Unfortunately, it's impossible that BMW would have engineered the X5 to be immune to all types of electronic interference and hence the FCC warning/disclaimer on each and every electronic device one purchases, notifying purchasers that their products are subject to interference from outside sources. We've all read them, and they're printed on most devices large enough to carry such labels.

There are devices that are immune from such interference called "hardened" circuits, or known by other monikers, but they're reserved for military use, VIP use, or for equipment that "CAN'T FAIL," such as certain aspects of the Internet and Banking System's Computers, etc. Though no such technology is included on any vehicle delivered from any mainstream automobile company in the World (that I'm aware of).

Consumer electronics, BMW Automobiles, being included into that category are subject to interference from just about everything. The question is, was the car exposed to something out of the ordinary?

It's entirely possible, and there's absolutely NO way that BMW has "hardened" the electronics of the X5 to be immune from electrical or electromagnetic interference. The vast majority of commercial airplanes and a good percentage of military airplanes are not even hardened, hence the "turn your cell phone and electronic devices off."

This is a very real possibility, for better or worse, and is a growing and known problem as technology continues to enter into our daily lives in more pervasive manners.

Even those with biomedical devices such as pacemakers, some artificial limbs, and neurostimulators (pain management devices), are prone to such interference, which can wreak havoc with the manner by which electronic devices function. Stray radio waves, high energy electromagnetic fields, and even heightened solar activity can, and has been, responsible for everything from opening car doors, and garage doors for that matter, to sending entire electrical grids off-line on a multi-regional scale. A BMW is, unfortunately, no more protected from that type of interference than the laptop I'm typing on, despite having an electronic parking brake.

The above is quite factual gentleman, hence be aware, that such a scenario is not outside the realm of a rational explanation to anyone educated in the topics discussed above.

Being radiation hardened avoids single event upsets from things like gamma rays in outer space. Random EMI from the systems you describe has virtually zero possibility of completing a code and sequence required to initiate a function on your car. Picking up noise on the radio in your civic from your iphone is a different thing altogether.

dok, don't settle for excuses from BMW. Get it fixed.