BMW XM ESTATE 5dr Auto

The BMW XM is a very special prospect. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at what's on offer.

Ten Second Review

There's never been a BMW quite like the XM, an extreme SUV mix of performance, luxury and in-your-face street presence. And because its 4.4-litre petrol V8 is also a Plug-in Hybrid, there's even an element of eco-efficiency built into. An M car for a new era? That's about the size of it.

Background

Quite a few people's wish list for the ultimate car might well sound read something like this; the power and handling of an uber-fast high performance motorsport-developed BMW M sports car; space for the family with limo-like luxury in the back; a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain so you can do all your commuting and more without troubling fossil fuel; and stand-out looks that will see the neighbours doing a double take. It sounds like an impossible combination. It isn't. Welcome to the BMW XM. It's the BMW M division's very first electrified car and only its second ever completely bespoke product (the first was the M1 supercar back in 1978). And it's aimed right into the heart of the exclusive market for extreme, frantically fast big SUVs with lottery-level price tags. Size-wise, think BMW X7, though in this case with just two seating rows. We might have expected the Munich maker to address this segment with an M version of the X7, but that wouldn't have been very exclusive. This XM very definitely is. Think of it as an X8 if you like; it runs down the same US Spartenburg production line as the brand's other large X models, but this one is far more potent and - potentially - far more desirable.

Driving Experience

There's not much that's familiar about the XM, but a likely customer with an existing stable of very fast BMWs may already have one with this car's 4.4-litre V8 twin turbo powerplant beneath the bonnet. The version of that engine used here though, is rather different, paired with a 194hp electric motor to deliver 476hp in base 50e guise, 644hp in mid-level form, or 748hp in top 'Label Red' guise, the latter the most powerful non-electric SUV on the market. Even the mid-level version is shatteringly fast, making 62mph in only 4.3s en route to 155mph. It's 3.8s with the 'Label Red' version. And when you don't need to show the world how fast your XM can go, there's an 'EV' mode that can take you up to 52 miles without troubling the engine, courtesy of a 25.7kWh battery mounted beneath the floor. In theory, the car can be driven under electric power alone at speeds of up to 87mph. It's 4WD of course, power split between both axles by an electronic multiplate clutch, which in the engine-only 'Sport' and 'Sport Plus' modes gives a classic BMW rear-driven bias. The rear axle differential splits torque between left and right rear wheels to tighten corner turn-in; and there are clever 48V-powered anti-roll bars to dial out cornering body roll. We mentioned drive modes; the other two are 'Hybrid' and 'Comfort', where the engine and electric motor are used in tandem, with the electric motor prioritised in 'Comfort'. There's adaptive damping of course, which varies through the available modes and is needed given that wheel sizes can be as large as 23-inches.

Design and Build

The XM makes what BMW Design Chief Domagoj Dukec describes as 'an extravagant statement' - which presumably is what a lot of customers in the exclusive segment for extreme high performance large SUVs are looking for. It's certainly unlike any BMW we've ever seen before, ushering in a distinctive and angular new look for the company's M sub-brand. Those razor sharp creases disguise the size a bit - the XM has the same pavement footprint as the huge X7, but it's in a different league in terms of wow factor. Of course you may not want people to stare at you in your £150,000 SUV, in which case you'll probably find the enormous double kidney grille, the beady twin headlamps and the stacked hexagonal twin rear exhaust tips somewhat brash. The wheels - of course - are enormous, 21 inchers as standard, with seismic 23-inch rims optional. And there are some heritage touches, like the pair of BMW badges at the top corners of the rear window, a nod to the original BMW M1 supercar. Inside, it's very high end and slightly more familiar, the twin curved 14.5-inch screens borrowed from the iX. Vintage brown leather trimming, teal diamond velvet upholstery plus copper and carbon fibre inserts remind you how much you spent. Though there is only one rear seating row, it's opulently spacious, the back seat area described by the brand as the 'M Lounge'. There's a huge boot too, 527-litres in size with the rear seats up, or 1,820-litres with them folded.

Market and Model

Pricing for the standard 476hp XM 50e model starts from around £111,000. The mid-level 653hp XM model is pitched at around £150,000. For the 748hp 'Label Red' model, you're looking at around £174,000. Either way, at least you get plenty of kit for that, to go with the prevailing ethos for the XM, which BMW describes as 'extroverted luxury'. You notice that most in the so-called 'M Lounge', the back seat, where there are integrated phone holders and you get a dedicated rear infotainment screen. Up-front, the wrap-around infotainment screen has M-specific display modes, there are M-specific pedals with M buttons on the steering wheel and behind that wheel lie carbonfibre shift paddles. Many owners will want to upgrade the 21-inch wheels to the huge 23-inch rims that BMW offers for those wanting to make more of a statement. The standard Harman Kardon Surround Sound System consists of 16 speakers delivering 415-watts. Or there's an optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 20 speakers and a 1,500-watt amplifier to further elevate the listening experience. A digital seven-channel amplifier and four additional sound sources in the roof area generate a multi-layered 3D sound experience for all occupants. The driver and front passenger in the XM can enjoy video-on-demand services on the control display, allowing them to pass the time while waiting for the vehicle to recharge or be refuelled. Starting with YouTube, the range of available services is set to expand as the BMW Group adds further third-party apps.

