Alas, Dear Boise. I believe I'll stay a bit

[PropellerHead]

Well, it took 16 years of driving E53's (3 of them), but I finally had my side line moment on the way to Boise, ID. I started off this morning in Wyoming with an all too familiar SLS error. This is common enough that I dont worry ab it at all- especially when loaded with luggage and at ab ~2,000 miles over the last few days.

I'd already called for a reunion of sorts with the folks at Boise European Motorworks. I was looking for an oil change and an SLS reset as I arrived for a night in Boise. But about an hour outside of Boise, I got the big one: CE light, Engine Failsafe mode (or whatever), ABS, all of the lights and no motor. Now I don't know why people have trouble moving their cars to the side of the road when they tell these stories. I also don't quite understand how that difficulty adds to their thoughts ab E53 reliability. But I moved to the side without drama and called up the shop.

The X5 would crank but not start. Until it did.

For grins and giggles, after a few failed attempts, I turned the key and she sprang to life! That was VERY exciting until it became a pattern repeated 5x's over the next 60 miles or so.

In the end, I got to the shop. Brian, the owner gave me a ride to my hotel in Downtown Boise, and here I remain. WTH knew it could be 105 degrees in damn Idaho?

Well, Brian just called. He said it's a relay (?) that controls voltage to the ECM. When they brought it into the shop, the X5 quit on them and they momentarily lost communication with the ECM. This and the bazillion codes it was throwing made them diagnose it as an IVM- or something- Internal Voltage Module?

But he says the dealer here has one and he can get me on the road in the morning. Seattle, here I come!

[upallnight]

And people criticised me two years ago when I rented a Toyota Camry to travel from Crook County Illinois to Birmingham Alabama.

Nothing like driving a 15 years old BMW for the ultimate experience. I rather deal with a boring reliable not going to break in the middle of nowhere car like a Toyota then a 16 years old Ultimate driving machine that can let you down anywhere.

Safe Trip and hopefully an uneventful remaining trip.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by upallnight

And people criticised me two years ago when I rented a Toyota Camry to travel from Crook County Illinois to Birmingham Alabama.

Nothing like driving a 15 years old BMW for the ultimate experience. I rather deal with a boring reliable not going to break in the middle of nowhere car like a Toyota then a 16 years old Ultimate driving machine that can let you down anywhere.

Safe Trip and hopefully an uneventful remaining trip.

Especially on this board, I'd still completely disagree with your choice of anything but an E53. Driving a car with which you have an emotional connection requires an understanding of the good times- and Oh my, what good times there have been in 88k miles and 5 years. In fact, this bit of trouble over 60 miles and about 90 minutes works out to less than 1/10th of one percent of my time with this E53. I'd shoot myself in a Camry for more than a rental ride from the airport to a customer.

But I value the relationship between the infinitesimally small risk and the huge reward of driving an E53 across the country for the 4th time. We'll have another set of amazing memories as we navigate National Parks in California and the Southwest in the E53. And we'll do it in a vehicle that will give back more than it can ever take.

Unlike a damn beige Camry. Ug. You do what you like. This single 90 minute delay will take nothing from the safety, reliability, and performance that the E53 platform offers those who take good care of it.

Oh, and I found that the IVM is a common failure point in all N62 cars. This one goes well beyond the E53.

Edit:

And while I was sitting waiting for the IVM to reset so I could start the car again, you'll never guess what I saw? I noticed the tow truck because it was a AAA tow and I'd talked to them ab the trouble I was having. Of course this one was already giving someone a ride who'd broken down. In their Toyota. Golly. I wonder what malady could have penetrated that most reliable of boring reliability?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

And people criticised me two years ago when I rented a Toyota Camry to travel from Crook County Illinois to Birmingham Alabama.

Nothing like driving a 15 years old BMW for the ultimate experience. I rather deal with a boring reliable not going to break in the middle of nowhere car like a Toyota then a 16 years old Ultimate driving machine that can let you down anywhere.

Safe Trip and hopefully an uneventful remaining trip.

Just got back from vacation in Wi. Rented a Chevy SUV, 1,200 miles one way. Hated driving the Chevy, but would never think of driving my X5. I applaud him, I'm sure he is enjoying the driving far more than we did.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Just got back from vacation in Wi. Rented a Chevy SUV, 1,200 miles one way. Hated driving the Chevy, but would never think of driving my X5. I applaud him, I'm sure he is enjoying the driving far more than we did.

'Driving a SAV or SUV on the interstate with the AC on and the cruise control set is not the ultimate driving experience for me whether it is in a BMW or Chevy Tahoe.

Diving into turn one at Road America or hitting the Carousel in my Lotus, PORSCHE or in my old Lotus Type 61 Formula Ford is the ultimate driving experience in my opinion. Trying to out brake a Ferrari into a turn without trading paint is what gets my heart beating when I'm driving.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

'Driving a SAV or SUV on the interstate with the AC on and the cruise control set is not the ultimate driving experience for me whether it is in a BMW or Chevy Tahoe.

Diving into turn one at Road America or hitting the Carousel in my Lotus, PORSCHE or in my old Lotus Type 61 Formula Ford is the ultimate driving experience in my opinion. Trying to out brake a Ferrari into a turn without trading paint is what gets my heart beating when I'm driving.

Wasn't the ultimate driving experience but traveling about 100 miles on two lane hilly roads would have been a much better experience passing hay wagons and a host of others driving 10 under so some reason.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

'Driving a SAV or SUV on the interstate with the AC on and the cruise control set is not the ultimate driving experience for me whether it is in a BMW or Chevy Tahoe.

