X5 M50i to 2025 ST

[Ldstang50]

What great way to end 2024 and start 2025! We purchased a 2025 ST yesterday. I had been eyeing the ST for about a year. I had “built” one on Ford’s website and knew what I wanted; black, awd, sun and sound package


Our x5 had plenty of grunt but we’ve outgrown the trunk (I’m in a wheelchair and we now have a baby). If we had any shopping to be done, I couldn’t go with my wife as the baby stroller and my chair take up the entire trunk.

We went to the dealership yesterday to hopefully score a 2024 with some incentives. They had 3 STs on the lot: a used 23, used 24 and new 25. I entertained the 2024 until I saw it had 21k miles and was only $13k less than a brand new 2025. It also happened to check my 3 boxes.

Before signing, my wife made me shake and promise her I wouldn’t modify it. Suuuuuure thing honey

She took her mom for a spin this morning, the FIRST thing she says when she returns, “I didn’t realize how much slower this was vs the BMW.” To be fair, our last 3 cars were 2014 E63 wagon, 2019 E63 wagon, and X5 M50i.

“So now can I tune it?”

Yes, but don’t go crazy

Not a problem honey

 

[23 Explorer ST]

What great way to end 2024 and start 2025! We purchased a 2025 ST yesterday. I had been eyeing the ST for about a year. I had “built” one on Ford’s website and knew what I wanted; black, awd, sun and sound package


Our x5 had plenty of grunt but we’ve outgrown the trunk (I’m in a wheelchair and we now have a baby). If we had any shopping to be done, I couldn’t go with my wife as the baby stroller and my chair take up the entire trunk.

We went to the dealership yesterday to hopefully score a 2024 with some incentives. They had 3 STs on the lot: a used 23, used 24 and new 25. I entertained the 2024 until I saw it had 21k miles and was only $13k less than a brand new 2025. It also happened to check my 3 boxes.

Before signing, my wife made me shake and promise her I wouldn’t modify it. Suuuuuure thing honey

She took her mom for a spin this morning, the FIRST thing she says when she returns, “I didn’t realize how much slower this was vs the BMW.” To be fair, our last 3 cars were 2014 E63 wagon, 2019 E63 wagon, and X5 M50i.

“So now can I tune it?”

Yes, but don’t go crazy

Not a problem honey View attachment 27167

Welcome and congratulations!!


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[Blue Beast]

What great way to end 2024 and start 2025! We purchased a 2025 ST yesterday. I had been eyeing the ST for about a year. I had “built” one on Ford’s website and knew what I wanted; black, awd, sun and sound package


Our x5 had plenty of grunt but we’ve outgrown the trunk (I’m in a wheelchair and we now have a baby). If we had any shopping to be done, I couldn’t go with my wife as the baby stroller and my chair take up the entire trunk.

We went to the dealership yesterday to hopefully score a 2024 with some incentives. They had 3 STs on the lot: a used 23, used 24 and new 25. I entertained the 2024 until I saw it had 21k miles and was only $13k less than a brand new 2025. It also happened to check my 3 boxes.

Before signing, my wife made me shake and promise her I wouldn’t modify it. Suuuuuure thing honey

She took her mom for a spin this morning, the FIRST thing she says when she returns, “I didn’t realize how much slower this was vs the BMW.” To be fair, our last 3 cars were 2014 E63 wagon, 2019 E63 wagon, and X5 M50i.

“So now can I tune it?”

Yes, but don’t go crazy

Not a problem honey View attachment 27167

Welcome to the forum. Congrads on your new ride.

 

[powerboatr]

Very nice
Welcome

 

[DaHuntah]

Nice choice but you can't tune it. . . yet. The encryption in the new PCM's programming code hasn't been broken yet. It's only a matter of time but it may be a long time, unfortunately.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

What great way to end 2024 and start 2025! We purchased a 2025 ST yesterday. I had been eyeing the ST for about a year. I had “built” one on Ford’s website and knew what I wanted; black, awd, sun and sound package


Our x5 had plenty of grunt but we’ve outgrown the trunk (I’m in a wheelchair and we now have a baby). If we had any shopping to be done, I couldn’t go with my wife as the baby stroller and my chair take up the entire trunk.

We went to the dealership yesterday to hopefully score a 2024 with some incentives. They had 3 STs on the lot: a used 23, used 24 and new 25. I entertained the 2024 until I saw it had 21k miles and was only $13k less than a brand new 2025. It also happened to check my 3 boxes.

Before signing, my wife made me shake and promise her I wouldn’t modify it. Suuuuuure thing honey

She took her mom for a spin this morning, the FIRST thing she says when she returns, “I didn’t realize how much slower this was vs the BMW.” To be fair, our last 3 cars were 2014 E63 wagon, 2019 E63 wagon, and X5 M50i.

“So now can I tune it?”

Yes, but don’t go crazy

Not a problem honey View attachment 27167

Well, sorry, can’t tune these the 2025s yet. Congrats on the buy though and welcome to the forum! Be sure to check out my modding guide which details all the parts available for these cars:

https://www.explorerst.org/threads/explorer-st-modding-101-guide.7324/

 

[Grabber]

I am really surprised from going from an X5 M50i to the ST. Not much of a size difference (about a foot) and the X5 is much wider and has a lot more safety and creature comfort features too. Eyeing X5MC's to replace the ST. Bang for buck just isn't there as most made it out to be.

As others have said, cannot tune the 2025 ST's. Probably by Spring of this year that capability would be there, but not sure.

 

[Cdubya]

Shouldn't you compare with the BMW X7 though to be fair?

