Thinking out loud: It'll stop when I sell it!

[xRide]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

Great comments guys and it makes me realize we are all having just about the same problems and thats the price to pay for owning an "exotic" car (yes I now put mine in the exotic category lol ) .

I've come to accept that it's just how this model is. Now I've also understood (while sleeping on the sell or keep question) that the problem is my setup. Because I have nowhere indoors to work on the X , I had to send it away to fix at dealer most of the time while I was focusing on how I could have done it myself. Well I'll try something different. In a few weeks , I will have an indoor space (garage) that will be available for me that I take back from a tenant and I will set it up as my repair headquarters with all my tools there. Whenever one of my suv's fail , CAA will bring it there if I consider it's a DIY job. I'll have my X-Terra as a backup and take whatever time I need to order parts ( part of the fun like Four.8is said) and fix the X's.

I live in an apartment complex building so I dont have any place to easily work on the truck. Only a paid parking spot and we are not supposed to do any mechanic work in the parking lot.....and I agree with the policy. However, I took the chance and replaced my alternator....this took a very long time due to the fact that i couldnt get the new one back in. It goes back in the location in a unique way and plus its way down low in the engine. I replaced my door handle carrier in the parking lot, as we as doing one oil change. I also installed my aux jack input in the parking lot.

But when I changed my rear brakes, I went to this location where traffic isnt that busy and is somewhat quiet and replaced them. For the Arnott front bags, I paid to install those, including the axle boot.

I am going to replace the rear bags and im going to do it myself. I may take the chance and doing in my paid parking lot that im not supposed to do any work or bring the truck and do it at my secret location because it seems like a pretty easy job compared to the front.

When I purchase this vehicle, I knew it will eventually need work and I knew it wouldnt be difficult to do certain things. I was hoping with such low miles I would buy myself some times while I get a house, but 5 weeks in the alternator went kaput.

Honestly. i love the truck. Everytime I park it and walk away, I look back at it as if im looking back at a sexy chic that walked by.Hearing that V8 growl, hooking up my Ipod, the space to carry things. Hell i tied down a mattress on the top recently. I love the truck so I am working with it for now.

One of the things that ease my mind right now is the fact that its under after market warranty that will cover engine and transmission type of mishap. So I am hoping that if or when I develop the valve seal issue or valley pan issue or transmission issue, it will be under warranty to cover those cost.....so right now im cool with the truck.

Once the warranty is up, i am not sure how comfortable i will feel. The volts fluctuate 13.6 and back up to 14.0, and you can kinda feel that something isnt right....or its my mind. Again, I will change the rear bags to have a "fresh" air ride system...

[romeokc10]

Originally Posted by giodog2000

Great comments guys and it makes me realize we are all having just about the same problems and thats the price to pay for owning an "exotic" car (yes I now put mine in the exotic category lol ) .

I've come to accept that it's just how this model is. Now I've also understood (while sleeping on the sell or keep question) that the problem is my setup. Because I have nowhere indoors to work on the X , I had to send it away to fix at dealer most of the time while I was focusing on how I could have done it myself. Well I'll try something different. In a few weeks , I will have an indoor space (garage) that will be available for me that I take back from a tenant and I will set it up as my repair headquarters with all my tools there. Whenever one of my suv's fail , CAA will bring it there if I consider it's a DIY job. I'll have my X-Terra as a backup and take whatever time I need to order parts ( part of the fun like Four.8is said) and fix the X's.

This is a good thread giodog2000, I'm sure the replies are pretty much how you thought they would be. Those that have dumped a ton of cash and countless man hours into keeping theirs running are fed up, while the fanboys think BMW can do no wrong. I think your problem is that you have two of the damn things, for gods sake man what were you thinking...lol!!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by romeokc10

This is a good thread giodog2000, I'm sure the replies are pretty much how you thought they would be. Those that have dumped a ton of cash and countless man hours into keeping theirs running are fed up, while the fanboys think BMW can do no wrong. I think your problem is that you have two of the damn things, for gods sake man what were you thinking...lol!!

[e30cabrio]

Originally Posted by romeokc10

This is a good thread giodog2000, I'm sure the replies are pretty much how you thought they would be. Those that have dumped a ton of cash and countless man hours into keeping theirs running are fed up, while the fanboys think BMW can do no wrong. I think your problem is that you have two of the damn things, for gods sake man what were you thinking...lol!!

Originally Posted by upallnight

Disagree.

Several posted as did I that although we have had issues they were managed and not deal killers.

Every manufacturer makes a bad car.

[giodog2000]

Originally Posted by romeokc10

I think your problem is that you have two of the damn things, for gods sake man what were you thinking...lol!!

Drugs???

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by romeokc10

This is a good thread giodog2000, I'm sure the replies are pretty much how you thought they would be. Those that have dumped a ton of cash and countless man hours into keeping theirs running are fed up, while the fanboys think BMW can do no wrong. I think your problem is that you have two of the damn things, for gods sake man what were you thinking...lol!!

Since you listed only two categories I choose the "fanboy" side even though it sounds like you are saying I am one tire short of a full set. I don't think BMW can do no wrong but my X has never been a money pit.

