Malfunction Lights for Christmas...

[gnathologist]

Hello guys,

I have a 2011 X5 35i with 20,000 miles and just in the past two days I received multiple malfunction messages.

Just happened without any warnings. It can be a very dangerous situation as you will lose steering and braking.

The warnings were (all happened within 10 mins between turning the vehicle on and off):

Engine malfunction/reduced power mode
Braking/chasis stabilization malfunction
ABS malfunction
Parking brake malfunction
Rear light malfunction
Warning that I can change gear without depressing brake pedal

My X5 was perfectly normal until last night. I've had the software recall updated about 3,000 miles prior to these incidents.

As I searched this forum about the issues that I've been having, it appears that I'm not the only one...I'm taking it to the dealership tomorrow to find out what is going on, but i'm a bit worried that they don't have a long term solution for this.

If someone with similar experiences can chime in and share your solutions, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

[ard]

Originally Posted by gnathologist

...but i'm a bit worried that they don't have a long term solution for this.

If someone with similar experiences can chime in and share your solutions, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

What are you talking about???

This is your first post, your first time with a single failure, and 'you are concerned that they don't have a long term solution'?!?? OMFG

Everybody is a victim these days.

Take it in, get it fixed, stop whining.

[gnathologist]

Originally Posted by ard

What are you talking about???

This is your first post, your first time with a single failure, and 'you are concerned that they don't have a long term solution'?!?? OMFG

Everybody is a victim these days.

Take it in, get it fixed, stop whining.

I find your response very offensive and immature. If you have nothing positive to contribute, I suggest you stay out of this thread. Just because this is my first thread, it doesn't mean I haven't been around.

Single failure? Definitive solutions? Look at the history of all the common major and repeating problems from BMW.

SMG issues
Subframe issues
Vanos Issues
Rod bearing issues

Some of the above problems are major problems that BMW and trusting customers are still dealing with. Why do you think so many people are dumping the M5's before the warranty runs out?

Everybody is a victim these days? Please. I suggest you deal with your problems in your own room and wipe off your tears before posting in a public forum.

I also suggest you change your attitude and maybe then, your life can be a bit more fulfilling.

I don't appreciate spending over $65,000 on a brand new vehicle to protect my family and find out it could potentially place my wife and children in a dangerous situation. If you don't have a family, I don't expect you to understand where I'm coming from. Again, keep your mouth shut so that this thread can be helpful to other members.

To other members, I thank you all for your contributions. I have taken my X5 to the dealership today and I'm waiting to hear about potential diagnoses and fixes. I have provided them with all the pictures of the malfunction lights and videos of all the problems.

As soon as I hear anything from the dealership, I will update the status.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by gnathologist

I find your response very offensive and immature. If you have nothing positive to contribute, I suggest you stay out of this thread. Just because this is my first thread, it doesn't mean I haven't been around.

Single failure? Definitive solutions? Look at the history of all the common major and repeating problems from BMW.

SMG issues
Subframe issues
Vanos Issues
Rod bearing issues

Some of the above problems are major problems that BMW and trusting customers are still dealing with. Why do you think so many people are dumping the M5's before the warranty runs out?

Everybody is a victim these days? Please. I suggest you deal with your problems in your own room and wipe off your tears before posting in a public forum.

I also suggest you change your attitude and maybe then, your life can be a bit more fulfilling.

I don't appreciate spending over $65,000 on a brand new vehicle to protect my family and find out it could potentially place my wife and children in a dangerous situation. If you don't have a family, I don't expect you to understand where I'm coming from. Again, keep your mouth shut so that this thread can be helpful to other members.

To other members, I thank you all for your contributions. I have taken my X5 to the dealership today and I'm waiting to hear about potential diagnoses and fixes. I have provided them with all the pictures of the malfunction lights and videos of all the problems.

As soon as I hear anything from the dealership, I will update the status.

Please do update us with the status...this is my first BMW,,,,I too have a X5, but unlike yours,, mine is a 50i, don't know if issues with yours are related in anyway with mine, (different powertrain). Hopefully it is not too serious and just a glitch,,,,as far as the other issues you mentioned so far, I have not had any issues yet,,,,at 16,000+ miles.

