My car hates me...

[David D]

So, a few days ago my passenger side power door lock stopped working. I was able to open it from inside, so I figured the power actuator had died. I have an extended warranty (thank God!) and added it to the list of things to have repaired on my next visit (I have a $250 deductible per visit), which I'm sure won't be far off as I'm there every few months for something .

Last night, we were going to have dinner with my parents who were in town for the evening and I couldn't open the door from the inside or outside, so my wife had to ride in the back seat. Did some reading on here after I got home and was encouraged to read that it might just need cleaning and a lube, so I planned on having a look this weekend.

Today at lunch, I'm doing more reading here and decide to go outside and look at a couple of things and in the process, my rear passenger outside door handle won't work and sits up a little from where it should be. The inside handle works just fine. I'm assuming this means the carrier has broken?

I'm really getting frustrated with the whole vehicle. I've owned it for several years now and the warranty company has paid out over $13k in repairs. I LOVE the vehicle except for all the stupid crap that breaks so often. I've owned a variety of vehicles in my day, and this vehicle is the most problematic that I've ever owned (and I've owned a '97 Land Rover Discovery! ). I'm scared to death about keeping it past the warranty, even though I can and do wrench on my own vehicles. I want to spend most of my time enjoying driving it, not wrenching on it.

Need encouragement...

Signed,
Discouraged in Richmond, VA

[crystalworks]

Sorry to hear... in the end your going to have to weigh your enjoyment of the truck when it is on the road versus the cost/aggravation of the repairs it needs. Smart move on the warranty BTW, wish I had been able to spring for one when we purchased ours. Was going to cost ~$4000 if memory serves.

I love these things and nothing you mentioned sounds like a deal breaker for me, but we all have different needs/wants/desires so... it's going to be a decision you'll have to make.

[David D]

It's been a love/hate relationship. It's a perfect vehicle to me in terms of sportiness, luxury, and utility. I can't think of another vehicle that will do all things so well, except for its lack of reliability. Nothing individually is a "deal breaker", but the frequency of breakages is extremely frustrating and it makes me worry about what is going to break next every time I get behind the wheel. It takes much of the enjoyment out of ownership. I've owned an E30 325is (wish I still had that one!), and an E39 528iT wagon (wish I still had that one too!), and really enjoyed those vehicles. The X5 has towing capacity and AWD which is important to me as this stage in my life, so going back to the E30 or E39 isn't a viable option, unless I also have another SUV of some sort.

Sorry for venting....

[Ricky Bobby]

A $110 door carrier and a door lock actuator is really nothing to be terribly frustrated about in the grand scheme of E53 ownership.

I came in here looking for timing chain guides or valve stem seals or intermediate levers lol

[upallnight]

You can always get an xi. That has 4 wheel drive.

I had an Audi Avant that I got really cheap and love it, but when it broke down on the highway, I knew from the sound of the engine that the timing belt must have broke and the valves were bent. I love to work on cars, but I knew that at this point in my life I didn't want to repair that car so I donated it to Kars $ Kids. Ended up with the X5, but wish I brought the 540IT that I test drove.

Hopefully next year I will be able to get rid of the X and get a Cayenne.

[sunny5280]

I can understand your frustration. However I would have to say that with $13K in repair costs you may have gotten one with higher than average issues (you didn't mention anything about a costly repair so I'll assume many smaller repairs...which can add up in and of themselves).

In the end you have to decide if the hassle / expense is worth it to you. None of us can make that determination for you.

[David D]

A $110 door carrier would not be all that bad in the grand scheme if it weren't for the fact that I have been to the dealer so many times this past year that I have lost count. I have had the sunroof rebuilt ($4000+ for that visit alone), engine valve seals replaced ($9600), and numerous fluid leaks, windshield washer that has a mind of its own, window regulator, seat heater, control arms, rear mis-alignment that killed two really good tires, etc. etc. etc.

Like I said, it's a fantastic automobile that makes me smile most of the time, but the frequency of repairs is unbelievable, and it's stupid stuff that doesn't go wrong on the average vehicle.

Guess I'm still uptight about it since I'm still on a rant...

Sorry...

[white46]

Tell me about it.
There are stuff that should never break such as door handle.
Granted, $100 isn't expensive nor difficult to repair, but still, it shouldn't be easily and frequently break like this.

Lubing door handle carrier every year before winter hits is just insane.

[crystalworks]

You know... I've never had a door handle go out on me. But it seems so common here. My BIL had one go out on him on his E46 but I've seen the way he opens doors so that doesn't surprise me.

I wonder if consciously opening the door handle up and out makes a difference? Most just open straight out so most people pull straight out. I wonder if that wears on the carrier? Not saying that is what happens in all cases here, was just an observation. I've noticed other people have problems opening the doors on my e53's and e46's because of the slight upward motion required to open it. I wouldn't be surprised if one day someone told me the door handle broke after unsuccessfully trying to enter.

[TiAgX5]

I've not seen the chronic door handle carrier/window regulator failures too.

One carrier failure (drivers door) and one window regulator (left/rear) on my '03, with over 200k miles.

Find it crazy that some have spent over $10k to keep the X going.

I've put around $4k into my X getting from 100k to 200k miles , and that includes tires and brakes. Genuine BMW parts or better (Powerflex, StopTech, Cool Carbon, Vredestein, Bosch batteries.....).