Are these common problems?
 

I am kinda new here, having purchased my 2005 3.0 last Nov. with 42k miles on it. Great site, and I should become a paid member, by the way.

My X5 is still under warranty until February 2nd, so I have to either buy an extended warranty or decide to go without it.

The non-BMW dealer I bought it from had the car serviced at the BMW dealership and they had replaced both front CV boots (covers?) They had also reset the adaptive transmission memory.

After I have had it, I got a second key for it, had the left rear tail light fixed by the dealer.

A couple of times the alarm went off when I used the remote to unlock the car, so I took it in and also told them about the whistling noise I heard from engine.

[edit: I got the 4x4 warning light that came on, so I took the car in for that, and provided the above problems to the dealership as well]
[- steering angle sensor was found faulty and was replaced.]

- A cracked air intake tube was replaced
- the alarm code showed interior motion sensor error, which was ordered and replaced.
- they found a leak at power steering hose and fixed that.


I have had the same alarm scenario happen one more time since then, when it was raining.

I noticed some pixels gone on the radio display unit, and also a slight rattle coming from the engine some early mornings from time to time (colder mornings). I just dropped the car off at the dealer last night and picked it up tonight....
- they replaced the alarm sensor under the hood,
- they noticed rear brakes were gone so they replaced rear rotors/pads/sensor,
- they noticed cracks in the alternator belt and replaced it,
- they found the source of the rattle to be deflection pulley and idler pulley having excessive play, replaced both.
- they replaced the radio display unit

Needless to say, I guess, I am kinda surprised that a California car with abuot 45k miles on it would have all these issues (cracked belt, excessive play in pulley, needing CV boot changes?)... this is my first encounter with BMW (my wife's BMW still has less than 10k miles on it, so that doesn't count.)

Are above mentioned fixes pretty normal for a car of this age/mileage?
Should I be looking at extended warranty? the one being offered is from EasyCare/APCO, and price comes to about $100/month for 2 years for 'full' coverage and 30k miles.

I do most of the maintenance and small repairs myself (changing brakes/spark plugs/ window regulators/etc. will not be a problem.)

Here in the bay area almost everyone and their cousin owns a BMW, so there are plenty of independent shops that have good BMW knowledge with lower cost than dealership (advertising $500 front or rear brake jobs including OEM rotors/pads, for example.)

Any feedback is appreciated.

p.s. I should mention that I am absolutely, 100% in love with this vehicle.... love the way it drives and love the size, looks, etc. etc., and do see myself owning an X5 from this point on... so while I might be disappointed, I truly think this is one of the best overall packages out there.

Cracked belts and hoses that leak, particularly near fittings are common issues on all makes/models of vehicles. Not BMW specific.

The dead pixel problem is a well known, documented BMW issue.

Brake wear....? Well, the OEM brakes cause a lot of dust, and they do a great job stopping the car but they do wear out. 42K miles wouldn't be too unreasonable for a new set of pads. If you drive gently and brake gently you'd probably get more than that. If you replace the pads with the ceramic-based pads you'd probably get more life. Axxis or Centric both make ceramic based brake pads and are reasonable in price.

There are certainly some BMW-specific pain in the ass stuff, but nothing really that you mentioned above. I'm thinking specifically of door handles that freeze in cold winter weather and the issue with the oil seperator going at the 70-90K mile mark. I'm sure others will chime in as well.

yeah, what you listed is pretty much SOP, especially the ilder pulley on the 3.0 engine. The only thing that surprised me was the rear brakes. Normally, it's the front ones that go first. My 2001 had the fronts done at 28k (city driving, lease car). I just had all four done at 93k with just about equal wear.

I'm a new (used) '05 X5 owner as well and will go off warranty in Aug. I hear of these problems on this board and am surprised as well. Previously, I owned a M3, with no major problems (I sold it at 80k).

Also, when I got the car, I bought it from a friend who specializes in BMW, and I asked if I should buy the extended warranty. He said he wouldn't - they don't have many problems. So I'm wondering the same thing you are. Nothing has gone wrong yet, but I'm only in the first 100 miles. Maybe, the people who are trouble free don't visit the site or don't have to post as much.

Trust me...Buy the extended warranty or you'll regret it. I dumped 7k of my own cash into my X last year for "problems" that had occured. I drive the X very nicely and hardly aggresive at all, so all this wasn't because I drive it like crap.... Get the warranty...

Thanks for the replies so far.

bcb1, my 02 C240 that I bought new had 90k miles on it when I traded it in for this beauty, and the belt looked still looked like new. I had zero leaks anywhere in the car.

