X5 problems to look forward to...

[ttzcar]

Unless I missed it, is there a page somewhere on this forum of which upcoming problems I might expect?

What should I expect to go wrong next with my X5?
I have a 2002 4.4i with the Sports Package and 107k miles which I bought pre-owned at about 51k miles, it was one owner and a perfect carfax (some lady in Manhattan Beach previously owned it) and I realize that you can’t truly subject a common problem, but I think if let's say 25 X5 owners experience something that RX350 owners don't, then it’s reason enough to warn others about it.

Because it seems like I'm always going through something. And my extended warranty ran out 2 years ago.
Coincidentally it seems like everything started going wrong after my first year with the car. (pre-owned, owned it for 3 years now)




So far:

• Radiator went out
  
• 1 year later water pump broke and took out all the belts
  
• Driver door handle broke (common problem)
• Interior door handles pealing
  
• Currently my Self-Leveling Suspension sensor needs to be replaced
• Currently power steering pump is only half working. Steering is VERY hard.
• Steering wheel has squeaked for 2 years now
  
• All 4 window regulators broke, 2 within 2 months, one was 2 months after that (currently 2 are rigged to stay up)
  
• My a/c or heater doesn’t work. Blower is out. (could be final stage resistor – could be another common problem) I found this to be dangerous because my windows COMPLETELY fogged up during the rain and I had to immediately pull over and wipe them down.
  
• I replaced my brakes and they still squeak. (yes I know what I’m doing, I did my fiance’s IS250 the say day and hers are fine).
  
• My rear drive-shaft/transfer case splines stripped. Thanks to RaceMalibu on this forum, that didn’t cost me much to fix (custom extended drive shaft)
  
• None of my pixels work on my dash, I can’t tell what the hell is going on with my car.
  
• Right/passenger rear view mirror stopped moving down when in reverse.
  
• Power heated rearview mirror stopped working on driver side so when it rains, I can’t see.
  
• I GO THROUGH TIRES LIKE A MUTHER F#CKER. Seriously, it’s HORRIBLE!
  
• And unless something is wrong with my car, I’m spending about $400-$500 a month in gas.
  (seriously with these gas prices I could go finance ZERO down a 2001 Lexus IS300 that would pay itself off. The monthly payment and gas combined is not going to be what I pay for gas alone. Then I could just wait my car out until I’m in a position to trade it in. Because I’m very upside-down on it, or this bitch would have been gone a long time ago.)
  And I feel like the more I drive my X5, waiting until I could trade it in, the more I risk something else happening to it.
  

Including repairs, for what I pay for my car, I could buy myself a 2007 M5 and it’ll cost less monthly.

The SUV has a classic look, I don’t know how else to explain what I love about it, but it’s seriously completely embarrassing at this point.
It seems like every other month, I’m telling my friends something is wrong with it and EVERYTIME someone gets in my car they say “should I have my AAA card ready”.

Anyways, what else should I expect?
What has happened to your X5 that you read is common on this forum?

Thanks,

[PSUEng]

Sorry I can't add from personal experiences, but I am lurking this forum to get a feel for these vehicles. I absolutely love the E53s, and would like to pick up an Xdrive model. But I can't have all these problems in a vehicle like this that I will take on long trips and daily drive. I have an E46 M3 to look after as well, so I've got enough maintenance on my hands there. I am leaning toward a GX470, even though the X5 styling, power, handling and sturdiness are much better. I know the GX would be no fuss.

It seems your vehicle problems are completely rediculous failures that I would be at a point where I get rid of it. A few things here and there--no biggie. But suspension issues, AC problems, electronics--that's BS.

[StanF18]

Sorry for your experience. You did not say what model year and how many miles you have. The pre-facelift (pre-2004) and post facelift V8s have some differences in their common problems.

But regardless, you've had way more than the average number of problems one would expect with this model. You did not mention CPO so I am assuming you got it as a private sale. For all you know, the previous owner abused the crap out of it and did not do sufficient miantenance and TLC. Or maybe the vehicle plunged into a river and got fished out (which would explain all the electrical crap you're dealing with). Did you run a Carfax history?