Cost of Ownership

News that the V8 powertrain used here is basically the same one that features in BMW's M Hybrid race car in the U.S-based IMSA Sportscar Championship and the World Endurance Championship might not lead you to expect much in terms of economy. And of course, if you never plug this car in and thrash it about everywhere, it'll be just as much a gas guzzler as any of its more conventional rivals. But the XM trump card is a Plug-in Hybrid system that, when its 25.7kWh battery is fully charged, will give the car up to 52 miles of all-electric driving range, though obviously, you're not going to get any near that if you regularly approach the quoted pure electric top speed of 87mph. That EV range delivers the pie-in-the-sky efficiency figures quoted for the mid-level model - 188.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 33g/km of CO2, the latter figure perfect for reducing your tax exposure. It's 176.6mpg and 35g/km for the 'Label Red' model. The Combined Charging Unit of the M Hybrid system enables AC charging at up to 7.4kW, replenishing the battery from 0 to 100% in 4.25 hours. The Combined Charging Unit also acts as a voltage transformer to supply the 12V electrical system. Predictive heat management reduces charging times by warming or cooling the battery, using a variety of data to calculate the temperature at which the high-voltage battery can be charged at maximum power for the longest possible time. The charging socket on the XM has a sensor that measures the temperature at the plug contacts to detect possible over-heating at an early stage, and includes a handy light so that customers can easily hook up their car in the dark. The storage bag for the charging cable is made exclusively for the BMW XM and secured in the boot area using a crash-protective carabiner-belt combination.

Summary

Could a BMW really appeal to someone about to sign for a Lamborghini Urus or an Aston Martin DBX? This one might. It has all the visual and dynamic drama of those cars, yet at the same time, the kind of real world zeitgeist you'd get in a comparably priced Plug-in Hybrid Range Rover P510e. It's taken BMW a long time to find the right car for this exalted lottery-level segment, but we think this is very definitely it. True, the styling's somewhat extrovert for European tastes, but the XM isn't really aimed at our continent. Instead, it will sell in useful numbers in the brand's US, Asian and Middle Eastern markets to customers who simply want the fastest, the most outlandish and the most unique BMW ever made. There's nothing quite like an XM. And if you like it, you'll really, really want one.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Heated windscreen washer jets

Sun protection glazing

Rain sensor with automatic windscreen wiper and headlight activation

Green tinted windows

Electric windows - front and rear, with open/close fingertip control and trap release

Rear window single layer safety glass

Windscreen and side window laminated safety glass

Brakes

DSC - Dynamic Stability Control

Cornering brake control (CBC)

Hill start assist

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Electromechanical parking brake with automatic drive away release and auto hold function

M dynamic mode

Front and rear brake discs with interior ventilation

PC iBrake PostCrash approach control warning with light braking function

Integrated braking system

Carpets/Rugs

Anthracite Velour front and rear floormats

Chassis/Suspension

Adaptive M suspension professional

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Front/rear Parking distance control

Attentiveness assist

Speed dependent regulation with variable steering gear ratio

Parking assistant plus with 360 degree surround view camera, remote 3D view, driver recorder and remote theft recorder

Driver Convenience

Automatic tailgate operation

Stop/start button

BMW gesture control

Concealed underneath bonnet

Driver Information

BMW Teleservices

Connected eDrive Services

BMW legal emergency call

Condition based service

Brake pad wear indicator

Integrated owners handbook

BMW Live Cockpit Pro with headup display, Navi, voice control, 12.3" instrument cluster, 14.9" control display, access 3rd party app, bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming driver's door mirror

Frameless interior mirror

M specific electrically adjustable/foldable/heated exterior mirrors with integrated direction indicators

