I have no experience with your California dealers, so I will stay out of that part.

First, the CPO warranty does not include cooling hoses and couplings (per the info on the X5world home page). You are on your own.

Secondly, it is possible during an inspection to find a 'soft' hose that is about to fail, but just as often, there is no warning. You can't demand that they should have found it, because it is very likely there was nothing to find. Also, this wasn't the same dealer who replaced the single hose, and who would therefore have known that the others should have been done. They tend to wear out at the same rate.

Third, you were the one who knew the hoses should have been replaced. You had one hose replaced, and were advised that it would be a good idea to do the rest. Sounds like good advice. Five year old coolant hoses are not something you want to gamble on with a BMW, given that the likely consequences can be $$$ (cylinder heads, etc). BMWs don't like to be overheated. Hoses are relatively cheap. Maybe you will be lucky and there will be no consequential damage to the engine.

Your brake pad analogy doesn't work, since a service technician can measure the thickness of the remaining brake pads. A better analogy would be a siezed caliper. No way of knowing it is coming, other than being aware that it is more and more likely as time goes by.

Check your service work order for the check over. I am pretty sure that there is a limitation of liability clause. You paid for a check, not an overhaul.

I think all the costs should be your responsibility.

As to the steering wheel buttons, interesting find. I didn't know about that wear point, but obviously your independent mechanic knew about it. Good for him. I would have told you the same as the BMW dealers: "Yes, we can try and fix it, but it is likely to be expensive. Are you sure you want to go there?" Their reluctance likely stems from the number of times they have had disputed invoices for investigation of electrical faults, where customers got surprised by the final bill. Electrical faults are not unknown, unfortunately. I wouldn't blame the dealers, but I would celebrate the fact that the independent knew where to look for the problem.

Jeff

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue