Annoyed with my '05 X3 3.0

slimpickens · #1 01-02-2007, 06:17 PM

I have a 2005 X3 3.0 that I bought new in May '05. I like the car a lot; it's great to drive and I like the style.

But I'm increasingly annoyed with the rattles and squeaks.

I'm continuing to suffer from the door seal issue. I had them replaced, and about every month or so they start to make noise again. If I let it go for two months, it gets to be pretty obnoxious. After taking it in to the dealer, they lubricate it and say something like, "cleaned door jams and removed excess wax". I have never put the car through an automatic car wash and I hand wax it myself; needless to say I don't wax the door jams. This time around they said they put teflon tape or something around the inside of the door jams. I don't know if I like this or not because the car's at the dealers again right now and I haven't seen this "fix".

My sunroof used to make an extremely loud rattle over bumps, especially with the visor open. The "fix" was to wrap some tape or something around a piece in the roof. That cushions the rattle, and the sound is greatly diminished, but it's still there. The dealer says, on multiple occasions, "It's a big sunroof. You should expect some rattles."

Also, there's an occasional popping sound from the passenger seat, only when there's a passenger in the seat. The lead tech at the dealer heard the sound and documented that he heard the sound, but they weren't able to diagnose it. They signed-off on the issue saying that they found no problem and it's safe to use.

Lastly, I occasionally get a grinding noise from the steering column. The dealer couldn't reproduce the sound, so I can't blame them for not fixing it. It is annoying that it's intermittent. But when it happens it's obvious and very reproducible. Sometimes when I'm stuck in traffic and it starts, I can move the steering wheel from side to side just a bit, and make the grinding noise non-stop. Other times, like when I'm at the dealer, I can't reproduce the problem to save my life.

In short, I really want to like this X3 but I'm increasingly annoyed. I ride in my friend's Infinitis, Acuras, Audis, and such and they're so damned quiet. Heck, my Dad's Mercedes has 240k miles on it and it rattles and squeaks less!

Do all BMW's have such "character"? Should I really "expect some rattles"?

Cheers!

AzNMpower32 · #2 01-02-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimpickens

I have a 2005 X3 3.0 that I bought new in May '05. I like the car a lot; it's great to drive and I like the style.

But I'm increasingly annoyed with the rattles and squeaks.

I'm continuing to suffer from the door seal issue. I had them replaced, and about every month or so they start to make noise again. If I let it go for two months, it gets to be pretty obnoxious. After taking it in to the dealer, they lubricate it and say something like, "cleaned door jams and removed excess wax". I have never put the car through an automatic car wash and I hand wax it myself; needless to say I don't wax the door jams. This time around they said they put teflon tape or something around the inside of the door jams. I don't know if I like this or not because the car's at the dealers again right now and I haven't seen this "fix".

I personally have not had this problem. Some people here have a nifty fix involving spraying some lubricant on the door seals. They should respond.

Quote:

My sunroof used to make an extremely loud rattle over bumps, especially with the visor open. The "fix" was to wrap some tape or something around a piece in the roof. That cushions the rattle, and the sound is greatly diminished, but it's still there. The dealer says, on multiple occasions, "It's a big sunroof. You should expect some rattles."

Find another dealer. There are some Service Bulletins related to this. I don't know if this is your problem: http://www.alldata.com/tsb/BMW/11517...6/5414061.html

Quote:

Also, there's an occasional popping sound from the passenger seat, only when there's a passenger in the seat. The lead tech at the dealer heard the sound and documented that he heard the sound, but they weren't able to diagnose it. They signed-off on the issue saying that they found no problem and it's safe to use.

Lastly, I occasionally get a grinding noise from the steering column. The dealer couldn't reproduce the sound, so I can't blame them for not fixing it. It is annoying that it's intermittent. But when it happens it's obvious and very reproducible. Sometimes when I'm stuck in traffic and it starts, I can move the steering wheel from side to side just a bit, and make the grinding noise non-stop. Other times, like when I'm at the dealer, I can't reproduce the problem to save my life.

There has been a thread on this subject I believe. The result was the steering column was replaced.

Quote:

In short, I really want to like this X3 but I'm increasingly annoyed. I ride in my friend's Infinitis, Acuras, Audis, and such and they're so damned quiet. Heck, my Dad's Mercedes has 240k miles on it and it rattles and squeaks less!

I understand that sometimes it can be frustrating. Then drive one of these back to back with your X3 on a twisty road, ignoring the recommended/posted speed limits and driving it hard (but keeping in mind the laws of physics). Your worries quickly go out the window.

