It all went away...
 

So I started my 2003 X5 up today as normal, temperature 47 degrees F. Car started with zero issues.
After driving for maybe 2-5 minutes, everything on my dash went dead: tach, radio, speedo and just everything else.
I was in 4th gear manual shift and the car kept going as normal but downhill so not sure the engine ever really cut out b/c everything came back within 1-2 seconds. I didn't have time to push the clutch in or anything as it was still in gear. Also did not act like the engine went dead b/c there was no pause in motion or slight jerk as if starting the car in gear while moving. I would think it would have backfired anyways pulling gasoline in then adding spark.
Any ideas?:dunno:
I have several keys on my ring so could the weight caused the key to move a bit to the off position?
I put a new battery in about 2 weeks ago without any problems. Car starts fine and this is a first.
Never done this before and did not do it again--at least not yet.:yikes:

If it does it again I'd suspect the ignition switch, worth a thought since you say you have lots of keys and they are known to wear out sometimes with heavy key rings.

Stealer fix only?
 

I tried to jiggle the key while in the ignition, motor running and parked of course but could not duplicate the condition. I'll keep a watch on it and reduce the key load on the ring.

Is this a dealer/stealer fix only if in fact the switch is bad?:dunno::yikes:

No help here but get rid of those keys! My old man used to say that a persons stature in life is inversely proportional to the number of keys on his keyring. I personally think it's a bell curve.

tdgard, great observation!

i have 3 keys on my ring. the last one added was the business which put me way up the bell curve!

Single key for me now
 

I've always wondered how the weight of all my keys affected the ignition switch. Now I know.:( So far, no more problems but you can bet I will have a quick release on my X5's key from now on and only one key will be in the ignition with none hanging on for dear life.:D

There are writeups on www.e38.org about replacing the ignition lock tumbler with symptoms like this. While this doesn't happen to me in the X, once in a blue moon the key will go in a complete circle in my 7 and won't start the car. Pull the key out, try again and it's fine. Time to ditch the huge keyring...this is how simple I keep it on all of my vehicles.

and they say you can judge the man by the size of his.....piston hahaha

I've even got a matching Suzuki S piston for the bike. I like keeping it nice and simple.

suzuki??? come on man! you just lost all the respect i had for you.