At the crossroad with the X plus no start issue

[timmyc]

We are at that point where we are not sure if the X is worth the cost or the inconvenience of keeping it. Just put $4k into it with new valve covers and tune up. It's always had the A/C issue with having to bump the revs to get it to kick in and I just finished with a trifecta of window regulators. It was fairly bulletproof for about 2 weeks.

Shortly after the valve covers were done, my wife called and said it would not start. No click, no nothing. Went out to it later and it started. A few weeks later, I went out to start it and same thing. Nothing. 15 minutes later it starts? Yesterday the wife calls and said that it did the same thing. Nothing. She gets it started and then it goes into limp mode. Trifecta lights on dash. You know which ones. She gets it home and I pull codes with the Foxell 520 Pro:
277F DME: Crankshaft sensor-engine speed signal
27BC DME Function. Camshaft control, exhaust, bank 2
2820 DME: Variable intake system- plausibility
2821 DME: Variable intake system- temperature warning threshold
27A0 DME: Fan, electronics box

Basically read all last night though the forum for an explanation to no avail. I had recently pulled the DME to replace the fan that had failed, and apparently it has failed again? It was used, but spun freely. Those are ridiculously priced for a new one! I did take the DME apart to look for any signs of water damage. No apparent signs, but the car does live outside, sadly, so I cannot rule that out.

I love the X, and more importantly, so does my wife. We don't necessarily want to get rid of it, but at the same time, I don't want to leave her in a car that is not 100% reliable. She works at 3 different facilities every day at different times and has up to 50 people waiting for her to start class. Not a position I would want to be in.

Fortunately, we have another vehicle (a Honda, so you know THAT is reliable!) she can drive in the interim, but the indy I use doesn't have us scheduled until 08/02. And they want me to either limp it there or have it towed so they can read the codes.

With all of that, what would YOU do? I appreciate and trust all of you here on the forum. Thanks for your time.

[EODguy]

I'm wondering if the vanos were messed up during the valve cover work.

There is an option to "park" (for the lack of a better description) the vanos before doing work on them in the maintenance menu, but who knows if not doing that only causes a 1-in-50 chance of a problem for someone

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[80stech]

Check the battery/charging system connections, especially at the starter itself, jumper point and the grounds. I would concentrate on the no-start and not worry about the codes at this point. There is some kind of power box that the V-8s have so maybe someone can chime in about that.

[x5Alpine]

Just keep it. The new cars of today are crap and will be lucky to see 100k miles. That X5 is from the best era of cars BMW has ever made.

[80stech]

+1 on keeping it and I've heard lots of horror stories about the new cars as well, but for BMW I think the E30 era while the cars were still being made in Germany (and they were still over-compensating for the mistakes made in the 2002/Bavaria era) was the best

[timmyc]

I appreciate all of your thoughts on the X.

I too, was wondering if the Vanos may have gotten out of whack. I also read about the intermediate lever controls not syncing correctly? It's a possibility, I suppose. I really trust the indy I use and they only use parts from BMW, so I know I am getting good service and parts. That said, no one is infallible.

Brother, I hear ya about the lack of quality of today's cars. This almost 20 year X looks better inside than most cars that are 10 years old. Especially the leather. And I love the feedback from the car. My daughter drives an F34 XDrive. Does not feel like a bimmer to me. She too, prefers her e46 coupe. That's fun to drive!

The battery is fairly new, but I will still check all of the contact points. I didn't even really think about that. I forget the mantra, "start with the easy stuff".

Thanks again, all. And I will certainly keep you all posted on what we are doing with the X, and what the fix was.

[Effduration]

timmyc - I think you should find something else.

I have a wife and kids and they need cars that start and run every time and they can't worry about window regulators breaking, AC not working, leaks into the cabin, brake lines rupturing, broken pano sunroofs, etc. etc.

I think waiting on an Indy is only getting worse. It feels like there are fewer good Indy repair shops and the wait for parts has become tougher..Parts quality has also deteriorated.

I have 4 BMW's all with the 6 cyl M54 B30 engine ( 2 E39, E46 vert, and E53). Mine are pretty reliable for my use, but would not cut it for wife use. My kids drove two of my BMW's as Instacart drivers during COVID and while they handled the extra workload, I always worried about them.