By the way, try this website
http://www.alldata.com/tsb/BMW/index-issue.html

It lists all of the posted service bulletins isssued by BMW. If you see a problem related to your car and want it fixed, print the bulletin out and give it to your dealer.

:xoutpost:

mwbbmw · #3 01-02-2007, 07:06 PM

I've ready many complaints about the X3 quality and some specific like yours referencing things that just shouldn't occur but I have to say that I am on my second X3 (I had an '04 before) and haven't had any of the issues you mentioned (knock on wood). I have an '05 325 as well and over time on both my X3 and now on my 325 some odd sounds have crept into the mix. Sounds or problems that weren't there before. Nothing major and not enough to get me in for service but they are there. My '04 X3 had more squeaks as time went on - again, nothing that major but I do think they were because of the stiffer suspension that was standard on the '04s.

I agree with other posts: Don't accept the standard dealer "brush off." When I get answers like that I call my sales guy that I bought from and he gets me real answers and gets my problems resolved. It sounds as though your dealership might not be the best and you could do with one that actually believes in customer satisfaction.

Good luck and don't give up on the marque just because of a bad dealer. Hopefully the Roundel can redeem itself for you!

Rick in Prescott · #4 01-03-2007, 12:18 PM

My 06: No rattles, door seals squeek but silicon spray will keep them quiet for months. Sun roof does not make noise. Car performs better than expected and I would buy another one tomorrow if I could get a diesel.
If I were you, I'd do one of two things. A, keep after the dealer to fix it, or B, sell it and buy something that you can live with.

blondboinsd · #5 01-03-2007, 12:41 PM

Yeah our 325i has been totally rattle free, the X3's problems are not uncommon, they do suffer from major quality issues if you ask me, every loaner car I have driven has rattles

, My X5 has had a rattle or two but they always been fixed by the ever helpful dealer, my advice: find another dealer

sfhondapilot · #6 01-03-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimpickens

Lastly, I occasionally get a grinding noise from the steering column. The dealer couldn't reproduce the sound, so I can't blame them for not fixing it. It is annoying that it's intermittent. But when it happens it's obvious and very reproducible. Sometimes when I'm stuck in traffic and it starts, I can move the steering wheel from side to side just a bit, and make the grinding noise non-stop. Other times, like when I'm at the dealer, I can't reproduce the problem to save my life.

Is this "grinding" noise sound the same as the sound you would make by rapidly dragging your fingernail on heavy cloth (like you pants leg)? Our '04 X3 made that noise. The noise would only begin after at least ten minutes of city driving. Once the noise started, you could "create" the noise by simply turning the wheel back and forth, while the car was stationary.

The dealer replaced the steering rack and the noise has gone away. BTW, we also have servotronic steering so I don't know if that might have been a contributor.

GL

slimpickens · #7 01-05-2007, 09:49 PM

I suppose the noise could be described that way; I'm thinking it's more granular than that though. Tough to describe, especially since I haven't been able to reproduce it lately (my wife is the primary driver of the car). When I did hear it and reproduce it simply by moving the wheel back and forth, I was in heavy urban traffic, so that might be the catalyst.

Is there a bulletin on this? I haven't yet poked around the links above very much; looks like a great resource but I've had zero free time lately :-(

cheers...

peoe2 · #8 01-06-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimpickens

This time around they said they put teflon tape or something around the inside of the door jams.

Believe it or not, the dealer is doing the right thing. BMW recently updated their bulletin on the door noise issue to tell dealer to put the teflon tape.

There is a similar bulletin for the 5 series so the X3 is not the only car with creaking noise from the door area.

v10rick · #9 01-07-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:I ride in my friend's Infinitis, Acuras, Audis, and such and they're so damned quiet. Heck, my Dad's Mercedes has 240k miles on it and it rattles and squeaks less!

Apparently not in a FX. The pops and creaks from the lift hatch got severe enough that silicone spray would not work. Dealer would not do anything to address the issue so I got rid of the POS.

Body flex has a lot to do with this and teflon tape at friction points should be an effective fix.

slimpickens · #10 02-16-2007, 02:16 PM

Sorry for the lag.

It's now been some time since we've gotten the car back from the dealer.

The teflon tape didn't help as the creaking/ticking sound is still coming from the door jams. What silicon lubricant are folks using on their door jams (or on the seals, I should say)?

My passenger seat still pops; typically under low speed braking/acceleration, and/or tight turns. The lead tech went for a test ride and heard it but couldn't find the source. They declared it safe for use. Ugh.

I only heard the steering column noise twice since it was at the dealer, but again, it's my wife's daily driver, not mine.

So aside from the teflon tape, the dealer did nothing to address my other issues. This is Thompson BMW in Doylestown, PA. I really think I agree with the above advice of finding another dealer....