X5M F95 Competition — big SUV, big power, big maintenance costs

The tire cost on the X5M is real. I went through 3 sets of rear tires in 2 years. Switched from the Michelin PS4S to Continental SportContact 7 and they last slightly longer without sacrificing much grip.

For the brakes, consider switching to aftermarket rotors from DBA or Brembo when the OEM ones wear out. The M compound brake pads are excellent but the OEM rotors are overpriced. You can save 40-50 percent going aftermarket without any performance loss.

The S63TU4 in the X5M responds well to tuning. Stage 1 with BM3 or MHD puts you around 700hp. At that point the car is genuinely dangerous — 700hp in a 2.3 ton SUV with all-wheel drive means you can break traction even in a straight line.

The brake wear on the X5M is accelerated by the weight and power. For anyone doing track days with an X5M, I strongly recommend upgrading to a big brake kit. The stock brakes fade quickly under sustained hard use. Brembo GT kit with 6-piston calipers and 405mm rotors transforms the braking performance.

Also, the brake fluid should be changed annually if you do any spirited driving. The stock DOT4 fluid boils at relatively low temperatures. Switch to Motul RBF 660 for much better heat resistance.