It's got more torque than an X5 M Competition, and the design stops just short of garish.
While not quite as extreme as Mansory, German tuner Manhart is known for its own extravagant iterations of full-fat BMW M and Mercedes-AMG models, but with the new Manhart X5 G05 M50d, we can see another side of the specialist. Not only has Manhart made the rare decision to tune a diesel and not a top-tier X5 M, but it has also held back on the design front to create something more subtle - well, as subtle as a 395-horsepower SUV riding on 23s can be. This is most definitely a departure from the tuner's brash M4 CSL called the MH4 GTR II.
The tuner even says that "sometimes less is even more" when describing the G05 M50d, and we'd have to agree. This is a tastefully modified luxury Autobahn crusher and also a reminder of the wonderful turbodiesel engines that Americans missed out on.
The G05 M50d from Manhart is based on the pre-facelift X5, so doesn't have the styling upgrades from the latest 2024 X5. That's no issue; the original design is still contemporary and handsome. In black and with a black grille, it looks pretty mean, and the first sign of Manhart's newfound restraint is that the tuner's usual gold decals have not been applied to this model. That's not to say it hasn't been emboldened in other ways, though. Multiple body add-ons from Larte Design are finished in carbon, including a multi-piece front spoiler attachment, the hood, and the radiator grille inserts.
Special side skirt attachments, frames for the side air outlets in the front wings, and mirror caps are also new, but these are outdone by those Manhart Classic Line Y-spoke alloys. Measuring 23 inches and with a matte black finish, they're shod in Continental SportContact 7 tires.
At the back, there are more carbon elements, including a large diffuser. New black tailpipes and a spoiler below the rear window complete the look. Manhart kept the interior fairly close to the original but did throw in some Manhart floor mats embroidered with the tuner's logo. Again, we're loving this level of restraint.
More exciting changes await under the hood. This 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel mill was one of BMW's best, boasting 395 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque thanks to quad turbochargers. Manhart turned to specialists in Wuppertal who equipped an in-house MHtronik auxiliary control unit, increasing outputs to 459 hp and 642 lb-ft; that's almost 100 lb-ft more than what the X5 M Competition makes.
As for pricing, some of the major items include the 23-inch wheels for €7,545 (around $8,115 at current rates), the MHtronik Powerbox for €2,195 ($2,360), and the Larte Design carbon rear diffuser for €3,665 ($3,942).
We're not ones to encourage a Manhart conversion, but if you must have one, this is the option of choice.
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