Generations
| Generation | Code | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Third | F15 (X5 M: F85) | 2013–2018 |
| Fourth | G05 (X5 M: F95) | 2018–2023 |
| Fourth, facelift | G05 LCI | 2023–2026 |
| Fifth | G65 | Unveiled on 30 June 2026; on sale from late November 2026 |
The numbering is BMW's own, which calls the new X5 "the fifth generation". The full sequence since 1999 is E53, E70, F15, G05 and G65.
That last point matters for buying: with the G65 arriving, the G05 becomes the previous generation, and that usually moves the used market.
The campaigns to check
The KBA register holds fifty-five entries reaching the X5. They do not fit here, so these are the weightiest:
| KBA ref. | Build | What was wrong | Cars (world / Germany) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14056R | 2003–2018 | Takata airbags | 6,503,996 / 1,060,371 |
| 13586 | 09-06-2022 → 02-09-2024 | A fault in the engine position sensor can cause loss of hydraulic brake assistance: ABS and stability control become unavailable and the braking distance lengthens | 1,493,890 / 127,388 |
| 15632R | 2015–2021 | Fire risk | 1,145,385 / 136,489 |
| 8124 | 2010–2022 | Leak at the exhaust gas recirculation module that can cause a fire | — / 778,288 |
| 14158R | 01-08-2018 → 31-05-2020 | Overloading of the starter motor can cause a fire | 120,059 / 456 |
| 16131R · 16790R | 2020–2024 · 2020–2026 | Fire risk | — |
1. The starter motor campaign (14158R) is restricted by the KBA to US versions: 120,059 cars worldwide and only 456 in Germany. If you buy an X5 from a German dealer it is very unlikely to affect you. We include it because it gets talked about a great deal and it is worth knowing what it is.
2. The remedy is not always replacing the part. On the starter one, the KBA says the control unit is reprogrammed; in the United States there was first a software update (2024) and then a second campaign that does replace the starter motor (2025). On the brake one, software is installed that detects the fault in advance and warns the driver, and only if it is detected is the system replaced. Which is why you have to check which version of the campaign was done on the car, not just whether "the campaign has been done".
The plug-in hybrid, generation by generation
| xDrive45e (G05) | xDrive50e (G05 LCI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 24.0 kWh gross (about 20.6 usable) | 25.7 kWh usable |
| WLTP electric range | 67–87 km | 94–110 km |
| WLTP CO₂ | 44–27 g/km | 26–18 g/km |
| System output | 290 kW (394 PS) | 360 kW (489 PS) |
| DGT sticker | ZERO | ZERO |
| Tax in the Balearics | 0 % | 0 % |
Be careful comparing the capacities, because BMW does not publish them on the same basis: the 45e figure is gross and the 50e one is usable. BMW says the 50e's usable capacity rose "by almost 25 per cent" to 25.7 kWh, which puts the 45e at around 20.6 kWh usable. The real gap between the two is about five kilowatt hours, not two.
Both are comfortably above the 40 km the ZERO sticker requires, so there is no doubt here, unlike on tighter plug-in hybrids.
There is also an American campaign on the xDrive45e from August 2020 over loose welding beads that could form a conductive path between the battery cells and cause a short circuit. There is a separate one, also from 2020, over debris inside the cells, and it is that one — not the first — that led to owners being told not to charge the car.
And the petrol and diesel ones
On the facelift, the M60i V8 declares 283–261 g/km: the 16 % band in the Balearics. The six-cylinder cars sit just above the 200 g/km line: the xDrive40i declares 224–193 g/km and the xDrive30d 215–186. In other words, depending on the specific configuration you pay 9.75 % or 16 %, and the car's certificate is what decides. Check it with the registration tax calculator before committing. For the X5 M Competition we give no figure because we have not verified it.
Equipment: what we would look for in the Balearics
- Head-Up Display and the facelift's curved display.
- Sky Lounge panoramic roof.
- Air suspension and the full driver assistance package: two things you notice daily, though we have not been able to verify in BMW documentation which versions have them as standard.
- Third row of seats and a tow bar, for the usual island reasons.
Frequently asked questions
Which X5 generation am I looking at?
F15 (third) between 2013 and 2018; G05 (fourth) from 2018 to 2023 and its facelift to 2026. The fifth generation, the G65, was unveiled on 30 June 2026 and goes on sale in late November 2026.
What official recalls does it have?
The German register holds fifty-five. The weightiest are the Takata airbags, reaching more than a million cars in Germany alone, and the braking system one, with 127,388 in Germany, on cars built between June 2022 and 2 September 2024.
And the starter motor one?
It exists, but the German register restricts it to US versions: 120,059 cars worldwide and only 456 in Germany. On an X5 bought in Germany it is very unlikely.
Does the plug-in X5 get the ZERO sticker?
Yes. Both the xDrive45e and the xDrive50e are comfortably above the 40 km of homologated electric range, and they pay 0 % registration tax.
What does a petrol X5 pay in the Balearics?
The M60i V8 is above 200 g/km, so 16 %. The six-cylinder cars, xDrive40i and xDrive30d, straddle that line depending on configuration: they can pay 9.75 % or 16 %.
Sources
- BMW PressClub — the new BMW X5, fifth generation (June 2026)
- BMW PressClub — X5 and X6 with xDrive50e (battery and CO₂)
- KBA — German recall register
- NHTSA — recall lookup by vehicle
- ADAC — BMW X5 catalogue (codes and years)
- DGT — ZERO sticker (the 40 km requirement)
Every source was checked on 25 September 2026. Tax rules change: if you are reading this much later, confirm it or ask us.
