Do you experience the X5 feeling skid/slip when driving?

[uhenry1]

This is happen to me when driving back home from two hours family trip. My wife and kids was so scare when it happen and don't want to ride on the X5 again. My X5 drove fine and all sudden I feel the X5 is slip/skid likes the car is losing control of the car or feeling likes the car is driving on the ice. I stop the side off the road to check it out and everything seem fine. I drove about 45 mph and increase my speed about 2-5 miles then the car seem fine.
After about 15 minutes later the check engine lights come on and Cel P0171 and cel 174. The front suspension has recently replace (upper or lower control arms, lower ball joints, front axels). Please do you had any ideas why?

2001 BMW X5 3.0 with 184K miles and car drive great. I recently changes the
the following: replaced used transfer case, all o2 sensors for upstream/downstream
upper or lower control arms, lower ball joints, front axels. Valve cover gasker, DISA and oil separation done about 1 year ago.

Thanks,
Uhenry1

[epdarks]

My guess would be that something is off in the rear suspension. Or perhaps you could use an alignment. I assume tire wear is OK?

[uhenry1]

epdarks,
yes, the tires wear is fine and the steering wheel is also fine. Could be rear lower ball joint? The dealership told me that I need to replace which I did not had time yet. I probable do this coming weekend.

Uhenry1

[epdarks]

Yes, that is very probable. With that mileage, I would think about replacing a lot of the rear suspension components.

[HEISING]

Did the X5 make a buzzing noise when this happened?

[uhenry1]

No buzz sound just feel lost control of the car. I do not want to trade my x5.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Those two codes and your slippage are just a coincidence. Those codes are signaling Banks 1 and 2 are running lean. Normally due to a loose gas cap or breather hose my the fuel tank or leaking vacuum hose.

As for the "slippage" need more information.

Did the X really lose control or did it FEEL like it did? Meaning, did the back end slide out or did the X stay true to the road?

Did the RPM spike when you were driving or was everything normal?

Did the X buck and jerk at all?

Did any of the wheels lock up?

Get back to us.

[X5SND]

3 logical possibilities I could think of:

1) Something amiss on the X --- While It's entirely possible that a link that wasnt tightened properly or other worn pieces could cause a situation like this...I find it unlikely for a couple reasons. Firstly you would likely have knockin/clunking noises coming out the ying yang from the troubled components. Secondly , in regards to your rear ball joints...they aren't a typical ball joint (pressed ball In socket w/ threaded stud) as they have a gigantic bolt that runs through the center. Unless you had some sort of catestrophic failure here, I highly doubt they cause something like what you experienced. Also, if it were suspension related, it's doubtful that your driveability issues would simply vanish after pulling over.

2) Road surface --- What were you driving on? Asphalt, concrete, gravel? Was it wet/damp? New or old? Reason I ask is that many people don't realize that new asphalt has oils in it that take time to come out. Add a little moisture and you have a recipe for some serious fun....easily replicating what you experienced.

3) The one no one wants to ever admit to: User Error --- We've all been here at some point, myself included. Did you maybe miss spotting something on the road? Maybe go through standing water too fast or over correct from something else?

Like I previously stated, if your skid was induced by some sort of mechanical malfunction/failure it's unlikely that it would simply resolve on its own...these trucks are pretty good at communicating when parts are starting to wear and should be looked at.

Please don't take this post as trying to point fingers as its not my intention. These trucks have great driving dynamics (takin into account size and weight), and are definitely not known to become unstable at speed. I'm interested to find out what caused this incident in hopes of preventing something similar from happening again.

-S

[Doru]

P0171 & P0174 can also be a bad DISA valve (or leaking seals around the DISA). Pull it out & check for the pin. If that one falls in the engine, it ruins it. GAS has a repair kit for failing DISA. Check the big rubber boot around the "Y" for torn spots. Check the CVV for broken plastic hoses, O-ring around the dipstick.

Also, the problems that usually trigger the P0171 and P0174 Code are:
PCM software needs to be updated.
Vacuum leaks (Intake Manifold Gaskets, vacuum hoses, PCV hoses, etc.)Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF)
Plugged Fuel Filter or weak Fuel Pump
Plugged or dirty Fuel Injectors
Don't fall for Oxygen sensors.

For a quick test, try the carb cleaner spray around the spots mentioned above to check (car idling).
For a more detailed procedure and if you have a decent scanner (like GT1) monitor the fuel trim (short & long).
To check the MAF for inaccurate readings, unplug it with the engine running. No change in idle, it's toast. Or you can do it the proper way by reading the barometric pressure on the scan tool. If the barometric pressure readout is at high elevations, and you are at sea level or close, the MAF is toast (or needs cleaning if you're lucky).

[Doru]

The skid/slip of the truck could also be due to contaminated wheel speed sensors - wrong speed reading of one or more sensors. This is an easy fix: pull the wheel off, take off the speed sensor & clean (with brake cleaner), re-install done. Do it for all the wheels.
In time these sensors get crudded up with brake dust & road debris. For non-x drives it can lead to ASC/DST issues.