I had a problem with the tailgate the day I was picking up the e70, the tailgate was not properly latching, turned out to be that the keys had to be reprogrammed. The tailgate is also soft close, so I try to let the automatic latching mechanism do its work, I drop the gate softly onto the latch. I think when you bang it hard you have the issue of breaking the soft close mechanism as well as the gate bounces back. Just my 2cents

Yes, it's the one complaint that I have (and will have service department look at when I take car in for its first oil change). I agree that it happens more on turns. If I had to guess, it seems like the tailgate frame is not rigid enough (if that makes sense) and the tailgate is twisting and creaking ever so slightly. :dunno:

Unfortunately, I am not optimistic that this is a problem that the service department will be able to solve :(

noisy tailgate--my solution
 

i went months trying to troubleshoot this knocking (especially when making slow turns) in the UK where i purchased my 2003 model and when i brought it home to the US.

i finally got it solved at a local dealer. after driving a mechanic around the neighborhood near the dealer, he zeroed right in on the problem. i had to adjust the two rubber stoppers (feet?) that attached to the body and cushion the closing of the upper portion of the rear hatch. they "mate" against rubber cushions that are attached to the upper hatch and cushion (or in this case interfere) with the closing of the upper hatch to the body.

if you are standing at the rear of the vehicle with the upper hatch raised and tailgate up, look along the outside edge of the hatch opening just above the tailgate's top edge, you'll see a rubber stopper. i think there's a torx bolt in the middle of the rubber stopper. i put a mark at the 12 o'clock position on the rubber part, backed the torx bolt out, turned the rubber stopper one way or the other, did the same on the other side, and checked for the knock on slow turns. i think i had to make a few attempts to find the right adjustment, but the slow turn knock/clunking sound has gone away.

DMO Didn't you go to trade it for a Lexus? What happened? I've decided to buy another BMW because my former 2004 325i never had any issues for 4 and half years. My X5 is 4 months old now and it is free of issues and actually feels more solid than the 325i. Each car is different and like RH71 said the first year of production is certainly the one with the largest amount of issues. If I were you, I would bring it back to the dealer and demand them to fix it. If they do not fix it, call BMW and/or hire a lawyer. Good luck.

Hi,

this is my first message in the forum. (from Aus)
got my 08, Aug E70 (4.8).
Heard a strange noise coming from the back like autoque said, i thought it must have been from the suspension. tried almost everything, finally opened the tailgate slightly, put some foam (where the upper tailgate meets the latch), and the noise is gone. so the upper tailgate is touching something, cannot figure out what. If I adjust the striker post all the way out, the noise is reduced verymuch, but not eliminated. I adjusted the striker post as an experiment only. if I put foams on the rubber stoppers the noise still exists.
taking it to the dealer on tueday.

Hi Grey, welcome to the forum, I hope you don't have as many issues as I have had. Please keep us updated with your progress.

take a look at my post:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e70-forum/...oying+tailgate

Thanks y5choi, actually i read your solution and tried that too.
still exists. its a "knock" "knock" sound rather than squeeks. I will let you guys know what the dealer says tommorow.

Mine is not really squeaks either. I actually had the dealer take a took at this two weeks ago. They claim that they "... found tailgate rattling slightly over bumps while making a turn." "Adjusted striker for upper tailgate and noise went away." Only problem is that I think the noise is still there :(

Dealer said, when I have time, that I can go and work with the shop foreman to resolve this. This is going to be tough one to solve... :banghead:

Hi again,
i took it to the dealer this morning as per schedule. he nailed it on the spot (i was lucky i guess). originally it took me half a tank of fuel and many weeks to narrow down where the noise came from.
They had to adjust the lower tailgate hinges more inward. There was a play on the left hinge.
see imagehttp://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/970a30b821.jpg