Quote:
Originally Posted by FSETH
We bought our X5 with full knowledge of what repairs cost. It would just be nice if they needed a little less, imo. We have put between about 15,000 to 20,000 miles a year on it since purchasing 4 years ago.
I am not sure how much preventative maintenance I could have really done to limit the vast majority of my issues such as window regulators (we don't slam doors), alternators locking up(???), fuel pump failing, (we use only Shell and Chevron premium grade from what appear to be reputable stations), thrust rod bushings twice (we drive slow over speedbumps and the roads are like glass in here), etc. These are just some of the repairs we have been faced with. Not to mention having to replace just about every engine seal imaginable including the valve cover gaskets twice in 60,000 miles. How could I have prevented my air conditioning evaporator core from leaking, the very common corrosion in the tail lights that causes the bulbs to stop functioning, my power steering hoses from leaking, my final stage resistor from failing, etc. I am not sure how I could have prevented much, if any, of that. As much as I like BMW's, this list should be much shorter, imo and it doesn't include all of the issues I have had like a complete overhaul of the cooling system and it's brittle plastic components. Luckily, the majority of these items were replaced under an extended warranty.
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I agree you really can't prevent alot of issues. But at least having some knowledge of what the problem is, you won't be taken to spend more money than you have to. Or even at times it could be a quick DIY. I'll go back though to having a trusted indy. My mechanic allows me to hang around the shop, watch them work, walk around look at other rides. I guess because the shop I go to is more bmw enthusiast oriented. These guys love bmw's and they take pride in working on them. If i'm not at the shop and they need to do something, he'll take a picture and send it to me on my phone or email me. How many bmw shops will do that?
I've heard that with the window regulators for example, it's good to roll your windows down once in awhile. I actually always roll my windows down first thing in the morning when I take the x5 out.