2000 X5 4.4i Sports Engine, Warranty problems,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 

I am not sure if my case qualifies as lemon, I purchased my car in Greenville, sc in October of 2006 from a private dealership it is a BMW x5 4.4i 2000 for $16500. I live in Indianapolis, in and the SUV refused to start one morning, we had to jump start the suv and few days later it did not start again, this time we towed it to BMW dealership and had them look at it, they told me that my battery was dead and after spending around $300 we got our car back, while driving it one day around 2 weeks after the battery replacement the engine started to make this horrible noise, we checked and did not see anything, noise stopped and later we smelled this awful smell company from under the hood. I pulled over and towed the suv to BMW dealership and they told me that my alternator was dead, replaced alternator $1200.00 and start driving. one morning on her way back to home after work my wife called and said that suv is shacking really bad, engine is making this loud noise and their is a thick black smoke coming from the exhaust. She pulled it over in to a mechanic shop, he looked at the suv and said that it looks like your engine blew up and he advised to take it to BMW dealership. We towed the suv and dealership said that they have to replace the engine. Since it was total shot. I took the suv to independent dealership that specialize in European cars and has reputation in town. I also purchased an extended warranty when I bought the BMW, it was from Penn warranty company in PA, they made me and shop runs in circle for 3 months, I was with out car and had hard time going to work and live a normal life.

I finally gave up and put the entire $12000 to replace the engine and labor on my credit card, I went to Penn warranty dispute department and had no luck. They refused for almost everything and blamed shop for all the problems, when shop calls them they will blame it on me, BMW company and dealership who sold me the suv.

They finally sent me a check for $2700 where I spent $12000 for repair and went through some serious stress with my work life, family life and just been normal.

I am not sure if you wanted to know all this, but I am hoping that you all can review it, pls ask me if you need any more info. shop is on my side and they been keeping log of everything. I am already out of several thousand dollars and I really am hoping to recover some of it back, thanks for listening.

It had 98,000 miles on it and I replaced the engine at 106,000 miles, it is at 119500 now.

I would simply sue Penn and forget about it. They advertise all over their site that they cover exactly this kind of problem. Unless you only have their Genesis warranty, they are on the hook with little ability to wrangle.

$12000 to change the engine on a 2000 X5? Thats an expensive fix.


You have no choice but to fight with Penn Warranty. I googled Penn Warranty co and I found hundreds of unhappy customers. How in the world they stay in business?

Heh, we both live in the world of Dreyer and Rienbold BMW here in Indy. This shop is quite the secret, because they have a lock on the Indy market and can charge the unsuspecting customer anything they want. These are the guys that broke a cam in a 6 cyl M3 (an easy thing to do when someone has no experience) and then turned around and charged the customer not only for the cam but all the work. Customer had to TOW the vehicle out of their shop. I have had 5 BMW's. I NEVER walk into that shop, ever, for anything. If it isn't the astronomical pricing and endless poor diagnosis it is the unbelievably smug attitudes. (Its the midwest, guys, no one can be smug and get away with it). Everyone knows BMW dealers are the worst, these guys are the worst of the worst.

Did you get a carfax on the car when you purchased it? Also, I agree with others, its lawsuit time for Penn warranty company. that's your only hope to recover some of that 12 grand...Sorry to hear about your troubles, sounds like the private dealership that sold it to you knew something you didn't. I bet it was a trade in too, and I bet the owner who traded it in knew it was on its last leg also...