Tailgate springs have given in....
 

The pressurized springs that hold the tailgate up when open have apparently given in. They're apparently on backorder with BMW Germany as per the service advisor at my dealership as it seems to be a common problem on the E70. I've gotta wait for two weeks before they have stock...

Anyone else have this problem cause I don't remember reading about it before?

I see you have the '07 which wasn't auto-tailgate (which potentially could be more problematic). I haven't read about such problems either way though.

No, don't recall reading about this either.

At least it's not too bad an issue -- it's easier to fix than a rattle... :)

I guess it's not really major. Still annoying though, especially the first time it gave up and came crashing down on my skull.

Wow, that is pretty bad! I didn't realize that you were saying that there was no pressure at all --- allowing the tailgate to just fall. :(

Mine have completely given out also, but I have an '03 X5. My warrenty is out and I'm just looking around for a less expensive replacement for them.

Once bitten, twice shy... It got me pretty bad the first time. Fortunately wasn't anything major. I guess it's better than something like the brakes failing...

that is really really pathetic for any car made after 1980 in my opinion, let alone a bmw

The springs/gas struts on the tailgate of my '07 are giving up. It is very difficult to get it fully open - I am 188 cm tall and I have hit my head too many times on the tailgate. I am waiting for an appointment for brake fluid change and will have the tailgate done then too.

> I have an '03 X5. My warrenty is out and I'm just looking around for a less expensive replacement for them.

http://www.theautopartsshop.com/Auto...t-Support.html

Water has gotten into my trunk lid...
 

Yesterday I got a warning on the idrive saying "rear left fog light failure" I checked the fog light and it seemed to work fine. This morning it did it again and also when I opened the trunk a string of water poored from the tailgate latch. Has anyone else had a similar issue? Could it be damage from the jet wash that has allowed water in...?

I definitely have NOT had water pour out of my tail gate.

I did order a pair of those shocks from the link a couple posts back. Great price. I'll post here if I have any problems with them.

So, I just got my X back after having the tailgate springs fixed, I can honestly I have never received such great service by a dealership, the service advisor, Paulo, went out of his way to make sure everything was done properly and in the timeframe promised.

The list of repairs/complaints it went in for was a mile long including a non-funtional CD shuttle, and rattles all over the place.

CD shuttle gone in for replacement unit, will be here in a couple of weeks,
Rattles - from what I can tell, touch wood, seem to have been resolved - they stripped the entire back's trim including the roofliner to sort it out, apparently there was some bracket that held a wiring harness in place that was never used when the car was built, also they found some loose bolt lying in the area where the moonroof cassette is bolted to the car that was rolling around when the car ws moving, ridiculous, I know!!!

Anyway, I'm glad they finally sorted it out, knock on wood.....

I just had my struts replaced, I made the appointment a few days in advance, they had ordered the parts and did that and a brake fluid flush. All under warranty.

re:
 

What's going on? Mine failed yesterday. Car only 2 years old. Oh well, under warranty.

oh okay, it's not only me. I posted a new thread about this problem as I overlooked that someone had already posted similar to my problemo. I haven't open my trunk for several weeks now (i went on an out-of-state vacation for a week) and when I opened it yesterday (to place something at the trunk) it would not hold up and like the posts stated, it will fall on your head if you don't hold it with your hand. So, any update from the original poster. Oh men, another trip to the dealer but like you've said its better than any major problems.

DeePee,

It's been sorted out by the dealer. Took it in, they checked it to find out exactly what the problem was, confirmed that it was the springs and ordered new ones from where ever, took 2 weeks to get here, but replaced them. No questions asked.
Haven't had a problem since...

It's not unusual for pressurized air cylinders to go bad over time, but usually it tales about five years, not two. BMW might have gotten a bad batch from their supplier or something. It's hard to catch a "extremely slow leak" quality defect in that type of part, and frankly, those types of parts are so easily replaced if there is a problem that they don't get that much QC attention.