BMW X5 (E53) reliability - how does it compare?

[mkaresh]

In late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research. I'm reporting absolute stats like "times in the shop" that will make the differences between cars much clearer. Relative ratings obscure too much--how large is the difference between "better than average" and "worse than average"? I’ll also be updating results four times a year, so any bump in repair rates will be evident sooner.

I haven't started collecting data on the BMW X5 yet because too few owners are signed up to help out.

Participants report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results free of charge.

For the details, and to sign up:

Vehicle reliability research

Comments, questions, and suggestions welcome.

[vinuneuro]

Don't you think your research is going to be very biased? A good portion of our members joined because they needed to troubleshoot. Statistically, this is no where close to 'random'.

[mkaresh]

I'm asked this question often. It's a good one.

I do one thing differently from every other reliability study I'm aware of: with the exception of the first month, I only collect data on problems going forward. So, unlike with other surveys, people do not know what they will be reporting at the time they decide to participate.

For the typical model in the panel, 70-80% of panel members do not report a single repair trip in their first six months of responses. For some models the percentage is over 90.

So I don't appear to mostly be getting people with problems to report.

Some people do want to report their repair histories. So I created a separate survey for this. This second survey is not required of members, it's purely voluntary. And I would expect its results to be biased.

[noncom23]

So are you going to compare this to other cars in its class,ie Cayenne?
By the way, which X5 do you have?

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

I'm asked this question often. It's a good one.

I do one thing differently from every other reliability study I'm aware of: with the exception of the first month, I only collect data on problems going forward. So, unlike with other surveys, people do not know what they will be reporting at the time they decide to participate.

For the typical model in the panel, 70-80% of panel members do not report a single repair trip in their first six months of responses. For some models the percentage is over 90.

So I don't appear to mostly be getting people with problems to report.

Some people do want to report their repair histories. So I created a separate survey for this. This second survey is not required of members, it's purely voluntary. And I would expect its results to be biased.

As long as you know so, I suppose there isn't too much of a problem.

[mkaresh]

I don't own an X5. I'm hoping to eventually provide data on every model with sales volumes of 1,000 per month or more. X5 competitors that I'm already collecting data on include the MDX and Q7 (2007 models in both cases, though).

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

As long as you know so, I suppose there isn't too much of a problem.

The results pages for the Repair History Survey (up, but not yet linked anywhere on the site till I have more responses) state that they should not be taken as any indication of repair rates, but only as an indication of problems that might happen.

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

I don't own an X5. I'm hoping to eventually provide data on every model with sales volumes of 1,000 per month or more. X5 competitors that I'm already collecting data on include the MDX and Q7 (2007 models in both cases, though).



The results pages for the Repair History Survey (up, but not yet linked anywhere on the site till I have more responses) state that they should not be taken as any indication of repair rates, but only as an indication of problems that might happen.

Excellent

[mkaresh]

Thanks. The Repair Histories have since been linked to the home page. Just three so far from X5 owners, though.

Also still not collecting reliability data on the X5--need more owners to sign up first.

[Quicksilver]

So let me inquire. Are you a rep for TrueDelta? Or do you own the company?

[mkaresh]

I own it, and perform 99% of the work. Started out as just a personal project. Taught myself programming and database design to do it.