MY X5 is gone in two weeks!! Can't wait.

[Juanted]

Sorry to hear about your experience. My '08 4.8 has been flawless. I've put 16,000 very happy miles on it. Not one glitch. I love the car.

Good luck with your Benz. Nice car, but, not for enthusiasts.

Juan

[themoth]

Originally Posted by BGM

Never buy a 1st year model run-usually there are issues. Sorry to hear about your experience.

this is the best advice i can give as well. the first year is the worst year...

[alewifebp]

As an owner of two previous MB's, I can' say that the reliability will necessarily be any better, although the ML in general has been pretty good. My 2004 E Class was very problematic and just felt like it was going to fall apart about 2.5 years in. The ML fared much better. My general thought from my experience and what I have seen in the forums, is that with a German car, you may get lucky and have no problems, or you may get those that are extremely problematic. It seems to be pure luck of the draw.

[bigx5er]

Originally Posted by whalerdude

Sorry fellow X5 world members. I have been an X5 fan and BMW enthusiast for a long time but I am at the end of the road now.

My 2007 E70 (3.0 is) has been a very unsatisfying experience.

I started out with Spartanburg delivery. I was the first E70 order placed at my dealer in June 2006.

I should have been on the BMW payroll as a prototype test driver because my car feels like it was not ready for going to a customer.

Tons of squeaks, rattles, pops, etc coming from dash, seats,cargo area, suspension. New computer , rear shock mounts, guides, tons of orange peel in paint, punishing harsh ride that gets even harsher as the thermometer drops.

You will laugh if you drive my car in sub zero weather. The shocks pretty much go on vacation and the back end just hops up and down when you hit the frost heaves. Ouch!!

What a shame. It's really a pretty car with beautiful interior design. I even learned to like I drive.

My factory order 2009 ML 320 Bluetec will arrive mid month. I am really looking forward to it. After buying my Wife a GL 320 last fall, I am convinced that MB is building and designing a superior vehicle. It is refined all over. Quality is far better as well. It is truly a satisfying car to own and drive. I can't say that about my X5 so I am jumping ship to MB.

Later,

Whalerdude

Your frustration makes sense, reliability (or lack there of) is a big deal.

Please post your experiences with the ML. I'd love to hear the comparisons from a former X5 owner.

[Penguin]

A lot of what are called "reliability" issues have a lot to do with the dealer's competence, e.g., if you have a problem and the dealer fixes it quickly, gives you a nice loaner, treats you very well, and the problem doesn't return, it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem.




> punishing harsh ride that gets even harsher as the thermometer drops.


Did you get the Sports Suspension?


> tons of orange peel in paint


I've noticed that for whatever reason BMW paint typically has terrible orange peel, generally much worse than American cars. My Ford Focus has much smoother paint than my Z4.

[MrX]

Originally Posted by Barcius

Do not worry whaler. You are justing getting old. That's all. Maybe your next car after the MB will be a Lexus.

and after the Lexus, a Cadillac...it's the cycle of life...

[jeep]

Sorry to hear you jump ship. This is my 2nd BMW and till now the only issues I have had with the X5 is a nail in the RFT which the $tealer wanted to replace and got the battery drain warning, keeping the fingers crossed.

My 3 was problem free, put 100K miles on it in 10yrs and the only issues were a anti theft alarm mother board shot and the sunroof motor, both were replaced under warranty. I was never sure why the $tealer wanted to replace the sunroof motor, 'cause it was working other than a slight rattle while driving, which came back sometime after the motor was replaced. I think $tealer made money from BMW on that one, it was probably just a loose screw or something.

[M6X]

i really enjoy my 09 30i. the only thing i dislike are people parking really close next to me lol.

[Disneygrad]

Just a "back-in-the-day" comment about all the "Germans" (meaning of course...the cars) and the special uniqueness of owning them and their troubles.

I used to own a Porsche 924 (1978) and we were on a rally just north east of San Diego....it was quite a challenge and a "go". Anyway, the more expensive the particular model....i.e., the more problems it seemed but it was fun. Anyway, mine being the "cheapest", I only had one tow. But here we are on the rally and one of the expensives had a real problem...can't remember the specifics and along the rally route comes Dr. Ferdinand Porsche....it was a crack-up. I mean, this old guy was hunched over the engine compartment along with 8 or ten us we "youngens" having a grand time attempting to figure it out. AAAhhhh back in the day.

[RougeTrooper]

I have a July 07 build, a 3.0. I am pretty happy with it. So far only one part was replaced under warranty, and it was the DSC switch, it flashed for several seconds even after I toggle the switch. Replacing this was a blessing because they upgraded the SW and it fixed the other issue I had experienced persistently:

Steering not remembering last position, it has never re-occurred after the upgrade.

I did get the low battery message but that was because the rear door was left open over a long weekend. Engine started 1st try and a short drive later, battery was charged and error gone.

If it keeps running like this I will keep it till the next model in 2014