All,

I just wanted to share my experience of my first BMW, a used 2003 4.4 X5... and maybe get some advice on whether I'm causing the problem...

BACK STORY

I've been a happy Lexus owner in the UK for 5 years. I owned two, one used, and one from new - and they had a blissful ownership experience. In January, I relocated to Seattle for work, and decided that US gas prices were very low (compared with the UK!), and that a 4x4 vehicle would be fun - so I bought a used 2003 4.4 X5.

I have to say that, when it works, it's by far the most enjoyable car to drive I've ever driven. It's incredibly quick, handles amazingly, and has more cool buttons and toys than most.

The downside? In the 12 or so weeks I've owned it, I've been to BMW Seattle more times than I visited the Lexus dealer in 5 years. It's a good job that BMW Seattle have been providing *stunningly* good service.

So far:

- Rattling rear hatch (2 visits)
- Pixel failure on dash
- Rear light failure warnings (new rear light unit)
- Failed parking sensor (OK this one was my fault, I rammed it into a Chevy Cavalier... seems that unlike the Lexus ones, BMW sensors don't lie when it's raining!)
- ...the dreaded steering problem.

THE STEERING

This started making a terrible noise whilst parking downtown. I called BMW at 5:20 on a Saturday, and they told me to bring it in - it was probably a failed high-pressure hose, they could fix before closing 7pm. They called me at 6 to say that the steering rack was cracked, and it'd take a little more time than they had. I got my car back on the Monday.

Two weeks and about 400 miles later, the same noise returns. I take it into BMW again, and I'm told that the *new* steering rack has also failed ("cracked"). This time parts need to come from Germany ("inter-galactic backorder") and I'll be without my car for around 3 weeks.

THE QUESTION

I've trawled the forums, and I don't see this problem occurring too often. Is it under some term I'm not using? Is there a way that I could have broken two steering racks in about 2000 miles of driving? (I drive it pretty hard, but I'd hope it'd take steering round corners on bumpy Seattle roads!).

Despite how fun it is to drive, I'm starting to wonder if I should change it in for a more reliable, but infinately less exciting, Lexus SUV


Alistair