Ok, after several months I took the X5 to an independent to get my rear wheel bearings replaced and asked if they could take a look at the hatch issue.

Diagnosis is that I have a bad spindle drive on the left (driver) side. The recommendation was that I replace both spindles even though the right side is still functional.

Anybody have experience where only the non-operable side was replaced? Not sure it makes sense to replace both.

Thanks in advance,
DJ