[Repoman]

Originally Posted by ttzcar

Unless I missed it, is there a page somewhere on this forum of which upcoming problems I might expect?

What should I expect to go wrong next with my X5?

You left out cv boots, front and rear control arms/bushings, intermediate levers on your model I believe, vacuum leaks, alternator and probably another half dozen that both of us missed. You are correct to assume that the longer you drive it the more of a chance something will go wrong. The X is an extremely problematic vehicle. Of course I base that opinion on my ownership of one and various readings on this forum. This forum had got more DIY posts than any forum I have ever seen and for good reason . . . which I might add is the only reason I still own the X. These good people have helped me through my struggles of ownership with their generosity on this forum.

As for the Lexus comparison, you are completely right. There is no comparison. Lexus/Toyota's priority is quality/reliability in addition to luxury. Of course I base that opinion on ownership as well. It seems to me that BMW's priority is strictly about how the vehicle looks and handles and not much of anything else.

I realize that lots of Toyotas are under recall but to me that only reinforces my opinion that they care about a quality vehicle, despite that others might disagree. Conversly, I believe that my X should have had several recalls for parts that have proven to be "prone to failure." But instead BMW just charges us more money to buy more of their unchanged "prone to failure" parts.

Of course my BMW looks good and handles well but it also rides rough and also goes through tires too. My Lexus looks good too and also handles well but it also rides well and I can get 40-50K miles out of a set of performance tires . . . and of course I don't have to work on it every other weekend like the X. Oh did I mention my Lexus has almost 3 times the mileage than my X has.

Lot's of people on this forum love the X despite all of it faults and I respect their opinions. However most of them might be in a different situation than you and I with no more warranty and don't feel the pain as much as we do.

[Bimmer Ese]

Excellents posts above. To the OP, sometimes, I feel the same as well. I have a 2004 X5 3.0i that just turned 98k last week (bought it used in Jan 08 with 50k on the clock). She handles great on long trip and around town, but she does lke to hit my wallet a lot. So far, after two years of ownership, I've replaced:

2 sets of Michelin tires
Smog (air pump) and valve twice within two years (items failed just out of warranty)
Various interior trim pieces (front pillars, door threshold pieces)
Both front half shafts
Transfer case (BMW goodwill warranty)
Front winshield washer pump)
Front and rear brakes (maintenance items)
Normal wear items (wipers, plugs, air/cabin filters, oil changes)
Front suspension components (bushings, sway bar end links)
Water pump and coolant

And now, the front differential is making some noise now. I'm going to change out the diff fluid to see if it helps any.

Daniel

[greentrbo95gst]

TIme to extend my warranty....

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by Repoman

You left out cv boots, front and rear control arms/bushings, intermediate levers on your model I believe, vacuum leaks, alternator and probably another half dozen that both of us missed. You are correct to assume that the longer you drive it the more of a chance something will go wrong. The X is an extremely problematic vehicle. Of course I base that opinion on my ownership of one and various readings on this forum. This forum had got more DIY posts than any forum I have ever seen and for good reason . . . which I might add is the only reason I still own the X. These good people have helped me through my struggles of ownership with their generosity on this forum.

As for the Lexus comparison, you are completely right. There is no comparison. Lexus/Toyota's priority is quality/reliability in addition to luxury. Of course I base that opinion on ownership as well. It seems to me that BMW's priority is strictly about how the vehicle looks and handles and not much of anything else.

I realize that lots of Toyotas are under recall but to me that only reinforces my opinion that they care about a quality vehicle, despite that others might disagree. Conversly, I believe that my X should have had several recalls for parts that have proven to be "prone to failure." But instead BMW just charges us more money to buy more of their unchanged "prone to failure" parts.

Of course my BMW looks good and handles well but it also rides rough and also goes through tires too. My Lexus looks good too and also handles well but it also rides well and I can get 40-50K miles out of a set of performance tires . . . and of course I don't have to work on it every other weekend like the X. Oh did I mention my Lexus has almost 3 times the mileage than my X has.

