New Member - Searching for a light in the dark world of BMW

[dpaanlka]

I'm a new member here, and an extremely unhappy owner of a 2001 BMW X5. It had been the family car since my parents bought it new in 2001, and I have seen it's many many problems come and go, and come back again! This was their first, and last German SUV, as they have replaced it with a 2005 Chevy Tahoe (a real truck) and have seemingly given me the problematic BMW, so that I don't have to drive my Camaro Z28 all over the place.

I want to like the car, and I love driving it. It handles great and still gets looks, like "what is that kid doing driving that." But the long long list of (often repetitive) problems makes me not like the car as much as the Tahoe. And it's kindof embarrasing:

1: Windows roll themselves up and down while the car is off, often in the middle of the night, and frequently during rainstorms. In shop twice for this. Once, because it poured into the car through the mysteriously open windows. And yes, my whole family, and large group of neighbors and friends, witnessed the car doing this, during a cook-out, while it was NOT in use, parked. It also happened once while I was alone with the car in the garage, working on my Camaro late at night, and it was very creepy.

2: Transmission exploded (!) in Pennsylvania. We live in Chicago. It was stuck out there for a month.

3: Rear seat climate control doesn't work. At all. No hot air, no cold air, no air period. (How can this be? How does air not get through a tube?)

4: Not a single cigarette lighter / DC outlet in the entire car works, except the two in the trunk. Yeah, that does me a LOT of good.

5: Doesn't play CDs. Your CDs, my CDs burned CDs, store bought CDs. It has the BMW Business stereo with DSP, and the 6 CD changer in back. Doesnt recognize any CD that I put in. Has been in shop twice for this, is going to have to go back for a third time.

6: Interior door handles don't like their paint. It comes off in your hands.

7: "CHECK COOLANT LEVEL". There is plenty of coolant, we've checked it ten thousand times. We can't check it anymore. Been to the shop once for this, and they said it was fine (FINE??). Went away for a day or two then came back. There was no coolant on the garage floor.

8: Engine oil temp guage clearly does not work. In the red on a cold startup, after sitting outside in the snow all night? Give me a break. No matter what, it is always in the red.

9: Rear cupholder doesnt stay closed. This is weird, since NOBODY ever sits in the back. I don't see how this could have been damaged. Maybe if it wasnt made in such a flimsy fashion.

This is what I can think of off the top of my head. If I think of anymore, I'll let you all know. Maybe I can look past all this and find the joy of driving the ultimate driving machine?

[Curious Joel]

That's horrible... I've heard of some of those problems but not all at once! I'd say you have bad luck. The only problems I ever had were the ignition coils and the mass air flow sensor. My windows rolled down once with no explanation.. It did it other times and I realized it was because I was holding down the unlock button on the remote.
GL with everything!

[UCrewX5]

First, I've driven Chevy Tahoes and I would NEVER consider buying one It was one of the worst handling vehicles I think I've ever driven in my life - to the point where I almost didn't feel safe in it. It was basically brand new (a dealer demo) and I only drove it to get a free Chicago Cubs hat and sports bag. After driving it, I'm not sure it was worth it

Anyway, that's quite a list of woes that you have on your hands there. Here's my thoughts on each item.

1. I stand by my story that from the moment I disconnected the hood sensor on my 2001 X5 I've never had an alarm issue since. Try it and see what happens - what have you got to lose?

2. Very unusual, and you don't often hear of the tranny going out like that. Have you had problems since it was replaced? If not, consider it a fluke and unlikely that you'll have another issue with the replacement tranny (assuming of course that it's not caused by driver error).

3. Have you verified the fuse? If OK, check the wiring underneath the bin below the armrest - a wire may have come off. If good, you may have to remove the console and make sure the the fan motor is good.

4. Verify all the fuses are good.

5. See my advice on your other thread on this topic

6. Common problem. It's not paint, it's more of a vinyl covering. Peal it all off so it has a common look and don't sweat it.

7. Sounds like a bad sensor. Replace it.

8. Not too sure about this one. never heard of this before.

9. It's not a great design. If I bump mine it pops out too. If you don't use it often, tape it shut.

Personally, if I were your age and my parents gave me an X5 I wouldn't give a rats ass about any of these minor issues. I'd be thanking my lucky stars.

Oh, and :welcome: to X5world

[motordavid]

Ah, welcome; guess the car is a PIA?!
No Xpert here, but there are sev. on this board; my 2cts, from memory:
1-very few posts of this prob. w/out key fob being inadvertenly pushed, OR faulty key fob. Fixable by Stlr.
2-no fun, but ya got a new tranny...
3-a few anectdotal posts, but fixable by idiot Stlr
4-could be fuse
5-frigged up head unit
6-known and old prob. There was a TSB and fix; stlr should know it.
7-There is a TSB & fix for faulty coolant level sensor.
8-There is a TSB on reprogramming 'puter to cure error sent to temp gauge, OR could be plugged crank vent tube.
9-detent prob. busted; fixable by Stlr
10-Other than that, how do you like your new free car?!

I am not trying to placate you; Xs have had a litany of probs over the model years' run life. Most of your probs. can/coulda/shoulda been taken care of by your idiot Sltr. Maybe Mom was too busy or not unrelenting enough, or Stlr blew her off. If car is still under warr., I'd firmly press Stlr for fixes on All, even though some items might be tossed as "Maintenance items" not Warr items. If it's off warr., I'd still lean on Stlr; the worse they can say is no. But, if there is a record of the beefs and they were not addressed or fixed you still should have some edge w/sltr. If the local stlr sucks, try a new one: IL should have a bunch. I'm sure other posters here will have some opins/fix ideas. Oh, and never look a gift horse in the mouth, too closely. GL, Ol'UncMotor

[motordavid]

UCrew: we were posting on top of each other, .

We should get some kinda commission or honorarium for all this leg work and research?!

[spaz07]

Originally Posted by UCrewX5

Personally, if I were your age and my parents gave me an X5 I wouldn't give a rats ass about any of these minor issues. I'd be thanking my lucky stars.

Parents bought me a higher-mileage (67k) 2001 X, and yeah, it has some minor issues like the door handles and one bad window regulator that was replaced...and the water pump went out along with the DSC module. But, being 16, I could not thank them enough for this thing they handed me the keys to. You know, if you really like your Camaro that much better, get rid of the X5 and spend more money on the Chevy. I don't mean to rain on anyones parade, but as UCrew said, who cares? You're young, and you have BMW. Consider yourself very lucky.

[spaz07]

AHHHHHHHHHH! Everyone beats me!

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by motordavid

We should get some kinda commission or honorarium for all this leg work and research?!

Amen to that, cuz

[JV]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Oh, and never look a gift horse in the mouth, too closely. GL, Ol'UncMotor

Or a gift X5 for that matter!

JV

[Curious Joel]

Originally Posted by spaz07

You're young, and you have BMW. Consider yourself very lucky.

Welcome to the club... Now go thank your parents!
I've owned two BMWs in a year because my parents are very good to me. I can understand your frustration because of all your problems... But you're still driving one of the greatest (imo) vehicles on the road! Be happy!