Hello everyone,

I bought a 03 X5 3.0i about 5 months ago. I thought it was a great deal because the place I bought it couldn't figure out why the brake lights didn't work. turned out to be the sockets were wrong. a $24 fix after a month the low oil light came on needed a quart.

after having the X5 for 3 months and not finding anything major wrong I took it on vacation 3500 miles total before I found myself sitting on the side of the road unable to move but the engine purred like a kitten. Turned out to be the front drivesaft. $1300 later I get the X5 back get 4 miles away from the shop on the interstate and the temp starts to climb while sitting in rush hour traffic. pulled it over and shut it off. just before shutting it off the low coolant light comes on. So I walk to the nearest gas station to grab a couple gallons of water so I can at least get it off the interstate. by the time I get back I see 2 cops and my X5 sitting at a 45 degree angle on the back of a flatbed with two tire marks about 50 yards long where the tow truck driver dragged my X5 down the road. I then notice that only 3 tires were on the flatbed and one was hanging off I also see a large long mark along the guardrail where the driver of the wrecker smashed it against the guardrail.
So after almost getting arrested because I wanted the tow truck drivers head. I had to walk 9 miles home after a 10 hour work day in 100 degree weather. it's been 3 weeks while I got parts to hopefully fix the overheating issue.

I am currently working on removing the radiator only to find out some backwoods repair had been done to parts of the X5. the fan shroud is held on with nylon zip ties, cheap hose clamps holding power steering hose, and wood screws holding plastic belly pan on.


So after finding this out and reading info online. about bmws are gold when there are working and a nightmare if they break. Sadly I don't think I will be owning this X5 long and may never buy another unless it's new and with my job I couldn't afford a new one.

I've also learned I'm not allowed to own nice things. Since I have almost lost my job over this and used up all sick, vacation, holiday, and comp days.

I'm not even sure if it will be drivable after I replace the radiator because of the wrecker situation. The transfer case might be shot.

Well back out to lay on the hot concrete and work on the x5 in the sun...