Lot's of people on this forum love the X despite all of it faults and I respect their opinions. However most of them might be in a different situation than you and I with no more warranty and don't feel the pain as much as we do.

No...the 2002 4.4 does not have the intermediate lever problem.

While I admit, we strongly considered the Lexus RX330 as an alternative to our 2002 X5, I'm very glad we ended up with an X5. While these vehicle seem to have similar utility, the X5 is capable of towing a car on a trailer. The Lexus can tow a jet ski on a trailer. The Lexus is basically a reskinned Camry with AWD, (same platform). The driving feel is totally different. A V8 X5 is a couple of seconds faster to 60 than the Lexus. The Lexus is mushy and soft to drive. The X5 is the closest thing to a sports car you can get in an SUV. All the above are subjective factors of course.

Where the Lexus wins is reliablity and gas mileage...both by a long shot. I can't see how anyone could prefer the driving feel of the Lexus; but women and senior citizens seem to love them. And they purchase them in vast quantities. As I am very mechanically inclined, I can live with the issues of my pre-facelift X5, (had I chosen a post face lift car, I don't know how I'd deal with the major potential issues). After driving our X5 more than 5,000 miles in the last month, it is an amazing road trip car.

[bmmr11]

Originally Posted by Skyline

No...the 2002 4.4 does not have the intermediate lever problem.

While I admit, we strongly considered the Lexus RX330 as an alternative to our 2002 X5, I'm very glad we ended up with an X5. While these vehicle seem to have similar utility, the X5 is capable of towing a car on a trailer. The Lexus can tow a jet ski on a trailer. The Lexus is basically a reskinned Camry with AWD, (same platform). The driving feel is totally different. A V8 X5 is a couple of seconds faster to 60 than the Lexus. The Lexus is mushy and soft to drive. The X5 is the closest thing to a sports car you can get in an SUV. All the above are subjective factors of course.

Where the Lexus wins is reliablity and gas mileage...both by a long shot. I can't see how anyone could prefer the driving feel of the Lexus; but women and senior citizens seem to love them. And they purchase them in vast quantities. As I am very mechanically inclined, I can live with the issues of my pre-facelift X5, (had I chosen a post face lift car, I don't know how I'd deal with the major potential issues). After driving our X5 more than 5,000 miles in the last month, it is an amazing road trip car.

[MiCkEy]

3.0i bought in 2000 (an 01 model). Now running without any warranty with 77K miles. Following were replaced in warranty (both factory and extended - Warranty Direct)

1. Those little shade clips in the windows - 2001
2. Window regulators - 2002
3. 2 pixels were missing, dealer replaced the whole cluster - not bad! - 2002
4. Brake Pads and Rotors (Self as part of regular maintenance - 2002 and 2007)
5. Peeling door handles - 2003
6. CVBoots and water pump (I think) - 2004/05
7. Coolant expansion tank and belts - 2009

Regular maintenance such as oil change, transmission & brake flush, coolant flush, spark plugs etc done by me (2006-)

This list is not bad. I hope I don't jinx it now

EDIT: Forgot to add, every little thing in the X works as it did when new.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by MiCkEy

3.0i bought in 2000 (an 01 model). Now running without any warranty with 77K miles. Following were replaced in warranty (both factory and extended - Warranty Direct)

1. Those little shade clips in the windows - 2001
2. Window regulators - 2002
3. 2 pixels were missing, dealer replaced the whole cluster - not bad! - 2002
4. Brake Pads and Rotors (Self as part of regular maintenance - 2002 and 2007)
5. Peeling door handles - 2003
6. CVBoots and water pump (I think) - 2004/05
7. Coolant expansion tank and belts - 2009

Regular maintenance such as oil change, transmission & brake flush, coolant flush, spark plugs etc done by me (2006-)

This list is not bad. I hope I don't jinx it now

EDIT: Forgot to add, every little thing in the X works as it did when new.

Wait, your dealer did a maintenance on the trans? I was under the impression that the ATF was Lifetime, whose lifetime is still debatable.