Exterior mirror housings in black

Exterior mirrors with automatic parking function

Embellishment Trims

Galvanic embellisher for controls

Carbon fiber interior trim

Engine

Sport exhaust system

M xDrive system

Electric drive unit

High voltage battery

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

BMW iconic sound electric

Personal eSim

Exterior Body Features

High gloss black rear diffuser

BMW kidney Iconic Glow

Rear side wing doors

Charging flap

Radiator grille struts in black high gloss

Rear reflector (left and right) integrated into bumper

Two lasered BMW logos in upper left and right of rear window

Tailgate without BMW logo

Two rear design trim element in night gold

Roof trim strips in black high gloss

Wheel well cover and cladding in black high gloss

Prism optics door handle insert in black high gloss

Side window graphic including black band in night gold with XM badge

Exterior centre air inlets in front bumper in black high gloss

XM badge in left side radiator grille

Two part radiator grille frame in night gold

Door locking - after driving off to secure vehicle

Exterior Lights

Headlight range control

High beam assistant

LED daytime running lights

Dynamic brake lights

LED third brake light in rear spoiler

LED side lights

Adaptive LED Headlights with Low beam and high beam headlight function

Light staging (welcome and goodbye)

Automatic cornering lights

Two part led rear light with brake light and turn indicator in both parts

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Stationary cooling

Four zone automatic air conditioning

Nano filter

Interior Features

Door pockets with bottle holder

Multifunction steering wheel

Lockable glove compartment

4 lashing eyes in luggage compartment

3 spoke M leather steering wheel

12V power socket in rear centre console

Soft close function for doors

2 cup holders in front

12V power socket in front centre console

Armrest - front and rear integrated door trim, centre console includes storage compartment, rear centre includes 2 cupholders

Wireless charging tray

Heated and cooled cupholders

BMW ID

2 x USB Type C ports for charging (rear centre console)

Storage tray and compartment with lid in centre console

12V power socket in luggage compartment on right

1x USB Type A port in area of cupholder (charging with 1.5 A and data transfer)

1x USB Type C port for charging in armrest storage compartment

Two part parcel shelf in luggage compartment

BMW XM exclusive charging cable pocket in luggage compartment

Grab handle in front and rear outer seats integrated in roof lining at rear with coat hooks

Driver and front passenger alcantara sun visors with illuminated vanity mirror and ticket holder

Two outer side adjustable head restraints in 2nd row

Front and rear Illuminated M logo in entry sills

Brushed/polished aluminium inserts in entry sills

Backrest rear panel with folding pockets

Illuminated M logo on headrestraints

Interior Lights

Rear reading lights

Driver/front passenger reading lights

Glove compartment lighting

Front and rear door exit lighting (left / right)

Illuminated armrest handle

Ambient door panel lighting and unlocking

Contour instrument panel lighting, front centre console, door panel front and rear

Ambient centre stack lighting

Front and rear ambient footwell lighting

LED ambient lighting for centre console

Dynamic function of contour lighting

Ambient door pocket lighting

Ambient instrument panel lighting

Luggage compartment lighting strips

Courtesy lights in tailgate

Side marker reflector in lamella look integrated into tail light

Sculptural headliner in 3D prism structure Alcantara with ambient lighting

15 preconfigured selectable colours with contour and mood lighting in Road mode

Packs

Connected package professional - XM

Comfort pack - XM

Travel and comfort system pack - XM

M Aerodynamic package - XM

Safety

3 point seatbelts on all 3 rear seats

Warning triangle and first aid kit

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Front seatbelt pretensioners + load limiters

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Rear seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters

Mechanical child proof lock on rear doors

Crash sensor activating central locking release, hazard warning lights, fuel cut off, interior lighting + activation of safety battery terminal clamp

Active protection

Acoustic protection for pedestrians

Airbags activation controlled with intensity and scope

M seat belts

Airbag - Front driver and passenger, side airbags and Head airbags

Seats

Adjustable front head restraints

3 rear headrests

M electric front sport seats includes electrical seat adjustment with memory, lumbar support and M embossing on headrests

Single front passenger seat

40/20/40 split folding rear seats with backrest

3 bench rear seats in 2nd row

Child seat ISOFIX attachment for the outer seats incl upper retaining strap

Non foldable rear headrests

Rear centre head restraint not adjustable

Outer rear headrests height adjustable

Security

Locking wheel bolts

Alarm system

Comfort access system with smart opener includes touch free opening and closing of the tailgate

Closing system with central locking including 2 vehicle keys with integrated emergency key

Towing

Trailer stabilisation logic

Transmission

M Sport differential

Steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles on steering wheel

Vehicle Charging

11 kW onboard charger

AC/DC charging

Fast charging cable professional mode 3 for public charging

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit (including Tyre sealant and 12V Compressor)

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 990

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 270

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 180

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

Coupler/Connector Type: Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 74500

Battery Capacity in kWh: 29.5

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Low: 29.6

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Medium: 28.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - High: 31.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Extra High: 44.4