 

[Grabber]

Shouldn't you compare with the BMW X7 though to be fair?

X5 already weighs hundreds of pounds more than the ST and has optional 3-rows for 6-7 seats. X7 is nearly the same size as the ST, but is considered full size, whereas the ST is mid-size.

Not sure how that works, but the X5 is in the same category as the ST.

 

[Cajun Heat]

What great way to end 2024 and start 2025! We purchased a 2025 ST yesterday. I had been eyeing the ST for about a year. I had “built” one on Ford’s website and knew what I wanted; black, awd, sun and sound package


Our x5 had plenty of grunt but we’ve outgrown the trunk (I’m in a wheelchair and we now have a baby). If we had any shopping to be done, I couldn’t go with my wife as the baby stroller and my chair take up the entire trunk.

We went to the dealership yesterday to hopefully score a 2024 with some incentives. They had 3 STs on the lot: a used 23, used 24 and new 25. I entertained the 2024 until I saw it had 21k miles and was only $13k less than a brand new 2025. It also happened to check my 3 boxes.

Before signing, my wife made me shake and promise her I wouldn’t modify it. Suuuuuure thing honey

She took her mom for a spin this morning, the FIRST thing she says when she returns, “I didn’t realize how much slower this was vs the BMW.” To be fair, our last 3 cars were 2014 E63 wagon, 2019 E63 wagon, and X5 M50i.

“So now can I tune it?”

Yes, but don’t go crazy

Not a problem honey View attachment 27167

Welcome and congrats on your purchase. Enjoy modifying.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I am really surprised from going from an X5 M50i to the ST. Not much of a size difference (about a foot) and the X5 is much wider and has a lot more safety and creature comfort features too. Eyeing X5MC's to replace the ST. Bang for buck just isn't there as most made it out to be.

As others have said, cannot tune the 2025 ST's. Probably by Spring of this year that capability would be there, but not sure.

I disagree. The bang for buck value is best in class IMO performance wise. What other 60k SUV can you spend just around $2k on that runs sub-12 second quarter miles?

 

[Grabber]

I disagree. The bang for buck value is best in class IMO performance wise. What other 60k SUV can you spend just around $2k on that runs sub-12 second quarter miles?

You can buy a used X5M and runs 11’s stock. Or a new X3M for 70K and runs low 12’s stock in a slightly smaller frame. Durango SRT at MSRP runs 12’s and is larger and heavier for nearly the same price, give or take a few thousand bucks.

Either way, stock for stock the ST is slow running mid 13’s while weighing less than 5K lbs.

I get what you’re saying. I’m about 5K in and according to dragy my car on 93 runs low 12’s with a 230lb driver in heat. Guess that’s a good bang for buck.


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[Ldstang50]

I am really surprised from going from an X5 M50i to the ST. Not much of a size difference (about a foot) and the X5 is much wider and has a lot more safety and creature comfort features too. Eyeing X5MC's to replace the ST. Bang for buck just isn't there as most made it out to be.

As others have said, cannot tune the 2025 ST's. Probably by Spring of this year that capability would be there, but not sure.

The 15” of length is significant

The trunk of the ST is considerably deeper. Today we went to Costco, we put 2cases of water in the trunk with the stroller and my wheelchair back there. We didn’t have to breakdown my chair and play tetris or worse, throw it on the front seat like we did with the X5

The ST has more leg room in the backseats (2nd row) than the X5

The ST has considerable more storage under the trunk floor

The facelift 2024 X5M only comes in Comp, no more non-comp cars. They’re now a mini-hybrid with a 48v battery that adds 12hp. And no, horsepower isn’t up any from the original, non-hybrid car. From what I’ve been told, the only benefit of this is a 20-30mi range before using the engine

 

[2020FordRaptor]

You can buy a used X5M and runs 11’s stock. Or a new X3M for 70K and runs low 12’s stock in a slightly smaller frame. Durango SRT at MSRP runs 12’s and is larger and heavier for nearly the same price, give or take a few thousand bucks.

Either way, stock for stock the ST is slow running mid 13’s while weighing less than 5K lbs.

I get what you’re saying. I’m about 5K in and according to dragy my car on 93 runs low 12’s with a 230lb driver in heat. Guess that’s a good bang for buck.


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Used is completely different ball park. Used STs range from $30-40k depending on mileage and year. BMWs are drastically more expensive. The SRT 392 starts at $75k and is really outdated. I do agree though, Ford could’ve done a lot more with the ST platform, but we do have to remember it is a really small percentage of ST owners who actually bought it for the power (compared to an regular Explorer at least) and even smaller amount who tune it to go faster. Most of the others is #itsmywifesexplorer.

 

[Grabber]

Used is completely different ball park. Used STs range from $30-40k depending on mileage and year. BMWs are drastically more expensive. The SRT 392 starts at $75k and is really outdated. I do agree though, Ford could’ve done a lot more with the ST platform, but we do have to remember it is a really small percentage of ST owners who actually bought it for the power (compared to an regular Explorer at least) and even smaller amount who tune it to go faster. Most of the others is #itsmywifesexplorer.

Fair points.

German cars will always run a premium. In stock form, the ST is pretty slow for a 60K fairly light SUV. A lot of Durango SRT's in my area are listed for 65K new, which is not much more than the ST, and despite being hundreds of pounds heavier, they are definitely quicker and come with more features, specifically for enthusiasts, launch control from the factory.

As far as the size, the X5 has 73CF of space (cubic feet) and the ST has a bit over 80CF, which is not drastic, but is still larger.