The Worst Car I Ever Had In My Life

[X5Sport]

I have to agree that my own 2005 E53 has not been exactly the 'ultimate driving machine' and has suffered from a number of issues during it's first three years. It has had more warranty returns than all the other cars I've owned in 28 years of driving put together - and it's the most expensive to buy.

Most of the problems seem to have stemmed from a serious lack of dealer technical expertise in the UK (a problem which plagues large parts of the UK garage industry across all manufacturers) and when I changed dealers they finally resolved the electrical issues that had plagued the car for over a year. The problem turned out to be a faulty starter motor that overloaded the battery due to excessive current drain thus causing voltage drops which affected other parts of the vehicles electronics.

BMW GB were next to useless until I pushed them very hard, and BMW Germany were not worth the effort at all. For all I know, their email address might as well be a black hole.

I get more info/response from the membership of this site than any other resource - and it's free too - well done all at X5World.

[Rusdgmag]

You lucky that you can change dealer. Here in Dubai it is not possible. X5world is very nice site, that's why I am here too.

[FSETH]

Good luck with your car.

I would have to say that the X5 is the best car that I have ever owned, it has just not been the most reliable car I have ever owned, but then again I purchased it with over 60k miles already on it.

[Rusdgmag]

As for me I wanted to buy X6, but not in Dubai. Unfortunately BMW is not for Dubai, thanks dealers-stealers.

[StanF18]

Obviously too late now, but yeah, Japanese would have been the way to go based on the incompetence of BMW service in your location, AND the fact that there is only 1 place.

BMW as a whole are not unreliable, they are average as far as brand reliability. At least here in the US. BMW is right in the middle according to Consumer Reports. You want to talk unreliable: Range Rover/Land Rover has everyone beat, and M-Benz are also at the bottom of the pile (I think they are still reeling from the failed 10-year Chrysler experiment). Toyota and Honda are at the top (no surprise), and Nissan has gotten much better in the last few years, and have pulled even with Honda.

[zicosonic]

I have the same problems .. The car is still at the dealership. It has been 60 days and nothing has happened. But good thing is that i am driving a loaner. 2008 528i. Thats a nice car too.

Originally Posted by Rusdgmag

Here are just facts, sorry for my bad english.
1. October 2005 - happinness I am an owner of new X5 4.4
2. 2006 - happy driving
3. June 2007 - mirrors folding error - dealer repaired
4. August 2007 - dust and moisture inside headlamps - replaced by dealer.
5. November 2007 - refuelling problems, stops fueling. Not fixed upto date. Fuelling by drops takes at least 30 min.
6. Major disaster with suspension. One side higher than another. Compressor pumping every morning, brakes operating in strange manner. ABS works on one single front wheel without any purpose. Screen blinking, gearbox stops shifting gears.
The car already spent one month in dealer's workshop and still there. I am getting stupid SMS messages from them everyday.
7. Fed up, wrote letter to Munich, they replied that they forwarded my concern to relevant department.

To be continued.....

[The Big Easy]

Hey, as long as the coffee is good......... a cup a day keeps the dr away.

Good luck,

[Rusdgmag]

Today! I have got my car from dealer. They told that everything's fine now. But just now I noticed the right side is higher than left one. The airspring replaced. What they forget to do? Anybody knows?

[LeMansX5]

Did you complain to BMW AG? Here in US BMW calls for a survey on cutomer satisfaction about dealer after each service visit to dealer. That is at least something for dealer. Anything like that over there?

[eddybilt]

Sorry to hear about your problems.I'm in the same boat. My 2003 4.4 X5 drains a fully charged battery in 2 days.... it's been back an forth to the stealer at least 5 times in the last month and a half. It's still in the shop as I write. They gave me an 08 X3 as a loaner.....I miss my car..... the X3 is kinda like driving a VW Bug.. Good luck and I hope the parts work. They have replaced several items on my car and the problem still exists.