My 99 Infiniti QX4 also had the belts (that still looked fairly good) replaced at 105k miles along with the timing belt, just as a good practice item. An alternator belt lasting only 45k miles in California weather (no -20 to -40 degree overnight parking and freezing cold starts in the morning here like we used to get back in Ottawa, Canada) is not a common problem to have in almost all other makes. But I still don't know the driving habits of the previous owner, perhaps he was in stop/go traffic all day long, and engine, even though has low miles, was running more than other cars. ???

Parts of my post above was simply to list the work done, I didn't list all of them as unexpected... sorry, I should have been more specific. For example, Brakes, for a heavy car like this and the driving habits of previous owner, I can see then worn out and frankly that is one part of the maintenance that I have never skimped on myself, and I always go full OEM on them as I like the feel and no squeaky/soft pads, even though they are pain to clean off of the wheels. :) They weren't warped or didn't pulse, they just wore out... so good design, bad driving conditions/habits I am thinking, and the front brakes have already been changed by the previous owner, I believe. So on the brake side, I have no problems with them being worn out.

X5flyboy, thanks for the idler pulley confirmation... if it is a usual occurence in these engines, I feel better about it, especially now that is fixed under warranty.

primetime, believe me I have read so much about these aftermarket warranties that I am so unbelievably confused now... for every positive review out there, there is a negative one about the same company. I guess the combination of one's luck with the car, expectations, operating conditions, dealer/repair shop ability and willingness to claim properly, etc. etc. plays a big role in every person's experience, and that is different from every person to another.

My car right now runs absolutely perfectly, no extra noises anymore, brakes, idle, acceleration, gear changes, everything is simply flawless and like new at this time... I have owned and am a fan of BMW motorcycles which, at 100k miles, are still considered mid-life for an engine of only about 1.3 liters... so I think engine/transmission wise, these BMW cars are pretty long lasting and don't expect any 'serious' issues, especially with my soft driving habits. So I really don't think the warranty is needed for those purposes. But I may be totally off here, that is what I am asking for feedback here from those who may share and/or have had the same situation as I have right now.

Thanks for the reply... I think I was typing my post when you posted the above. $7k in one year is sure a lot of money to spend on repairs. Can you list what was done, or point me to where you have already posted them? Also, what kind of mileage/age was your car at last year prior to these repairs? I can see if certain things go after 100k or something, but having warranty between 45k-75k miles is not going to help with those.

I would like to compare the work with what is for example covered and not covered with this EasyCare plan, and see how much having one would have helped.(obviously I don't think I will see exactly the same stuff as you did... just want to do that as a reference point.)

But I can agree, that is the worst feeling, knowing you have done nothing to cause the car to break down, and it still does. One can accept the extra issues if one is constantly beating up on the car.

Lets see if I can remember all of them..

All of these started around 80k miles...

Valve cover gaskets (it blew one morning)
Valve cover (it cracked and needed an entirely new one)
Oil Seperator or Crank Case Vent Valve (long story which you'll find tons of on this site)
Both CV boots (i think you already had these done too)
Water pump and thermostat both went bad. (this is normal maintenance though and should be replaced around 75k miles)
Idle tensioner pulley (probably same problem you already had fixed)
Brake job both front and back (again this is normal maintenance)
New Door handle carrier (it freezes and basically you can't open or close your door properly. this is a cold weather problem)
Steering angle sensor (just stopped working one day)
Thrust arm bushings (not sure if they're supposed to go bad but they did)
Tail light defective ( i think you had this fixed already too)
Camshaft sensor (not sure why, but it stopped working)
Sway bar links (common problem, but they crapped out on me)
Oh and one last thing you can throw in a couple window regulators in there also..

I think that covers most of it, i'll have to check my records when i get home from work to see if there was anymore. hope this helps..

I've owned many BMW's and never extended the warranty but with the X5 I definately will because of the number of issues i've had since owning the car.

The expensive failures include a new Panoramic Sunroof and Satellite Navigation and general labour costs for sorting out little rattles here and there.

However, it's the most enjoyable car I've owned in terms of ride height which is why I'll keep it rather than sell it which is what I would do normally with a car with these issues.

Oh, thanks for reminding me... I edited the top post to include that... I forgot... the reason I took the car in was that the 4x4 warning light came on, and I took the car in for that, and also asked them to look at the alarm issue and others. :)

Thanks for providing the list... it seems like they mostly came up after 80k miles... in my case, my warranty would only be valid between current 45k and 75k miles in two years. (even though some of those items already appeared in my list too... so who knows.)