[ard]

Originally Posted by gnathologist

SMG issues
Subframe issues
Vanos Issues
Rod bearing issues

Coulda sworn you were talking about your X5...

Are you just lumping your BMW experiences into one 'bin', and decided for this singular event, you will dump all your frustrations and dissatisfaction into one issue?

Here how it works:

1. Warning lights come on, various messages. (no, despite your desire to have a warning - you said "Just happened without any warnings"- there is no "Warning: warning about to happen" message.

2. Take it to the dealer.

3. Diagnose and fix.

4. WHEN IT COMES BACK, then you complain.

This issue. despite, what, 4 people saying "I had messages too..." is not plaguing this model. Buck up, fix it, move on...

A

[12cmim3]

Originally Posted by ard

What are you talking about???

This is your first post, your first time with a single failure, and 'you are concerned that they don't have a long term solution'?!?? OMFG

Everybody is a victim these days.

Take it in, get it fixed, stop whining.

^^ Yeah, that was helpful

Maybe because I'm a noob on this site and don't know you, but you kinda seem like a pr1ck. Why are you so angry in this thread? Is it because you feel you're king of this forum and know EVERYTHING about the X5, that all other questions/concerns others have are stupid to you?

So what if it was the OPs first post? Maybe it was his first issue that he had...and he felt like it was a big enough issue to finally post his concerns about it. It seems OP did a search, found others that had similar problems but no real solution. Maybe that's why he felt concerned that there wasn't a long term solution.

So why do you say he's whining? It seems there are several other people that had similar experiences. If anyone's whining, it's you...about this thread, and, I'm guessing, probably about a bunch of other threads as well.

Originally Posted by ard

Coulda sworn you were talking about your X5...

Here how it works:

1. Warning lights come on, various messages. (no, despite your desire to have a warning - you said "Just happened without any warnings"- there is no "Warning: warning about to happen" message.

Really? You're going to start nitpicking his wording? I think most of us know what he meant by "just happened without warning"...and it wasn't OP wanting a "warning for his warnings".

Originally Posted by ard

2. Take it to the dealer.

3. Diagnose and fix.

There have been many times people have taken their "problems" to the dealers, where the dealers weren't able to diagnose the issue. There have also been many times where people took their problems to the dealer and had to explain to the dealer what was actually going on with the car...from what they learned from forums such as this. Maybe OP wanted to find out if its an issue that doesn't require him to go to the dealer.

Whatever the reason, I don't think there's a need for you to get your panties all in a twist because of this post. If you can offer legitimate help, then offer it. If you find the thread stupid, then don't post in it. Being a douche doesn't help anyone. We're all here because we have a love of our X5s/BMWs/cars, and I assume, look to each other for help with issues, or just for a sense of community. At least I do...but then again, I have <10 posts so whatever I say probably doesn't matter.

Just my feelings after reading this thread...

/rant

[gnathologist]

Here is an email I received from the service advisor.

"Found the problem. Needs a DME. Ordered one and it will take a few days to get it"

Let's see if a new DME will take care of the problems. I had taken it to another dealership for a software recall (~17,000 miles), where the service advisor informed me that it takes hours to update the computer.

It makes me wonder if reprogramming of my original DME had anything to do with my problems...

I will ask what specific events/findings led to a definitive diagnosis of faulty DME.

Ard, let's see some pics of your pcar?
I could only find the pic of your door...
Maybe we can find a common ground for you to be a bit more productive in this thread, since you wish to be so involved?

[Meiac09]

I got the same 4x4 warning on my 325xi after the battery went flat and I recharged it. Did the malfunctions persist or did they go away? As much as I hated getting the messages, I never saw them again after 5 minutes of letting it idle or driving around the block.

[Richard in NC]

Agreed, I got the ABS warning when my 550i alternator was going bad.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by Meiac09

I got the same 4x4 warning on my 325xi after the battery went flat and I recharged it. Did the malfunctions persist or did they go away? As much as I hated getting the messages, I never saw them again after 5 minutes of letting it idle or driving around the block.

Got similar warning in my 02 4.4i. Put it on a battery tender and it never came back.