So long E70, and good riddance!

[rufusdedog]

"A big part of my problems with BMW are with the dealership itself"

The dealers around here are F'ed up too, but you just have to be persistent. If the SA isn't helpful, ask for the manager, call BMWNA, just don't give up. It's all economics, the dealer would rather be doing $120 oil changes or selling expensive new rims than doing warranty work on your car. I took mine back 3 times to fix a leaking windshield washer tank. In the end they replaced half a dozen parts - but it was fixed. Same with the steering wheel issue - 3 visits, but in the end it was also fixed.

[vegasX5]

For what it's worth, I had an Audi TT for 4 years that I would take over the X5 any day in a bad snowstorm. I had driven that car in some terrible blizzards to Vail, Aspen, Tahoe, Park City, etc. The difference however is that the TT did have quattro amazing Nokian snow tires on little 16" rims, so it would have an advantage over a rear wheel drive 911. But as some of you may know firsthand, there is no shortage of Porsche 911's in the parking lot of ski resorts in Aspen, Telluride, etc so those guys must be crazy too or they just know how to handle the car in the snow with good tires!

[lakai]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

I did want an SUV. I sold my last 911 4 years ago for an Avalanche and I enjoyed it. I thought the X5 would be a great car with the functionality of the Avalanche and the fun of the 911. This isn't a mid-life crisis because, fortunately for me, I'm not quite old enough for a mid-life crisis yet (I'll have to get the 911 Turbo for that!)

Comparing a SUV to a sports coupe is also comparing apples to oranges.

I have an Avalanche as well and while it makes more sense comparing that to an x5 the difference is also like comparing an abacus to a calculator.
X5 is far more advanced technically everything is contolled and managed through a computer while the avalanche is not.

It seems most of your problems with the vehicle are adjusting to new high tech features available in vehicles today and have too high expectations about them, your biggest concern should be you dealer like most have pointed out.

The quality of service you get are totally different depending on the car and should be expected. I've owned cars and SUVs from Honda, Chevy, Jeep/Chrysler, Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, so far BMW service experience is the best. It doesn't feel like a hassle when taking it in for service like it did with all my other vehicles.

Either way, Goodluck

[jimsaq]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Perhaps. I didn't read it that way, but maybe he did.

But I really can't see comparing a 911 to an X5, any more than comparing a Ford Shelby Mustang to an Expedition, or a Toyota Celica GT to a Titan... they're just two different beasts meant for different purposes.

yeah totally agee

[Penguin]

I might add that the 911 weighs about 3,500 lbs and the X5 about 5,300 (the giant Ford Expedition is only about 300 lbs heavier at 5,600.)

As BMW says about their DSC, as good as it might be, it cannot revoke the laws of physics.

[FineProperty]

I have to say, aside from the ground clearance, my 911 turbo runs like a rocket in snow while wearing its snow shoes. There are a lot of videos out on youtube. The issue would be holding back when all that power is on tap, there's no Winter switch on the 6 speed gearbox to start you out with reduced torque in second gear.

Xdrive should be fun to try out, not just in the wet, but in the dry too.

And, his C2S, not quite the snow mobile that the C4 or turbo (also AWD) are. But then again, my driveway doesn't have 6 inches next to it, more like 9 feet. Snowbird already passed the 400 inch mark, over 30 feet of snow has fallen.

[watrob]

People get dud vehicles, whether its caused by software that takes BMW 5 months to fix or if its dealer fault or not, its still a dud when it cannot be fixed.

My X5 E70 RHD drove left from the day I picked it up, BMW flew out 3 different sets of control arms out from Germany over a 3 week period and could not fix it. The castor is set for LHD and with no castor adjustment on the X5, a combination of our heavy cambered roads here and the 5mm the LH front was set back could not be dialled out. I even had the X5 tested by a independent agency to prove the driving left problem.

Handed them back the X5 one month after I got it and we have no lemon laws here. Between BMW head office and the dealer I have been in a loaner for 5 months and fought all the way.

My new X5 E70 SD arrived on the docks today and will get it in about 2 weeks.

There is no love lost between BMW Head Office & myself, the dealer though has been terrific. The standard head office reply to the above is to your face admit, then go away and think about it, then come back and denial, denial, denial. It just boils done how big your b**ls are.

Anyway, got a loaner, got another new E70, this time the SD version, hence the long wait, plus I wanted a 2008 build, so I had to pay for the better diesel, there is a price difference here between the 3.0d and 3.0SD and I had to pay that difference of around $6,000.

So I am happy and it would have made know differnece whether I was dealing with BMW or any other vehicle manufacture, they don't want to know about dud cars and they all stick to the same line, so at the end of the day you either fight for your rights or lump it. And if you lump it then you buy a differnet brand next time.

All manufactures have duds, you just have to be unlucky enough to get one. It was just my turn, I have never bought a secondhand car, from the age of 18yr I have had a new cars and that was 37 yrs ago and my number came up thats all.

[RajiBoy]

My own experience with BMW Head Office is the same as above. they do not listen. Between the Head Office and the Dealer, I stuck it out and my new car arrives next week.

ONe thisng though, BMW would noy let get an SD, apparently it was too long a wait. I have been waiting 5 months for my replacement 3.0D.

The Dealer did give back my own car which I will just change over.

It is really unlucky to get a Lemon, and we do get Lemon laws in UK.

[watrob]

What was the main problem with your X5?

[RajiBoy]

Originally Posted by watrob

What was the main problem with your X5?

Internal trim was damaged by dealer
Rear Door allignment
Leather stiching
Steering wheel stiching
CD player did not work
Heated seat did not work
iDrive stopped working
Car refused to be coded (Spent 4 weeks setting up special code)
Adaptive Drive Failure
Boot stopped closing
Would not start
Battery drained to quickly
Alarm kept going off
Alarm had a damp sound
Internal door handle fell off
External door handle broke

The list goes on.....