I do think the E53 (an early US-made car) has more build quality and electrical problems than the either the E39 or the E46.

I suggest you sell your V8 E53 and let the wife drive the Honda...

If YOU really want an E53, I would suggest you buy the best 6 cyl E53 you can find from a rust-free state and maintain it as well as you can...I think you might have fewer issues with that car than your V8.

Regardless, if you enjoy driving 20yr old + BMW's, it's a good idea to have a few of them around.

[80stech]

My wife drives a E83 and that is totally different maintenance wise, it has never let her down and way less problems with suspension, way easier on tires, no window reg or door handle issues. almost as good as the Toyota Sienna!

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by timmyc

We are at that point where we are not sure if the X is worth the cost or the inconvenience of keeping it. Just put $4k into it with new valve covers and tune up. It's always had the A/C issue with having to bump the revs to get it to kick in and I just finished with a trifecta of window regulators. It was fairly bulletproof for about 2 weeks.

Shortly after the valve covers were done, my wife called and said it would not start. No click, no nothing. Went out to it later and it started. A few weeks later, I went out to start it and same thing. Nothing. 15 minutes later it starts? Yesterday the wife calls and said that it did the same thing. Nothing. She gets it started and then it goes into limp mode. Trifecta lights on dash. You know which ones. She gets it home and I pull codes with the Foxell 520 Pro:
277F DME: Crankshaft sensor-engine speed signal
27BC DME Function. Camshaft control, exhaust, bank 2
2820 DME: Variable intake system- plausibility
2821 DME: Variable intake system- temperature warning threshold
27A0 DME: Fan, electronics box

Basically read all last night though the forum for an explanation to no avail. I had recently pulled the DME to replace the fan that had failed, and apparently it has failed again? It was used, but spun freely. Those are ridiculously priced for a new one! I did take the DME apart to look for any signs of water damage. No apparent signs, but the car does live outside, sadly, so I cannot rule that out.

I love the X, and more importantly, so does my wife. We don't necessarily want to get rid of it, but at the same time, I don't want to leave her in a car that is not 100% reliable. She works at 3 different facilities every day at different times and has up to 50 people waiting for her to start class. Not a position I would want to be in.

Fortunately, we have another vehicle (a Honda, so you know THAT is reliable!) she can drive in the interim, but the indy I use doesn't have us scheduled until 08/02. And they want me to either limp it there or have it towed so they can read the codes.

With all of that, what would YOU do? I appreciate and trust all of you here on the forum. Thanks for your time.

Are your faults active or historical ?
Intermittent faults after a service is done means bring it back to the workshop that performed the work and ask them to determine if their work left terminals not completely connected together and such, as you are going to do, so would have to tow it there and give it back.

Looking at the string of faults likely they are related by being on the same harness or a similarly powered circuit, which is why looking at the electrical diagram to search for commonalities may lead to a clue.

$4k seems too much just to change valve cover seals and a quote 'tune-up' whatever that means, not sure what happened there.
As far as if you wanna keep the car, you likely just totalled the value based on the costs of your service. Don't fall into the sunken cost fallacy trap. Either you become a mechanic like myself and fix everything yourself, because these cars as they age require a lot of skill to maintain and repair CORRECTLY.

[getty150]

Last night just returned from a 1200mile round trip in my 05 X3 m54b30 215k on the clock.
Preformed like a champ !
And in 90 plus degree heat also experienced a 30min deluge!
Burned maybe less than a third quart of oil... I'll check what the reading is for oil this morning end of the trip... impressed with that 5w40 euro Quacker State!
Gunned the X3 a couple of times (open road up to 100mph) smooth....got to check that CSB or guibo tho. Check engine soon light appeared but after a couple of rest stops the light disappeared...never experienced that before...ill connect the scanner before day's end. Even experienced TN mountainous incline and decline .
After a run like that, the brakes will need to be replaced soon.
Finally, took on a small rock from a simi and now have a shatter dime size spot on the windshield. And with no warning while traveling at speed 70+ I ran over a portion of Simi truck tire, no damage to the front but somehow it took out the rear bumper center snap-on cover...I'll take it!
I suspect it will take lots of neglect before I get to the crossroads.

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