Yeah, a good thing about living in California weather is that your car stays better than it would in colder climate (like Canada where I moved to California from.) Even though we end up paying for it anyway, with high state taxes, housing prices, and traffic/etc. :)

No problem buddy..Good luck to you and whatever you decide..:thumbup:

I have the panoramic roof, but no navigation. I saw on this forum somewhere that panoramic roof (not the glass, but the inside cover) stopped working and extended warranty didn't cover it as it was considered 'trim' (which the plan I am looking at doesn't cover 'trim' either). The plan also specifically doesn't cover 'rattles' and noises either... it seems like the part has to be definitely worn out and broken before they take care of it.

The list they provide of items that are covered are also interesting. Here is the link to their total care:
http://www.easycare.com/easycare/ben...acts/totalcare

For example, valve cover is said to be only covered if damaged by the failure of an internal, lubricated part. This would mean, to me, that a crack on its own in valve cover would not be covered. :dunno:

[edit:]
ok, I just called them directly and asked them... first, they are saying they are not starting new policies in CA anymore... (how is the dealer then selling them? I asked.)

Second... in a specific example of a crack in valve cover, or valve gasket... neither will be covered under this 'total care' policy (which is their all inclusive one that the dealer is selling.) The only gaskets that are covered, are the ones that the part fails and the gasket needs to be replaced as a result of changing the part... not the gasket failing on its own. That is a 'wear' item, the customer support person said. Interesting, no?

Good question, and IMHO a relatively simple answer. If you plan on keeping the car (especially beyond 2 more years) and you cannot afford a major repair then get an extended warranty. Just think how much a tech chasing an electrical problem will cost you!

There is no reason why your car might be more or less reliable than another X5. There are plenty of posts on the forum listing X5's with 100,000+++ miles in addition to the complaints here and there of problems (which quite honestly are still pretty rare I would think...keep in mind BMW has sold hundreds of thousands of X5's worldwide (http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090115.017/bmw-x5-celebrates-10-years-of-success). There are only a small number represented here on the board).

Most of the problems you've had a typical of many cars. A few might be more common with the X5 or BMW's in general, but honestly so far they are not too bad.

^ thanks for the reply, mgruber.

Yes, the forums are usually representative of a small number of actual owners out there. And I am glad to see/hear about those X5s that have a relatively problem free life. I really like everything about this X5, and like it more with every drive. At this moment, I must say, i am leaning towards not getting the extended warranty ... I have got enough tools and ability to do small jobs myself, and with help from this forum, I think smaller issues here and there should be no problem. Bigger items, I will deal with if/when they come.

Just a quick clarification for this thread and other threads...we just got our X5 back from the dealer after a bundle of CPO warranty repairs and the invoice says they replaced both the Cyclone Valve and the Oil Separator + all hoses connected to both. So, the Cyclone Valve and Oil Separator are in fact separate distinct parts in case there is still some confusion out there on that issue.

FYI the Cyclone Valve, Oil Separator and hoses were not items covered by the CPO warranty.

Very interesting info. Can you tell us what year and model X5 you have? Is your CPO warranty from BMW or a different company? Also, how much did you pay for the work? Finally, from your invoice can you list the separate parts and part numbers?

BTW, I would think that the work would be covered under warranty given the SIB's that exist on the issue. That really blows.

are you kidding :yikes:

Kind of a long story, but we bought the car used recently and part of my deal with the non-BMW dealer I bought it from was a $1500 credit for various repairs. So, bottom line is I didn't have to directly pay for any of the repairs just completed at the dealer (although I did buy new tires and installed new front and rear rotors and pads, etc.). The stealer charged $525 to replace the Cyclone Valve, Oil Separator and all hoses.

The CPO warranty is from BMW and expires in June (and yes I'm considering getting another warranty). My X5 is a 2003 4.4i w/ sport package with 85k on it.

Parts / Part #'s for Oil Separator / Cyclone Valve Replacement
Cover: 111617508541
Oil Separator: 111151705237
Vent Hose: 11157556837
Vent Hose: 11157556838
Oil Return Hose: 11151438302
Hose Clamp: 116131179065
Oil Return Hose: 111157560068
Hose Clamp: 216131379229
Hose Clamp: 407129952109

The idler pulley is something BavAuto recommends replacement whenever you replace the waterpump, but if you get one of those Stewart WP, they have a lifetime warranty (stainless steel vanes & better bearing) - It was suggested to me that the serpentine belt should be replaced every 30k/3yr - if so, then I'd replace the idler sometime after 60k - the OEM waterpumps apparently break at 60k-80k due to having plastic vanes

A few questions:
- What is your car's date of production?
- I don't recognize any of those part numbers. Are there any other part numbers listed on your receipt?
- You mentioned getting another extended warranty. I assume then your 6 year 100,000 mile warranty is the one expiring. When you decide on another extended warranty, please post the info as I'm sure plenty of people would be interested in it.

