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Mackskibum · #31 03-20-2006, 10:27 AM

MD, thanks for the reply. Even a generic respnse with a contact name would be nice, since if they respond, they have started a file.

I probably should have mentioned in my post that we all need to understand that it was probably a problem that sent us looking for a BBS like X5world in the first place. We will probably see a higher concentration of problems than the general public.

SANguru- to respond to your Honda Odyssey issue- from a sheer number standpoint, Honda probably sells more Odyssey minivans than BMW sells ALL MODELS worldwide. What about the Accord, Civic, Pilot and all the Acura brands? Very reliable all. (They are also all what I would call "vanilla" cars- no personality) The issue is should performace hounds like us have to endure the BS repetitive failures on vehicles that cost $45-$70K just to have the opportunity to drive a vehicle like this? I don't think so. Any brand has issues. It is how those issues are corrected that matters.

For example: I owned a 2002 GMC Yukon with the 5.3 engine. There is a website related to people with engine knock issues. All I had to do to solve my problem was call GM, (of course they said there was no issue with engine life) and argue a bit. At the end of the conversation they extended the powertrain warranty to 100K miles at no charge. They had a program to deal with the problem, and by the 2003 model year, the knock was gone- engineered out of their 5.3 engine.

I can't tell you how many times I have been to the dealer for misc. BS parts, and find that they suggest additional BS parts to make sure you can correct the problem. Reference my tail light replacement from the earlier post- I went in for a bulb, they asked had I looked at the contacts on the assembly. If they know, BMW has to know. How many have changed plugs and discovered that you need a connector or two. Has anyone ever been doing an oil change and bumped the coolant recovery hose/tube and broken it on a Saturday evening? Some rocket scientist at BMW chose a plastic material that becomes brittle with heat and exposure to air and then decided to run hot coolant through it.

Then there's other stuff like the fact that there is no diagram in the owners manual or under the hood that shows the proper serpentine belt routing. You're in middle Tennessee and the serpp belt lets go. Skip the tow truck driver shows up with a belt in hand, but can't install it because there is no sticker that shows the routing.

I may be in the small percentage here that bought a BMW because I always though they were better built than other makes. A car is a major appliance for me, designed to get me from A to B quicker than walking. Unfortunately I am afflicted with a go-fast bug that prefers cars that handle well. Cars I drive every day are not personal to me, or a lifestyle decision. I don't carry a BMW key ring or wear their clothes. I don't take photos of my car in the snow, sun, rain, or flood. I drive it. Alot. I expect it to last, and be relatively trouble free if I take care of it.

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