Diving into turn one at Road America or hitting the Carousel in my Lotus, PORSCHE or in my old Lotus Type 61 Formula Ford is the ultimate driving experience in my opinion. Trying to out brake a Ferrari into a turn without trading paint is what gets my heart beating when I'm driving.

Everyone has their own idea of what "the ultimate driving experience" might be and is largely financially and personally limited. Taking a 3000 mile road trip in my 4.8is this spring with my wife to introduce my family in Florida to our daughter, and to introduce her to the wonders that are the ocean and beach... is my idea of the ultimate driving experience.

I would LOVE to do a race track (CotA is only an hour away) with a few of the cars I have owned, but lack the expendable income and time to make something like that happen. Those funds get channeled into experiences (and the house) my whole family gets to enjoy, which is fine by me. Who knows how I would feel if I were in your shoes, but I'm not.

Try to be a little more open minded when people here don't take your negative attitude towards the e53 very well. I understand for you it's just an SUV that provides some measure of enjoyment. For others, that measure of enjoyment is probably on the order of magnitudes higher.

I, like PropellarHead seem to really enjoy driving the X5 for the enjoyment of the way it handles on normal roads, dirt roads, and yes, the open highway. I enjoy his threads for his thorough enjoyment/enthusiasm and lack of discouragement towards his chosen mode of transport. As he said, the good miles vastly outnumber the bad.

PS: I rented a Camry on a recent trip to Vegas because the 4.8is blew an expansion tank 800 miles from home. I had to drive back to El Paso, TX from Las Cruces, NM to pick up a replacement tank. I could never subject myself to driving a vehicle I did not enjoy for any considerable length of time. 2.5 hours in that thing was like torture. Reliable or not. We've put 20,000 miles on the 4.8is in ~320 days of ownership.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Everyone has their own idea of what "the ultimate driving experience" might be and is largely financially and personally limited. Taking a 3000 mile road trip in my 4.8is this spring with my wife to introduce my family in Florida to our daughter, and to introduce her to the wonders that are the ocean and beach... is my idea of the ultimate driving experience.

I would LOVE to do a race track (CotA is only an hour away) with a few of the cars I have owned, but lack the expendable income and time to make something like that happen. Those funds get channeled into experiences (and the house) my whole family gets to enjoy, which is fine by me. Who knows how I would feel if I were in your shoes, but I'm not.

Try to be a little more open minded when people here don't take your negative attitude towards the e53 very well. I understand for you it's just an SUV that provides some measure of enjoyment. For others, that measure of enjoyment is probably on the order of magnitudes higher.

I, like PropellarHead seem to really enjoy driving the X5 for the enjoyment of the way it handles on normal roads, dirt roads, and yes, the open highway. I enjoy his threads for his thorough enjoyment/enthusiasm and lack of discouragement towards his chosen mode of transport. As he said, the good miles vastly outnumber the bad.

PS: I rented a Camry on a recent trip to Vegas because the 4.8is blew an expansion tank 800 miles from home. I had to drive back to El Paso, TX from Las Cruces, NM to pick up a replacement tank. I could never subject myself to driving a vehicle I did not enjoy for any considerable length of time. 2.5 hours in that thing was like torture. Reliable or not. We've put 20,000 miles on the 4.8is in ~320 days of ownership.

I think that each ultimate driving experience has merit. What's important is whether you enjoy it or not, regardless of what we all think. I've done both, a cross country trip in the X5 and driving (and racing on some) at 18 racetracks (4 in Europe including the Nordschlief).

Car clubs (and to an extent, message boards) are about the people, not the cars. I've learned that over the years. I value the people and appreciate the cars.

Propellerhead: Have fun on the rest of your journey!

[OrangeFurious]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

PS: I rented a Camry on a recent trip to Vegas because the 4.8is blew an expansion tank 800 miles from home. I had to drive back to El Paso, TX from Las Cruces, NM to pick up a replacement tank. I could never subject myself to driving a vehicle I did not enjoy for any considerable length of time. 2.5 hours in that thing was like torture. Reliable or not. We've put 20,000 miles on the 4.8is in ~320 days of ownership.

Cheers to this. I just spent a week driving on the NSW coast in Australia in a brand new (rented) GTI. It was incredibly reliable, very comfortable, modern, convenient. Not one bad thing I could say about it and on paper a near perfect car.

I was bored out of my mind. Beautiful roads and a country I've never been to before, and the last thing I wanted to do was drive that thing. I'd happily trade the reliability and practicality for something that brings me an experience. The E53 might not be the most enthusiast-bait vehicle out there, but I love it's subdued character.

[Joshdub]

That sucks you had some problems but hopefully it really is just a relay. Talk about an easy fix.

I agree with not renting a car. If I had to take something as boring as a Camry I'd just fly to avoid that suffering. Nothing like being stuffed into a nasty rental econobox for hours on end. I wouldn't hesitate to hop in the E53 and drive it across country. This past winter I drove all over Oregon and Washington in just a week, with 9 hour stretches at a time through snow storms the entire way. The e53 didn't skip a beat. Hell, I wouldn't (and haven't) hesitate to hop in the E30 and take off toward any destination (less the snowstorms). Many times I have blasted over to the otherside of the state (~5h) in 100+ degree heat. Pop the rear windows and you're good to go.