My date of production is 04/2003

I updated the part numbers in my previous post for the oil separator / cyclone valve replacement

I'll be sure to discuss what warranty I buy with the board. I'm sure there is some good information already here if I search for it.

First let me say, thanks for following up so diligently. It's just that that makes these threads so informative in the long run. This is definitely getting interesting!

Second, some questions for clarification. You said that your car is CPO with 85,000 miles (with an extended BMW warranty (presumably to 6 year/100,000 miles). However, you said you bought the car from a non-BMW dealer. So how can that be a CPO? Are you the 3rd or 4th owner at this point? My point isn't to grill you, it's to understand how the work you had done wasn't covered under the CPO warranty.

Third, was the work done by a BMW dealer or an indy shop? The reason I ask is that they appear to have changed all the necessary parts out (even the cover at the back of intake manifold (must have been compromised during the leak I guess)), but as far as I know all those parts are just now 'new' and nothing has been done per se to address the actual problem. In other words, they fixed what broke, but didn't do anything to prevent it from happening again, as per the SIB write-up, which for your car (a 2003 4.4 made in 4/2003 with the M62 engine involves installing the heated wrap for the crankcase kit (P/N 11 61 0 390 846).

So IMHO you have 2 options. #1. Do nothing until the problem happens again and then take the SIB to the place that did the work and tell them you are not paying for squat this time and that you expect ALL the work to be done. or #2. Take the SIB to them now and ask them why that stuff wasn't done... and quite frankly it should be done under warranty.

Lastly, some of your part numbers were off by a digit. I fixed them below:

Parts / Part #'s for Oil Separator / Cyclone Valve Replacement

Cover: 11-61-7-508-541
Oil Separator: 11-15-1-705-237
Vent Hose: 11-15-7-556-837
Vent Hose: 11-15-7-556-838
Oil Return Hose: 11-15-1-438-302
Hose Clamp: 16-13-1-179-065
Oil Return Hose: 11-15-7-560-068
Hose Clamp: 16-13-1-379-229
Hose Clamp: 07-12-9-952-109

PS. I still don't know what the hell a 'cyclone valve' is?!

The truck was originally purchased in June of '03 so that's why my warranty expires in June. I believe I am the third owner but according to the BMW website under the warranty section it transfers from owner to owner. Technically I didn't buy it from a BMW dealer but it was traded in at a BMW dealership owned by the same owners and that's where we went to look at it. I just completed the transaction at a different dealer.

Based on the fact that they didn't list the Cyclone Valve as a separate part I'm starting think that it is a valve contained within the Oil Separator part as a whole.

I don't have a copy of the warranty so it would be hard to challenge them on what they did and didn't repair under warranty. The repairs were all free from my perspective (due to the repair credit I received from the purchasing dealer) so it's not really a point I'm interested in challenging.
I am a little concerned about the heated wrap thing but I'm not sure if they would be required to replace it under warranty with the 'improved' part.

More fuel to add to the fire...here's a list of what they repair under warranty and what they said wasn't covered by the warranty:

Covered:

Valve Cover Gaskets
Airbag - Seat Mat
Left front VANOS Seal
Valley Pan Gasket
Coolant Rear Galley
Gaskets on Manifold / Intake reseal
Tank Venting Valve
Fuel Tank Breather Valve

Not Covered:
Oil Separator / Cyclone Valve + Hoses
Drive Belts
Transcooler & transcooler lines

Thanks for the clarification. Keep in mind that the heated wrap isn't an improved part, it's a fix for a poorly designed part that should have been implemented. Best way to describe it is sort of a jury-rig fix. (You are adding something on) The fixes for the other engines are a bit more elegant I'd say (You are actually replacing an older part with a newly designed part).

The oil separator fix for the M54 engine involves a newly designed crankcase vent valve, crankcase vent hoses and dipstick guide tube. The fix for an N62 engine involves installing a newly designed cylinder head cover and updated ventilation hoses.

I would really suggest you at least ask them why they didn't do it given that there is an SIB on the issue and what kind of guarantee you have that it will not happen again, because based on what they repaired, I honestly do not see how it wouldn't happen again.

Those are good points - I'll see what they have to say...

Any update on this?

I've been trying to determine the service bulletin # so I can sound credible when I go in there.

It's SIB 110104. Check the thread called: "Thanks for nothing BMW NA ( Blue smoke/Oil loss/Oil separator )" Reply #35