Serious X5 Problem
 

Hi, I am inquiring how many other X5 owners have experienced what just happened to me and if you know what the problem could be. I live in Wisconsin and for the last two weeks the temps have been well below zero (as in 20-25 below zero!) On Friday I was driving at normal highway speeds and everything seemed fine. I went to accelerate and had no power, a quick check of my gauges revealed that everything appeared at normal levels, temperature etc... But when I looked out my rear view mirror all I saw was a huge white cloud. I limped it over to the shoulder and called for a tow truck. It's now at a BMW shop awaiting repair. My first thought was a head gasket is blown. My temp though was in the normal range and when I looked at my tail pipes both had oil spattered on them. The weird thing is the tow truck driver had another X5 the day before with the exact same problem and 2 more last week, same thing. What is happening with the engines on these? Could it be weather related or a production problem? My car is a 2001 3 liter and has only 56k miles on it. Has anyone also experienced this and could provide any insight into it? Anything helps as I am concerned with what this could be and more importantly what it will cost to repair. Thanks for your expertise and advice.

Sorry to hear that, i had the same type of problem . . . . My X5 is at the dealership now, was told there were 62 cars ahead of me with the same problem. It will be a week till I get my car back!!

Here is a thread from a few days ago: http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/26667-x5-blowing-out-smoke.html

Meanwhile, my beater (94' accord) rides like a soldier, sometimes I wonder why we put ourselves through these headaches!!!

Interesting follow up
 

If there are this many cars with the same thing I wonder where the fault lies, with us or the dealers or the factory?

I think the fault lies in a really crappy design from BMW on the crankcase breather system, and a complete failure to do any cold weather testing. I mean, come on, northern Sweden is only two long day's drive from Munich. I just bought a 2001 4.4l, and I am going to be replacing the oil seperator and associated parts and plumbing right away. It hasn't been cold at all since I've owned it, and its kept in a heated garage. When doing my research for the X5 purchase, I hadn't noticed the posts on this problem, now I'm starting to question my decision to buy an X5. Last thing I need is the X5 quitting on the side of the road a minus 40. My older BMW's had no problem what so ever in cold weather.

Bottom line, BMW screwed up royally with the design, and if 50-60 cars get towed to the same dealer with the same problem as soon as the temp gets to 20 below, then BMW needs to fix the problem on their own nickel. They stepped up to the plate with the dead pixel problem, now I think we need to get them to step up on this one too!!!

Thanks for your input. I contacted Concourse BMW here in Milwaukee. They are aware that this problem exists but declined to offer any help as far as reimbursement. Where to next? What's the likelihood that the factory will do a recall for such a major problem, but not actually a safety item? Any help is appreciated.