Front Caliper
 

Ok, was getting some vibration from the front end... intermittent and would get worse when braking... then go away from a while. Brought in to the service department... figured warper rotor. Well, the brake caliper was freezing up... ok, I can understand that... I've had that happen before on other cars. But at 66K miles, that seems awefully young for a caliper to fail.
Cost to fix... $1400! Because the caliper failed, it need to be replaced as well as the pads and rotor, on both sides. Holy $h!t So much for buying the extended maintenance... they must have looked right past the rotors when it was in for Inspection I recently.

Anyway, told them to put the wheel back on and bring it around front. I wasn't paying $1400 for a caliper and brake job. $75 charge for their time and got the job done at a local import car shop for $850. Saved $500 by not letting the stealer hose me.

Finally, what goes next? The transmission? $4000 or $5000 for this??? Sorry to say but time for this car to get a For Sale sign. It drives great but the difference in performance for the difference in price and maintenance just don't add up. I think BMW has become all hype... it has become just another car company that over charges on their name not in thequality and performance of their cars. I won't buy another BMW again until they come down to reality, distance themselves from the other car makers and put oil dipsticks back in their engines. Only a dip$hit would buy a car without a dipstick.

I don't know if the service dept realizes what they do in the back affects what happens in the front. The car I was going to get for my wife this year... I was thinking a 3 series... sorry.. no BMW for her... I think a nice Toyota. I'm looking to switch to an AUdi to replace the Crap 5.

Anyone interested in a 2003 X5, 67k miles in excellent condition?

How many BMW's have you owned?

I've had my X5 for 4 months (2001 71K). So far I have changed cv boot, battery, brake pads, door actuator and latch, bulbs. Still cannot open the passenger window from the driver switch. The trunk opens by itself. Every morning before I start I wonder whats new to fix. This is my first BMW ever and the last one. Fun to drive and safe, but sooooo unreliable. Its not about the money that I spent on the car but the fear that I won't be able to use it when I really need it. With 2 infants is no fun begging the car to start. I always keep cash in my car for taxi.

You bought a 6/7 year old car with 70K on it, what were you expecting exactly :)

It didn't say 4-Runner on the side. If that was your first BMW and you judge your view by that, it is a poor one IMO. Try getting a new BMW first and see if you have similar issues.

at one point it crossed my mind to buy a new one (or lease) and went to E70 forum. Changed my ming right away. I'm not bashing the company its just that I didn't expect to clean my pockets that often. My whole life I've owned maybe 15-20 cars. New or used. Believe me, I know what reliability means!

Well BMW's, MB's, Audis all are notorious for costing a lot to fix, that is why anyone who has had multiple Bimmers will tell you "have a warranty or sell the ride".

Also, as with most German rides (save V-dub) first year runs are issue bound.

I've had my car for a yr and a half and i haven't had any major issues, accept the battery drain issue, which resulted in replacement of altenator.

"It didnt say 4-Runner on the side"

Is that supposed to mean that if it was a 4runner 6/7 yrs old with 71k he wouldnt get as many issues? If so, I thought we spent more $ on something for quality and reliability.. It's like everyone that tells people not to buy a cheaper part on ebay, buy OEM, even though it's more expensive. Isn't because more expensive=better quality, more reliable.

I think the fact of the matter is that if you buy a USED car, you can expect to have issues. Some ppl buy new, and run their car into the ground, and sell just before everything falls apart. This could be the case with your car youry, and Hal. You buy ANY car used, you may have. Before I had the X5, I had a used 97 Saab 2.0 Turbo (the in between car i call it) ton of problems!!! Fun to drive, but when I got stuck on the way to bring my then 1.5 yr old to doctor's office for emergency - i decided time to sell. Before that, 2000 Pathfinder (purchsed new) no problems!! purchased off lease and got rid of it soon after when i moved from Toronto to NY. But now, have used X5, and so far so good. I think $1400 for my used car after 1.5 yrs isn't bad. But previous owner probably took care of the car very well. Lucky me. (until next time I have to spend a few thousand!!! LOL)

IMO, the extra money you spend is not for reliability...it is for luxury and engineering.

Yah- def have different opinions, lux I understand but reliability should be a given lol

[quote=Hallatauer]Ok, was getting some vibration from the front end... intermittent and would get worse when braking... then go away from a while. Brought in to the service department... figured warper rotor. Well, the brake caliper was freezing up... ok, I can understand that... I've had that happen before on other cars. But at 66K miles, that seems awefully young for a caliper to fail.
Cost to fix... $1400! Because the caliper failed, it need to be replaced as well as the pads and rotor, on both sides. Holy $h!t So much for buying the extended maintenance... they must have looked right past the rotors when it was in for Inspection I recently.

Anyway, told them to put the wheel back on and bring it around front. I wasn't paying $1400 for a caliper and brake job. $75 charge for their time and got the job done at a local import car shop for $850. Saved $500 by not letting the stealer hose me.

Finally, what goes next? The transmission? $4000 or $5000 for this??? Sorry to say but time for this car to get a For Sale sign. It drives great but the difference in performance for the difference in price and maintenance just don't add up. I think BMW has become all hype... it has become just another car company that over charges on their name not in thequality and performance of their cars. I won't buy another BMW again until they come down to reality, distance themselves from the other car makers and put oil dipsticks back in their engines. Only a dip$hit would buy a car without a dipstick.

I don't know if the service dept realizes what they do in the back affects what happens in the front. The car I was going to get for my wife this year... I was thinking a 3 series... sorry.. no BMW for her... I think a nice Toyota. I'm looking to switch to an AUdi to replace the Crap 5.

Anyone interested in a 2003 X5, 67k miles in excellent condition?[/quote

BMW = Big Money Wasted or Break My Wallet. anyways BMW is a great cars.this E53 x5 including the E70 is my 12th BMW.(the best one was E36 99 M3)