I am amazed that those in the fed up category still have a BMW and they are here advertising their mistake while still dumping cash and hours keeping it running. Even as a nutcase fanboy I would have cut my losses a long time ago. At least I am doing the same thing over and over and experiencing a more than satisfactory outcome.

FYI- I also have 2 BMWs and intend to have 3 at some point.

[RFaber]

I like how this thread is going, Giodog, i picked up my X for a song, because it needed alot of work, (possibly bought from an owner who like you was tired of his X "thousand dollar billing" him to death! this guys wife finally said its me or the X, I would have taken either, however, i ended up with his X5, it did need alot of work. I was able to get most of it done myself, using parts from the wreckers, and a few select "stealership" parts. Found alot of GREAT help on here from alot of GREAT people. Now i drive a SWEET X5 makes my day each time i make my way onto the freeway and it pulls away from everyone!
I learned alot about BMW engineering, and actually i have alot of respect for them. there are a couple things i scratch my head at, but all in all , the X is a nice looking truck with an amazing ride!!! my wife doesnt even mind it when i am speeding down the freeway at Bonneville salt flat speeds!! actually she hardly notices the speed, its smooth and quiet!
The X5 is a bit of a maintenance pig, there is alot of maintenence that needs doing, or else things start getting REALLY expensive!!
(side note, you may wish to change out your timing chain guides, as a pre-emptive measure, as they seem to fail at the most inopportune time.)
I also agree with other posters, that if the X is paid for, then the extra hundred or so every other month for parts, is just little gifts you buy for the fun of driving her! thats my rational for spending money on the X
Nothing compares to the handling and feeling the X gives you when you drive it as intended

[MINIz guy]

The X5 I currently drive has been in my family since new, back in 12/02. It has gone from my mother's car, to me, to my father, to the spare car. I'm using it in college this year since my 318 is broken. It's been a trooper so far, but I know I'm never going to bring a nice car to college ever again.

A small list of things that need work:

1. Coolant flush
2. Brake fluid flush
3. Caliper rebuild
4. alignment
5. subframe bushings
6. rear suspension arms/ball joints
7. shocks and struts
8. front ball joints/bushings

The freezing weather also hasn't been kind to it. I've had a door latch jam in the unlatched position, so I couldn't shut the doors. The windows have also been frozen up a few times now. Add that to me still wanting to fix up and make my retrofitted headlights better, there is quite a laundry list of things to do on it.

I've actually been searching up used car prices if something catastrophic happens to the X5 while in college. Just been looking for a good appliance car for cheap on the STL Craigslist just in case it's the end of the road for the X5 here. I need a way to make it back to NJ somehow...

[motordavid]

Not trying to arm wrestle, but I re-read the 4 pages and didn't see any 'fan boi' posts...
Some of us have had the plethora of repairs, problems and glitches, and some of us have had very few. I am in the latter group, though the crap could hit the fan tomorrow.

Also in the latter/luckier group, there are dozens of posters here, (some very infrequent or currently absent), that have run hundreds of thousands of miles with remarkably few repairs.

These kind of thread almost always devolve into a few segments:
-my X sucks and it's costing me a fortune to repair monthly
-my X needs a lot of repairs, but I like doing them
-my X is the worst car ever built/owned
-my X has been basically problem free, other than normal maintenance and a few repairs.

The noise level increases by the month as more old, older and seemingly 'cream puff' used Xs find their way into 2nd, 3rd or 4th owners' hands.

Back at the What Should I Do Ranch, per the OP, if it were mine, it would be gonzo, regardless of how many BMWs I had/have, based on that litany of repairs, with potentially more to come. But that's just me...

Some people like used cars, some people like used fixer uppers...I love cars, but am not sanguine about used ones.

Everyone has their own bag, but Fan Bois are few here, in my years of reading and posting, other than raves over how a 2 1/2 suv handles and 'feels'.
GL, mD

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Not trying to arm wrestle, but I re-read the 4 pages and didn't see any 'fan boi' posts...
Some of us have had the plethora of repairs, problems and glitches, and some of us have had very few. I am in the latter group, though the crap could hit the fan tomorrow.

Also in the latter/luckier group, there are dozens of posters here, (some very infrequent or currently absent), that have run hundreds of thousands of miles with remarkably few repairs.

These kind of thread almost always devolve into a few segments:
-my X sucks and it's costing me a fortune to repair monthly
-my X needs a lot of repairs, but I like doing them
-my X is the worst car ever built/owned
-my X has been basically problem free, other than normal maintenance and a few repairs.

The noise level increases by the month as more old, older and seemingly 'cream puff' used Xs find their way into 2nd, 3rd or 4th owners' hands.

Back at the What Should I Do Ranch, per the OP, if it were mine, it would be gonzo, regardless of how many BMWs I had/have, based on that litany of repairs, with potentially more to come. But that's just me...

Some people like used cars, some people like used fixer uppers...I love cars, but am not sanguine about used ones.

Everyone has their own bag, but Fan Bois are few here, in my years of reading and posting, other than raves over how a 2 1/2 suv handles and 'feels'.
GL, mD

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