A Desert Sand BMW X1: Rare Paint for a Common Crossover

You don’t see this color every day. BMW is showing off an X1 xDrive30e in Desert Sand, a special Individual paint that turns a familiar compact crossover into something of a head-turner. This particular model, optioned with the M Sport Pro Package and 20-inch Individual wheels, proves that even the entry-level X1 can get the exclusive treatment usually reserved for the brand’s top-tier sedans and SUVs.

The last time Desert Sand popped up was on a diesel 7 Series. This beige-cream shade, code-named S0F, suits the X1 surprisingly well, but it’s not for anyone trying to keep a low profile. It makes the car stand out in traffic, for better or worse. And it costs. In Germany, the configurator lists this paint at €3,900, roughly four times what you’d pay for a standard finish.

Buyers in higher segments typically splurge on such colors, which is why you rarely see a 1 Series hatchback in Individual paint either.

While BMW is showing off this special X1, the model itself is due for a mid-cycle refresh. The combustion and plug-in hybrid versions will get a facelift in 2027, while the iX1 electric variant skips that upgrade entirely in favor of a full next-generation redesign. Spy shots suggest the new X1 will borrow styling from the baby iX3, with an overhauled interior featuring the latest iDrive X and Panoramic Vision systems.

2-kWh battery. BMW could boost that figure with the facelift by either enlarging the pack or improving energy density. 6 seconds, thanks to a combined 322 horsepower from the B38 engine and electric motor, more than any other X1 sold today.