BMW’s X5 M Competition was already one of the most serious performance SUVs on the road. Then MANHART got hold of it.
The 2022 MANHART MHX5 700 is a tuned F95-generation X5 M Competition with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 730 hp and 900 Nm of torque. That is a considerable step beyond the standard model’s 625 hp and 750 Nm, but the German tuner didn’t stop with an engine recalibration.
The MHX5 700 also receives a revised suspension, larger wheels, a sports exhaust and extensive carbon-fiber exterior work. It is effectively a more specialized interpretation of BMW’s factory super-SUV, built for owners who want their X5 M to stand apart from the growing number of high-performance SUVs on the road.
The 2022 MANHART MHX5 700 Starts With BMW’s V8
The engine remains familiar.
Under the hood sits BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, the same basic powerplant used by the X5 M Competition. MANHART’s modifications raise the output to 730 hp and 900 Nm. The company’s published specifications identify its MHtronik additional control unit or ECU remapping as the means of achieving the increase.
That represents an extra 105 hp and 150 Nm over the factory X5 M Competition.
It is a significant upgrade, particularly because the additional torque changes the character of the SUV as much as the peak horsepower figure. The eight-speed automatic transmission remains part of the drivetrain.
One figure that should not be confused with the official specifications is acceleration. MANHART does not provide a verified 0-100 km/h time for the 730-hp configuration in its published MHX5 700 information. Claims of a specific acceleration result should therefore be treated cautiously unless they come from an independent test of the exact car.
The X5 Gets More Than a Software Upgrade
MANHART’s MHX5 700 package is not simply a powerbox with a new badge.
The tuner gives the SUV a stainless-steel exhaust system with valve control, along with four 100 mm tailpipes. Buyers can choose different finishes for the outlets, including carbon and ceramic-coated versions.
There is an important caveat surrounding some of the more extreme exhaust components. MANHART lists race downpipes without catalytic converters and OPF-delete replacement pipes, but states that these parts lack TÜV approval and are intended for export markets.
That makes the exact specification particularly important. A car equipped with a road-approved exhaust configuration is a different proposition from one carrying components designed for markets or uses where those parts are permitted.
A Lower Stance Changes the X5’s Character
The MHX5 700 also sits differently from the standard X5 M Competition.
MANHART offers H&R lowering springs that bring the SUV approximately 30 mm closer to the ground. A height-adjustable spring setup is also available, giving customers more control over the finished vehicle’s stance.
The change is visually obvious, but it is not purely about appearance. Lowering the vehicle alters the suspension’s operating position and can change the way the SUV responds to steering and road inputs.
That is one reason the suspension specification deserves as much attention as the engine tune when looking at a used MHX5 700.
Huge Wheels Complete the Transformation
Wheel sizes are another area where the MANHART X5 moves beyond the factory formula.
The company’s listed equipment includes 22-inch Concave One wheels, measuring 10.5 inches wide at the front and rear and fitted with 295/30 ZR22 tires. A larger 23-inch Classic Line Y-spoke setup is also available, using 11-inch-wide wheels and 315/25 ZR23 tires.
The 23-inch configuration gives the SUV a particularly imposing appearance, but large wheels inevitably bring compromises. There is less tire sidewall to absorb sharp impacts, and replacement performance tires can represent a substantial ownership expense.
For an owner using the MHX5 700 as a daily driver, the choice between wheel packages is therefore more than a styling decision.
Carbon Fiber Gives the MHX5 700 Its Identity
The most obvious visual changes come from MANHART’s bodywork.
The company offers a carbon-fiber hood with GTR-style air inlets, a front spoiler, side-sill extensions, a rear diffuser and a two-piece rear spoiler. Other carbon components, including mirror caps and additional exterior pieces, can also be fitted.
The result is an X5 M that looks considerably more purposeful than the standard BMW.
MANHART’s approach is also relatively modular. Not every customer has to choose exactly the same combination of components, which explains why photographs of MHX5 700 builds can show noticeably different exterior specifications.
The Interior Keeps the BMW Formula
Inside, the transformation is less dramatic.
MANHART offers carbon-fiber steering-wheel components, carbon shift paddles and its own floor mats, along with additional individual interior customization.
That leaves the core BMW cabin largely intact. Buyers still get the basic environment of the X5 M rather than stepping into an entirely redesigned interior.
For many customers, that balance will be welcome. The appeal of the MHX5 700 is the combination of BMW’s luxury-SUV platform with MANHART’s performance treatment, rather than replacing everything that makes the X5 recognizable.
There Isn’t One Fixed MHX5 700 Price
Pricing is difficult to reduce to one number because the MHX5 700 is not a conventional production model.
A customer starts with an X5 M Competition and then selects MANHART modifications. Engine tuning, wheels, suspension, exhaust and carbon-fiber parts can all affect the finished specification.
Consequently, there is no single price that accurately describes every 2022 MHX5 700.
The same applies to availability. These vehicles are specialist conversions rather than cars produced in BMW’s normal volume-production system. MANHART has also documented limited examples of the F95 MHX5 700, including a build described as number six in a planned run of ten.
That limited nature is part of the vehicle’s appeal, particularly for buyers who value exclusivity.
Fuel Economy Isn’t the Selling Point
There is no separate official fuel-economy rating for the modified MHX5 700 that can be used as a universal figure.
That is hardly surprising. The vehicle starts with a large, high-output V8 SUV and then receives additional performance tuning. Actual consumption will depend on the specific calibration, wheel and tire setup and driving conditions.
Anyone considering one should also budget for the realities of high-performance SUV ownership. Tires, brakes, fuel and specialist maintenance can all cost more than they would on a conventional X5.
The modifications may also affect warranty coverage and insurance arrangements, so those issues should be confirmed before buying.
Where the MHX5 700 Fits in the Performance-SUV Market
The MANHART does not compete in exactly the same way as a factory Mercedes-AMG, Porsche or Audi performance SUV.
Those manufacturers engineer their high-performance models as complete factory products. MANHART instead takes BMW’s X5 M Competition and creates a more individualized version around it.
That difference will appeal to a particular type of buyer.
Someone looking for a factory-backed specification may be better served by an untouched performance SUV. Someone who wants substantially more power and a car that is unlikely to look like every other X5 M may find the MANHART approach more interesting.
What to Check Before Buying One
The MHX5 700 name alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
A prospective buyer should establish exactly which engine software or tuning hardware is installed and inspect the exhaust specification. The suspension, wheels and bodywork should also be checked against the build documentation.
Service records are particularly important. A modified V8 SUV should have a clear maintenance history, and prospective owners should understand whether the modifications affect any remaining manufacturer or aftermarket warranty.
Legal compliance is another essential check. Certain MANHART exhaust components are specifically identified as lacking TÜV approval, so buyers need to verify the regulations that apply in their own country.
The 2022 MANHART MHX5 700 takes a 625-hp BMW X5 M Competition and turns it into a 730-hp, 900-Nm performance SUV with a much more individual identity.
Its appeal isn’t just the extra power. The lowered suspension, oversized wheels, valve-controlled exhaust and carbon-fiber bodywork give the X5 a substantially different character while retaining the practicality and luxury of BMW’s original platform.
For buyers, however, the right MHX5 700 is the one with a documented history, sensible specification and road-legal modifications. The headline numbers are impressive, but the details of the individual build are what ultimately determine whether this tuned X5 is a smart buy.