By Valerie Caprigno
The X and M Chapters, in partnership with San Diego and Los Angeles, are just back from Bimmer Invasion of Los Angeles. Check out Kyle’s recap for more about the event. This year’s event was incredible and featured a new venue, unbeatable curated displays and thousands of attendees. Truly like no BMW gathering you’ve attended before.
For Invasion of LA, BMW USA granted us very special access to an X5 for display at the BMW Car Club of America booth. Those of you that joined us in November 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the X5 and X vehicles may recall seeing a Silver Anniversary Edition X5 on display during Cars & Kaffee at the Plant? That same X5 has made it’s way to the West Coast, been wrapped in eye catching XPEL COLOR in Monza Red and entered into the 2025 Rebelle Rally.
For three years now, BMW USA has entered X vehicles into the Rebelle Rally. In 2023 they entered the newly updated X2 M35i (U10), in 2024 the refreshed X3 M50 and for 2025? The Silver Anniversary Edition X5. What, exactly, is Rebelle you ask? Now in it’s tenth year, Rebelle is the longest competitive off-road competition in the US, covering more than 1300 miles. Rebelle has become respected across the world in the Rally community. The competition takes place in some of the harshest geography the US has to offer, across Nevada and California, and lasts 8 days. During the competition, teams of 2 made up of a driver and navigator go completely off grid to navigate the challenges the rally has in store for them. No GPS. No shortcuts. Just pure skill, strategy, and determination. Oh, and those teams just happen to be all women. Some of the most determined women you will meet. Not exactly somewhere you’d expect to see any BMWs, right?
And your next thought might be, “It HAS to be modified, there’s no way a stock BMW can do something like that, is there?”. X vehicles are capable of so much more than you realize..they aren’t just for hauling groceries or kids and their sports equipment. We have members across the X Chapter who adore them as their daily drivers, their family road trip vehicles, towing vehicle, track toys and yes, even take them off-roading. And they are more than capable of it all! In fact, this isn’t the first time an X5 has entered the competition. Back in 2023, Kelsey Stephens told us about her own Rebelle experience with teammate Liz Mohan and their 2013 X5 35d.
While the X5 Anniversary edition includes an off-road package, affording more situation specific off-road capabilities, beyond that it’s largely “just” another X5. To get it Rebelle ready, Team BMW has made some minor, largely aesthetic modifications including roof rack, lights, tires, wheels and some cargo area updates to maximize the space for competition.
The display at Bimmer Invasion of LA is just the first in Xclusive X Chapter activities planned related to the upcoming Rebelle Rally.
In just a few weeks, on Wednesday, September 24, join the X Chapter for Behind the Wheel: BMW’s Journey to the 2025 Rebelle Rally. This one-hour virtual event will allow attendees to hear directly from the passionate team members who are bringing this ambitious project to life. They’ll share insights into the unique challenges of adapting the X5 for extreme desert terrain, how they’re training and preparing for the competition, and what this journey means for BMW’s legacy in adventure and endurance motorsport.
Leading up to the Rebelle’s October 8 launch, we’ll be featuring more in-depth snippets of the Rally, Team BMW’s X5 and preparation as well as coverage of the team’s progress during the competition via our social media.
As a final 2025 event wrap-up, the X Chapter will offer a one-hour virtual event, After the Dust Settles: BMW’s X5 at the 2025 Rebelle Rally, on Wednesday, December 10. Fresh off the desert trails of the 2025 Rebelle Rally, the BMW USA team will return to share their firsthand experiences from this year’s competition. The team will reflect on the challenges they faced, the highlights of their journey, and the lessons learned from competing in one of the toughest navigation rallies in the world. From technical performance insights to personal stories of perseverance, this session offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to compete at the Rebelle Rally.
The virtual events are open to all, we hope you’re able to join us to take advantage of the CCA Xclusive access.
Tags: Bimmer invasion Rebelle Rally X Chapter