So long, and thanks for all the help.

[mrbmwx5]

I always said .. You bought a BMW and can't keep up with maintenance .. Sell it.

[Lowblock]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

I always said .. You bought a BMW and can't keep up with maintenance .. Sell it.

This....I have 4

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

I always said .. You bought a BMW and can't keep up with maintenance .. Sell it.

AKA Champagne taste on a Beer budget.

[CHE53]

Originally Posted by Rusty Pancelode

Well, after just one year of ownership, I've sold my X5.
(2006 4.4i, Premium package, Sport package, Cold Weather package)

Oh, one more:
- The tape deck behind the NAV screen (It was as if the boss said, "There absolutely MUST be a cassette player in these X5s!'. Then the design team decided that they'd include one, but they'd hide it so they wouldn't be embarrassed, and then have it show itself in spectacular fashion.)


Rusty

Just bought my X5, me and my friends were going for a ride. And afterwords we were trying to figure the ins and outs of the Nav. Needless to say it was a humorous moment when all that fancy hightech-like screen movement exposed an archaic tape deck.

[TerminatorX5]

mine is '06 - still have a cassette deck... i guess, they knew that i am an old fart with a bunch of cassettes in a big shoe box... so, they have it there... just like an old, favorite tool in a toolbox - i have fancier tools but the hand still is reaching out to the old one...

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Rusty Pancelode

Well, after just one year of ownership, I've sold my X5.
(2006 4.4i, Premium package, Sport package, Cold Weather package)

I loved the vehicle, but I guess I didn't like its design philosophy.

For example:
- Battery (that's somewhat proprietary) under a cover, under the spare, under a cover, under my camping gear

Yeah, putting the battery as low as possible and in the rear of a vehicle is not a good design philosophy. seeing that it allows for a lower center of gravity and 50/50 front/rear balance, both needed for improved handling.

I have an '03 4.4 and have needed to get into the battery area a grand total of 1 time for replacement.

- Non-user-replaceable key batteries, that drain over time (had 3 keys, only one worked)

If you read the owner manual it CLEARLY states that an unused key needs to be recharged every 6 mos by using it on a long drive. FWIW, only 2 of the 3 keys are battery keys, the valet key is a proximity chipped key without a battery.

Both of my battery keys are still working fine.

- Required dealer visits for simple settings that should be user-controlled

What settings???

In the 3 years and +60k miles I have owned my X (over 160k miles total), it has been to the dealer a total of 1 time for wheel alignment.

- Too many aluminum, torque to yield fasteners (It's a car, not an airplane. )

Extensive aluminium reduces unsprung and overall vehicle weight, again a MUST for BMW handling.

In my 3 yrs of DIYing my 10 yr old truck, I have incurred a whopping $20 in torque to yield fastener costs (front flex plate removal to replace diff/xfer case fluids).

With your "it a car, not an airplane" logic, you must miss the "good old days" of cable actuated drum brakes. Most improvements of automotive systems and materals come directly from the aerospace industry.

- $1400 /ea. plastic headlight assemblies

Yeah, those are such high maintence items. A quick app of cleaner wax twice a year has mine looking brand new.

FWIW, ALL cars in NA market have plastic lights, DOT required, to reduce glass lacerations/fatal bleed out of pedestrians/cyclists/motorcycle riders hit by vehicles. Call your Congressman if you dislike plastic headlights.

- That little hole in the side of the power steering fluid cap

Yeah, BMW shouldn't vent their powersteering systems so fluid expansion from heat can blow out all the seals and hoses.......but wait, you should hate powersteering entirely, hyd assisted controls where in the aerospace industry before ever appearing in an auto.

and on, and on.

PPI, # of owners and service history goes a long way toward owner experence.

Granted, it's one of the nicest vehicles I've ever owned, but it was also the most intimidating.

Well anyway, thanks guys for being available with answers, and giving me a place to research all the silly things my car was doing.
(Especially on the night that I walked out and the driver's side parking light and tail light were glowing mysteriously)

Oh, one more:
- The tape deck behind the NAV screen (It was as if the boss said, "There absolutely MUST be a cassette player in these X5s!'. Then the design team decided that they'd include one, but they'd hide it so they wouldn't be embarrassed, and then have it show itself in spectacular fashion.)

Take it easy guys, and enjoy your rides.

Rusty

Good luck

[Rusty Pancelode]

Thanks guys, for all the replies!
I didn't really expect to get a long dialog started, but it was fun to read what you had to say.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the car...
Quite the contrary.
I really liked it, but some of the things (like I mentioned) got under my skin a little.
...and I realize that the parking lights being on when the turn signal stalk is in a "turn" position is a feature, but I didn't know it at the time, and I could see it from inside the house as a spooky glow under my carport.

I loved the panoramic sunroof (press up on the center of the sunroof button if you don't already know about the "vent" function).
I loved its handling (It's amazing how well it hugged the turns for its size and weight (no doubt assisted by that battery and torque to yield fasteners).
I loved that it felt like it was built like a tank.

We bought it out of warranty for around $25k with 50K miles on it, figuring that the low purchase cost would offset the high maintenance costs.
We were right.
It did, but there was something always in my head about the next possible broken part.
Really though, it only needed a CV joint boot replaced while I had it (besides an oil change and topping off the power steering fluid), which I elected to swap the whole half-shaft, as it was easier.

I never meant to get anybody bent out of shape with what I said.
I figured I'd be just re-stating things that you all already knew and it might come across as kind of funny in a "yeah, we know that stuff" sort of way.

If anybody got offended (I did see some pretty defensive remarks) then I'm sorry.
I actually do agree with the defensive comments and the points are well taken.
I mean hey, we love our cars.
Nobody better not say nothing bad about my ride, right?



Edit: Oh, and if you're wondering what I'm replacing it with, so am I.
I haven't really decided yet.

[Whitecat]

Your a good man Rusty good luck with the next and don't let the $$ ruine your fun ... IF i have the $ I would probably go peace of mind brand new X5 or Porche cayenne S .... $100k .... But most of us go $20k used or bought new and keep it 10 years + ...helping each other on the forum and this is fantastic how great are the members and sometime turns out ...make some friends....some extra on repairs. ...yes and those extra need to be expected at the very beginning....disapointment come often with unrealistic expectation. ..take care