Who's taken delivery of an X5 recently? Question-

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by eyeguy

I've heard that with the current economy BMW has cut costs by doing away with the nice little extras in new cars like the complete toolkit, leather binder for owner's manual, dash flashlight, etc. Can anyone add any details - what's missing? I'm picking up a new X5d via PCD next month. Thanks-

Take lot of pics and post your experience.

Here's someone who did PCD.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by eyeguy

I've heard that with the current economy BMW has cut costs by doing away with the nice little extras in new cars like the complete toolkit, leather binder for owner's manual, dash flashlight, etc. Can anyone add any details - what's missing? I'm picking up a new X5d via PCD next month. Thanks-

As others have posted, our BTO X5 35d came with a leatherette fold-over binder with the thick owner's manual, a road atlas, book of BMW service centers, etc.. The tool kit is a single Phillips screw driver There are two places/holders for flashlights but none are included. The molded holder in the glove compartment is NOT for a rechargeable. Even the $150 space saver spare kit is pitiful - with it's clunky scissors jack. The owner's manual doesn't even bother to list the oil capacity. BMW clearly expects X5 owners to use BMW Assist and not get their hands dirty

Funf Driesig

[stockguru]

To be quite honest, outside of the current members of this forum which might be more enthusiastic about their ride, the regular BMW customer that I have come across does not want to work on their cars. They like calling for service and taking things in anyway so BMW's move towards saving waste is understandable.

The missing tools and flashlights are not too expensive for those that really want it. I think I spent less than $100 for a complete tool set including getting myself a better flashlight

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by stockguru

To be quite honest, outside of the current members of this forum which might be more enthusiastic about their ride, the regular BMW customer that I have come across does not want to work on their cars. They like calling for service and taking things in anyway so BMW's move towards saving waste is understandable.
...

...not sure what "tools", of any decent quality, they could
install as stock and, what "repair(s)" one would/could make with
those tools? If it breaks under warranty, one is calling the flatbed
and heading for the dlr; any enthusiast that wants to do oil changes
is going to have the tools or, get them. After warranty expires I
doubt a lil' tool set is going to facilitate any real repairs.
GL,mD

[FunfDreisig]

Here's a little story of how even a modest BMW OEM tool kit can be helpful...

My wife was driving home from our local BMW dealer after just having the value cover gaskets replaced (for the 2nd time, but who's counting). About 2/3 of the way home (50mi one way) she sees billowing smoke coming out the back. She pulls over on a 2 lane country road just about dusk. She calls me and I jumped in the ranch truck to help her.

Even the lady who stopped to help her, pointed out that there was a lot of oil dripping from under the X5. And a quick inspection showed it to be from the rear of the valve cover on the driver's side. The mechanic had not properly installed a valve cover bolt. All it took to fix this was a flash light and a 10mm wrench.. You know, like the ones that came standard in glove compartment and the trunk tool kit of our late 70's 530i. But NOT in the tool kit of that 2001 X5 If I had been in the X5 that day, we would have had quite a bill just for the flat bed to tow it the rest of the way home.

BTW There is a lot of the US that doesn't have an authorized BMW Center just around the corner. And some places where BMW Assist does not get you any help -- at all. Think Big Bend where your cell phone is as useful as a brick.

I'll be loading a small tool kit and flash light in our new (1 day old) X5 35d TODAY. I already have 2 qts of oil I picked up at delivery.

Could/would the average modern BMW owner have diagnosed/fixed this problem. Probably not. But an X5 costs $50-60k, surely a flash light and a minimal tool kit is not to much to ask for that price.

Funf Dreisig

FWIW a flatbed cost us $150 to tow her X5 home (less than 3 miles) when the X5 was totaled.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Here's a little story of how even a modest BMW OEM tool kit can be helpful...

My wife was driving home from our local BMW dealer after just having the value cover gaskets replaced (for the 2nd time, but who's counting). About 2/3 of the way home (50mi one way) she sees billowing smoke coming out the back. She pulls over on a 2 lane country road just about dusk. She calls me and I jumped in the ranch truck to help her.

Even the lady who stopped to help her, pointed out that there was a lot of oil dripping from under the X5. And a quick inspection showed to to be from the rear of the valve cover on the driver's side. The mechanic had not properly installed that valve cover bolt. All it took to fix this was a flash light and a 10mm wrench.. You know, like the ones that came standard in glove compartment and the trunk tool kit of our late 70's 530i. But NOT in the tool kit of that 2001 X5 If I had been in the X5 that day, we would have had quite a bill just for the flat bed to tow it the rest of the way home.

BTW There is a lot of the US that doesn't have an authorized BMW Center just around the corner. And some places where BMW Assist does not get you any help -- at all. Think Big Bend where your cell phone is as useful as a brick.

I'll be loading a small tool kit and flash light in our new (1 day old) X5 35d TODAY. I already have 2 qts of oil I picked up at delivery.

Could/would the average modern BMW owner have diagnosed/fixed this problem. Probably not. But an X5 costs $50-60k, surely a flash light and a minimal tool kit is not to much to ask for that price.

Funf Dreisig

FWIW a flatbed cost us $150 to tow her X5 home (less than 3 miles) when the X5 was totaled.

I called BMWNA about the flashlight. They called back a couple of days later to tell me they couldn't locate one to send. Pretty cheap of BMW in my opinion. Even my Lexus has a tool kit and flashlight.

Craig

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by Craig

I called BMWNA about the flashlight. They called back a couple of days later to tell me they couldn't locate one to send. Pretty cheap of BMW in my opinion. Even my Lexus has a tool kit and flashlight.

Craig

I bet if you paid $40 (3.9" long) or $85 (5.75" long), they'd find one to send you. I mean it's still in their accessories catalog.

That is VERY cheap of BMW

[brian5]

Originally Posted by mtech8

I bet if you paid $40 (3.9" long) or $85 (5.75" long), they'd find one to send you. I mean it's still in their accessories catalog.

That is VERY cheap of BMW

I bought the OEM BMW flashlights for a lot less on eBay...

[eyeguy]

OK maybe I missed this, but if I pull the OEM flashlight from my 3 series, is there a charging receptacle in the X5?

Similarly, if I pull my tools from my 330 kit, is there a case with fit cut-outs like my car to place the tools in the X5?

Thanks-

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by eyeguy

OK maybe I missed this, but if I pull the OEM flashlight from my 3 series, is there a charging receptacle in the X5?

Similarly, if I pull my tools from my 330 kit, is there a case with fit cut-outs like my car to place the tools in the X5?

Thanks-

NO and NO.

There is a 'receptacle' in the passenger glove compartment that MAY fit your old flashlight BUT it does NOT have any recharging contacts.

If you get the 'space saver spare' you have ONE medium sized bin under the cargo bay floor. Otherwise you have another much larger bin where the space saver spare goes.

Funf Dreisig