I've been in that same situation in the past. It's like the car is possessed. Glad it finally worked out for you. I'm guessing that where you live they salt the roads in the winter. The salt and moisture create a caustic mixture that corrodes metals and causes problems like you encountered. There is really no solution. Don't let one bad experience convince you to not try again.

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2013 X5 3.5i M Sport
2004 M3 cabriolet SMG