In today’s automotive landscape, the BMW X5, now in its fourth generation, epitomizes the epitome of luxury road-travel. While some of its counterparts from the initial surge of luxury SUVs, over two decades ago, have gradually traded off-road capabilities for heightened on-road refinement, the X5 has remained steadfast in its versatile prowess from the outset. Hence, the emergence of the BMW X5 E53, a lifted pre-runner engineered for rugged off-road expeditions, presents a distinctive and noteworthy build.
Upon its debut in 1999 with the original E53 X5, BMW coined the term SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) to underscore the vehicle’s dynamic nature, distinguishing it from traditional all-terrain behemoths like the Range Rover, despite BMW’s ownership of Land Rover and incorporation of advanced technologies from that era.
In the early 2000s, BMW M introduced the track-dominating, endurance racing V12-powered X5 Le Mans, solidifying its high-performance pedigree. Yet, the X5’s off-road endeavors are relatively limited, notably seen in the X5cc Dakar rally support vehicle, crafted by the X-Raid motorsport team under the guidance of Steven Quandt, a scion of the BMW-owning Quandt family.
Nevertheless, compared to rivals like the Porsche Cayenne, the X5 lacks factory-built ruggedness, resulting in minimal availability of aftermarket lift kits. Transforming it into a formidable off-road machine demands substantial modifications and Herculean efforts.
Enter ECS Tuning, a company based in Ohio, along with their talented design engineer, Mike Day. They embarked on the ambitious project of transforming an E53 X5 into a luxurious pre-runner suitable for Ultra 4 off-road competitions. If the term “Ultra X5” rings a bell, it might be because Vaughn Gittin Jr. used a similar phrase to describe the GT500 Predator Crate V8-powered sixth-generation Ford Bronco showcased at SEMA.
Let’s clarify – the Ultra X5 isn’t intended for competitive racing; rather, it’s designed as a trail rig, as Mike himself describes it. Nonetheless, when the build debuted at SEMA 2023, it outshone many other lifted vehicles at the event in Las Vegas. What set it apart was its full functionality and readiness for challenging terrains. The true test came a few days later when the Ultra X5 tackled the trails in Moab. While this was just an initial off-road trial, even this limited showcase set an exceptionally high standard within the off-roading community.