Help! No brakes and loss of power !

[Kev]

Hi Guys,

Its a bad year for the X so far. After the front end shunt, causing the damper pulley to fail and needing to be replaced (800eur), I've been preparing to sell the car for something with less miles for the past few weeks (even though the car has 90k miles, and is like new inside and out after a complete repaint and retrim).

I'm starting to get paranoid and think my cars have a 6th sense. When I was selling the last X5 when leaving the UK, the auto gearbox failed as soon as I started to advertise the car, costing me £1600 just before selling it (and I couldn't decide whether to mention the recon box with warrantly in case it put people off).

Today the current X (same model, a 3.0D 2005 Auto) was driving perfectly. I was really enjoying the smooth quiet, drive home from Milan, until I got home.

Put it into reverse to park and noticed that the brake pedal wouldn't go down. Turn off/on and same. No servo assisted brakes any more

Took it for a short drive and noticed a drastic loss of power on hill climbs, even not too steep.

On idle the car sounds fine, and the aircon/power steering seem are working. And strangely no error messages, or strange smells/noises.

I'll try to limp down to my local indie with the car tomorrow, but does anyone identify with these symptoms?

Thanks in advance guys.

Kev.

[Kev]

I've checked the oil/water, and looked all around the engine for any signs of split pipes but nothing obvious.

When revving the car it sounds like the turbo is not working (no whistle noise).

Could this also effect the brakes?

The missus just pointed out a womans point of view, that the entire braking system can fail on a supposed hi-tech German car, and there's not a single warning message, yet, if a bulb blows, or water is low.... she has a point :$

Am I looking in the right area thinking it could be a vaccum/turbo type problem. Would this give me a loss of brakes AND a loss of power?

Other symptoms (that I guess I got used to) are a more noticeable turbo lag when pulling away, holding the gears for too long, especially when going down hill.

Really appreciate any kind of opinion guys. At the moment the deep depression is starting to set in....

Cheers, Kev.

[rb0135]

Kev,

Not the best place to ask about Diesel engines as the US don't have them. Try the UK boards.

BUT, what you describe seem to relate to vacuum as the brakes and turbo needs vacuum to operate.

It's possible your Vacuum pump on the engine has failed, but I am guessing and don't know if any codes will be thrown.

Have you run any diagnosis programs to see if there any codes stored?

Rob

[Bargain Bucket]

Agreed. Almost certainly a lack of vacuum to the servo and turbo control system. Try Xdrivers for advice on the diesel X5s.

And they are supposed to hold onto the gears when going downhill. It takes the stress off the brakes and stops them overheating by using engine braking. The X5 is a heavy monster.

[Kev]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a split pipe somewhere, though I did run my fingers over all the visible ones (and there are a few), and they all seemed intact.

It does actually make it up the hills but I need to slip down a gear or two in manual mode to make it...

I'll keep you updated after the trip to the garage on Saturday.

Thanks again. Kev.

[Kev]

Hi guys,

Just a quick update to close the thread.

The vacuum pump had indeed failed and was in pieces when dismanteled.

A replacement Pierburg unit. (exactly same as the one removed but without a BMW logo next to the Pierburg one), was installed for EUR350 all in (labour vat and some other bits), and the car drives like a dream again.

Needless to say, I'm a very happy man that it wasnt something more serious.

Cheers, Kev.

[rb0135]

Thanks for the update.. Glad it is all fixed.