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City: 29.6

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 34.5

WLTP - AER (km) - City: 90

WLTP - AER (km) - Comb: 79

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Low: 90

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Medium: 96

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - High: 88

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Extra High: 63

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - City: 94

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb: 80

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb - TEL: 82

WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb - TEH: 77

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (kWh/100km) - Comb: 34.5

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 32.7

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 34.9

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (kWh/100km) - Comb: 36.6

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 32.7

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 36.6

WLTP - AER (miles) - City: 55.9

WLTP - AER (miles) - Comb: 49.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City: 2.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 1.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Extra High: 1.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - High: 2

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Low: 2.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Medium: 2.2

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (miles/kWh) - Comb: 1.7

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 1.7

WLTP - EC AC Ch Dep (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 1.9

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (miles/kWh) - Comb: 1.8

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 1.8

WLTP - EC AC Weighted (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 1.9

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - City: 58.4

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb: 49.7

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb - TEH: 47.8

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb - TEL: 51

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Extra High: 39.1

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - High: 54.7

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Low: 55.9

WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Medium: 59.7

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: N

Charging Port Location: Left Side Front

Usable Battery Capacity: 25.7

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 11

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

Noise Level dB(A): 70

CO: 0.155

HC: 0.009

NOx: 0.003

HC+NOx: N

Particles: 0.0003

Emissions - PHEV

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Low: 364

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Medium: 274

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - High: 246

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Extra High: 293

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Comb: 284

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 281

WLTP - CO2 Ch Sus (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 291

WLTP - CO2 Charge Depleting (g/km) - Comb: 18

WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb: 39

WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 36

WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 43

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 89

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 88.3

CC: 4395

Cylinders: 8

Cylinder Layout: V8

Number of Valves: 32

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TWIN TURBO

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH

Compression Ratio: 10.5:1

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 8 SPEED

Engine Code: S68B44T0

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

Fuel Consumption - PHEV

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Low: 17.5

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Medium: 23.3

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - High: 26.2

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Extra High: 21.9

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb: 22.6

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb - TEL: 22.8

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb - TEH: 21.9

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Low: 16.1

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Medium: 12.1

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - High: 10.8

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Extra High: 12.9

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb: 12.5

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 12.4

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 12.9

WLTP - FC Ch Dep (l/100km) - Comb: 0.5

WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb: 1.7

WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 1.6

WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 1.9

WLTP - FC Ch Dep (mpg) - Comb: 565

WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb: 166.2

WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb - TEL: 176.6

WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb - TEH: 148.7

General

Coin Series: N

Coin Description: N

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 653

Badge Engine CC: 4.4

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 4.3

Top Speed: 155

Engine Power - BHP: 653

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 480

Engine Power - RPM: 5400

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 590

Engine Torque - NM: 800

Engine Torque - RPM: 1600

Engine Torque - MKG: 81.6

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 275/45 R21

Tyre Size Rear: 315/40 R21

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 21" ALLOY

Wheel Style: DOUBLE SPOKE STYLE 918 M

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 5110

Width: 2005

Wheelbase: 3105

Width (including mirrors): 2235

Height: 1755

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2710

Gross Vehicle Weight: 3300

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 69

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2700

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 590

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 527

No. of Seats: 5

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1820

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.5

Brakes

M Sport brakes with dark blue calipers

M Sport brake with red calipers

Driver Convenience

Universal remote control

Entertainment

Bowers and Wilkins diamond sound system

Exterior Body Features

Solid paint

Extended high-gloss Shadowline (radiator grille frame, window frame strips, rear diffuser decorative trim)

BMW Individual Metallic paint

Interior Features

BMW Individual full merino leather upholstery

BMW individual leather finished instrument panel and door upper arm trim panel in walknappa vintage coffee

Packs

M drivers pack - XM

Driving assistant professional pack - XM

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Toronto Red

Metallic - Carbon black

Metallic - Isle of Man green

Metallic - Mineral white

Metallic - Black sapphire

Metallic - Cape York green

Metallic - Marina Bay blue

Paint - Solid

Solid - Sao Paulo yellow

Paint - Special

BMW Individual paint special - Custom

BMW Individual metallic paint - Dravit grey

BMW Individual paint - Special request

Towing

Trailer towbar hitch

Trim - Leather

BMW Individual extended Merino leather - Black

BMW Individual extended Merino leather - Sakhir orange

BMW Individual full Merino leather - Silver stone

BMW Individual full Merino leather - Deep lagoon

Vehicle Charging

Adaptor 10A

Flexible charger (Mode 2)

Wheels - Alloy

22" M double spoke light alloy wheels - style 922 M

23" M star spoke night gold light alloy wheels - style 923 M

23" M star spoke bicolour light alloy wheels - style 923 M

23" M star spoke jet black light alloy wheels - style 923 M