009|BMW|X5

2009|BMW|X6

Pricing Announced for BMW X5 M, X6 M

BMW announced pricing for the 2010 X5 M and 2010 X6 M.

The X6 M, which was recently unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show, will start at $88,900, excluding a destination fee of $825.

The X5 M will have a starting MSRP of $85,400, also excluding the $825 destination fee. BMW unveiled the X5 M at the 2009 Shanghai International Auto Show.

This pricing puts the X5 M and X6 M near the top of the heap for BMW’s M vehicles; they’re outdone only by the M6, which starts at $102,100 for the sedan and $107,900 for the convertible.

More BMW X5 News
More BMW X6 News

2009 BMW X5 M at the 2009 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne Turbo
• Looks like: The fastest X5 ever
• Drivetrain: 555-hp, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with six-speed automatic; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Late 2009

Do you want a BMW M performance model but live in a northern climate where a lot of horsepower to the rear wheels isn’t the most optimum driving setup year-round? Well, here comes BMW to the rescue with the X5 M. Along with the X6 M, this SUV marks the first time an M model has had all-wheel drive. Unfortunately for anyone looking to cart around extra passengers, though, the optional third row of seats in the standard X5 will not be available in the X5 M. Too bad for the parents out there hoping to get their performance jones filled after dropping the kids off at school.   

Like the new X6 M, the X5 M sports a twin-turbo V-8 good for 555 hp and a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.5 seconds.  

While both M models get similar design treatments, the X5 doesn’t look as comfortable in its high-performance trimmings. The augmented  hood, headlights, front fenders, larger front air dams and 20-inch alloy wheels look a bit garish on the frumpier X5.

BMWs are not what we’d call value propositions. The highest X5 trim level with a V-8 engine starts at $56,200, which is almost $10,000 less than where the X6 starts. We’d guess the M models will be roughly $10,000 more than their non-performance counterparts, so the X5 would likely be the more affordable way to get 555 hp in an all-wheel-drive-SUV package.

It’s an impressive performance machine on paper, it’s just too bad you can’t carpool in it. 

More photos below.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 BMW X5 Diesel

A new diesel engine option lends the 2009 BMW X5 an addictive driving quality, or so says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. With impressive mileage to go along with its fun yet comfortable ride, the BMW X5 has to be a winner, right? Not so fast: There’s always the price tag to consider. Falling in the neighborhood of $50,000, Mays wants the X5 to justify the bounty you’ll have to cough up to drive one. Read Mays’ full review to find out if the X5 can earn his recommendation.

2009 BMW X5 Review