X5 and Cold Weather Headaches

[cavx5]

these cars suckin the cold weather

[Bimmer4125]

-15 degrees yesterday morning - turned the key and the 4x4 light came on and the Trans Fail Prog warning appeared. I turned it off waited a moment and started it again with no warning messages. Drove it slow for first few miles (no stationary warm-up) and noticed four flat spots on tires - nice ride! This thing hates the cold. '07 Hummer H3 and '99 Jeep Wrangler both started without issue and they are outside all night. Come on Spring!

[mrkbbd]

my passenger door lock froze yesterday, it was really annoying, and it was kind of cool, I left a water bottle in the car the other night and it froze

[bcb1]

yeah, BMW really needs to do a better job with engineering reliability into their vehicles that are MADE for cold weather and winter driving! Door handles that freeze up and electronics that go haywire, not to mention the stupid oil seperator valve.

Crazy to have these kinds of issues on such an expensive car that is supposedly made to drive in harsh winter weather.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by bcb1

yeah, BMW really needs to do a better job with engineering reliability into their vehicles that are MADE for cold weather and winter driving! Door handles that freeze up and electronics that go haywire, not to mention the stupid oil seperator valve.

Crazy to have these kinds of issues on such an expensive car that is supposedly made to drive in harsh winter weather.

I was not aware that BMW designed these vehicles for cold weather. All weather traction, sure, but there is nothing about a modern BMW that makes it specific to cold weather. The tires are an example, they are all seasons at best, and far more oriented to dry road performance than anything else. The closest they come is creature comforts, but that extends only to things like heated steering wheel, heated seats, etc.

Cars typically designed for very cold weather had tall narrow tires, and names like Volvo and SAAB (before they were each bought out).

[realchef]

Originally Posted by JCL

I was not aware that BMW designed these vehicles for cold weather. All weather traction, sure, but there is nothing about a modern BMW that makes it specific to cold weather. The tires are an example, they are all seasons at best, and far more oriented to dry road performance than anything else. The closest they come is creature comforts, but that extends only to things like heated steering wheel, heated seats, etc.

Cars typically designed for very cold weather had tall narrow tires, and names like Volvo and SAAB (before they were each bought out).

The X5 has no other issues or problems that haven't occourred with pretty much EVERY other car I ever had through the winter.

The CVV thing though, that sucks. Clean or replace that sumbitch.

Other than that, clean your door jams, silicone the seals and locks (or anti-freeze) and get proper tires not on 19 or 20 inch rims. Enjoy the ride.

The on snow and ice performance is above most everything else.

[edco]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I have no idea They didn't work Thursday night, might have been clogged, the X was all iced up. As was my EZ pass. It's on my front plate and I forgot that little detail. One toll violation, coming up.

L:
Here's a little trick I discovered just today.. I have NO IDEA why it works but I tried on my neighbors X5 and it worked on his too.
Nothing coming out of the FRONT washers..just a little blue dribble..

I then turned on the REAR glass washer/wiper, and after a few tries it started working, then LIKE MAGIC..the FRONTS started working..

I thought it was a fluke (and maybe it was), but I tried on my buddies car, since he hadnt started his car and had snow on the hood and windshield..same as mine..only a dribble. Hit the rear pump..after maybe 2 tries, fluid started flowing on the rear glass, and VOILA the fronts..

BTW, I had driven from my house to Paramus and still had nothing coming out of the fronts, so the car was good and warmed up..so any icing in the lines under hood would have warmed up.

Maybe I just found an easter egg..

Worth a try !

GL..
Ed

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by edco

L:
Here's a little trick I discovered just today.. I have NO IDEA why it works but I tried on my neighbors X5 and it worked on his too.
Nothing coming out of the FRONT washers..just a little blue dribble..

I then turned on the REAR glass washer/wiper, and after a few tries it started working, then LIKE MAGIC..the FRONTS started working..

I thought it was a fluke (and maybe it was), but I tried on my buddies car, since he hadnt started his car and had snow on the hood and windshield..same as mine..only a dribble. Hit the rear pump..after maybe 2 tries, fluid started flowing on the rear glass, and VOILA the fronts..

BTW, I had driven from my house to Paramus and still had nothing coming out of the fronts, so the car was good and warmed up..so any icing in the lines under hood would have warmed up.

Maybe I just found an easter egg..

Worth a try !

GL..
Ed

Thanks for sharing, but I don't know how excited I can get about that whole procedure. We dropped our X5 off for service Friday Morning (about 7 degrees) and the washer jets were not spraying. I asked them to repair, and was told they did, but still no fluid, just wipers when you hit the wash cycle. Even at 38 degrees yesterday, nothing. Hell, our Subaru Outback has no issues spraying washer fluid at 4 degrees (Saturday Morning), I would think a $60K BMW could be able to do the same without having to do a rain dance and chant three times while turning in my seat.

I guess I should just be happy the door handles were not frozen, and I didn't have to crawl in or out of the X5..

[cmyX6go]

Thanks Ed,

I'll keep it in mind. I only had the issue that once, I'm thinking the jet was clogged. Haven't had any issue, even with these ridiculously cold temps lately.

My ears however are bleeding from the cold weather creaks. Someone make them stop.

[realchef]

Easy fix. Do not use the Blue stuff. Pay $1 more and get the De-Icer, yella stuff. Been doing it for years. The blue seems to freeze intermittently, in diff. vehicles here.