The Australian X5 Thread

[watrob]

That was my complaint, where it started the day after I bought the X5, driving 1 1/2 hours up north to Noosa every weekend, got tired of holding righthand down on the steering wheel for that long to keep it on the road.

BMW answer, that's normal.

[jamesboags]

Originally Posted by P55TT

Hi Oz BM,
We took delivery of our X5 early last month and discovered the USB issue straight away, bought the car back to dealer the next day for fault finding.
Got the same reply as jamesboags “couldn't fault problem at the time of inspection" few days later I have informed them about the new software V27.1 and showed them a TSB that described newer s/w released in Sep will address the steering wheel and USB issues.

Dealer reload the s/w end of last month (2 days work inc. oil change) and it correct the USB problem.

Still trying to fine a way to tell the version number but now with the newer s/w it adds a new option in the maneuvering aids – camera + PDC.

After s/w reload, the TV tuner picks up CH10 digital, but can not do it now, not sure if it’s due to the signal strength from channel 10.

I am booked for software update on 11/12 quoted steering wheel SIB and indicated a software update is required to fix the fault they could not find last time... they said ok ! Seems you only get what you ask for !

[watrob]

Hey James,

My steering used to do that also but do you find that every now and then and it is more when you leave the phone in the cradle that your idrive screen locks up when you get in the car, hit reverse, push buttom for the accept screen and the screen just sits there?

You then have to leave the X5 for awhile and then the next time everything is ok.

[P55TT]

Hi James,

This is what I've got before and after s/w update.

[P55TT]

before CP1_b7802 - after CP1_b8564

[P55TT]

Hidden SID shows more info, but still no way to tell v27.1

[durnie]

Originally Posted by watrob

Hi James,

BMW Australia have got to big for there boots, that's the problem and they believe there own hype.

Handed my X5 back, owe yes they lie too. Handed back my X5, drove two others they supplied for test, drove left also. Took my X5 to the RACQ to get tested, report said, drives left and it should'nt.

Had a meeting they agreed then changed there mind, had 3 witnesse, s--t hit the fan. Anyway they sent me a letter saying they would pay all on road costs & stamp duty on the next new X5 I bought. Between the dealer & BMW Australia they would supply a drive car until my new one shows up which I have had since Sept, my new X5 comes in Jan 08 and I got the double turbo diesel.

Off the record they admit they drive left due to the castor being setup for LHD and that there is no castor adjustment, on the record there's nothing wrong, it's acceptable, that's the way they are.

All BMW is doing is wrecking there reputation as a builder of good vehicles, not having a castor kit (bushes) availble for RHD X5's shows poor planning & a fundamental engineering blunder.

Also show that they don't sell enough RHD X5's and they don't give a damn. They won't admit it because it's embarrassing.

Also shows that the Australian car magazines when they test these cars don't know what they are doing, either they know or there keeping quiet. RACQ put pen to paper and 2 other X5's did the same, what's going on?

The sooner Australia gets proper lemon laws the better off we will be. Sending vehicles to Australia with the lefthand front wheel set back 5mm more than the righthand front wheel (LHD setup) and no adjustment to correct this shows how much the they think of the Australian market, there attitude is if you don't like it don't buy the vehicle.

Jees I must have got lucky my X5 drives both left and right and if I move the stick to R it goes backwards

[Oz BM]

Originally Posted by watrob

Hey James,

My steering used to do that also but do you find that every now and then and it is more when you leave the phone in the cradle that your idrive screen locks up when you get in the car, hit reverse, push buttom for the accept screen and the screen just sits there?

You then have to leave the X5 for awhile and then the next time everything is ok.

I get that screen lock up quite often with the accept screen

[watrob]

OZ BMW,

As they say you should never buy the first release, how true that has been. Hopefully the new twin turbo X5 diesel replacement I have coming in Jan 08 will have all the upgrades & fixes. If it still drives left I am going to get the front bushes engineered myself, since BMW has not got the brains to do it themselves.

Also I think it p--spoor that 8 months after the release of the X5 73 they then bring out the double turbo diesel. England got the double turbo straight up, in about 2-3 years time everyone looking for a secondhand X5 will only want to buy the twin turbo diesel model, so you can imagine what the price difference will be.

You can see it coming, you drive into the dealer to trade and the first thing they will ask is, single or double turbo. There is about $8,000 difference in new price, so that will blow out to about $10k -$12k secondhand.

So it looks like to get rid of all the old diesel motors they dumped them on us. Ain't we here in Australia have the greatest take up of all types of 4wd's per head of population, so you think they would give us the good diesel at the same time as England at least or give us ones that drive straight.

As I said in one of my earlier posts, I think BMW have gotten a little to big for there pants and believe there own hype to much. There cars do have problems and there not man enough to admit it.

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by watrob

... England got the double turbo straight up...

That's not true. The UK launch of the E70 was in Aprill 2007 and the 3.0SD models are only now just becoming available. I know what you're saying though, if I knew it was coming, I'd have held off. Same goes for the efficient dynamic models.