Consumer Reports
 

Friends and Colleagues of mine who own X5 are always happy with their vehicles and they say they are reliable except for little problem here and there. Yet I don't understand why Consumer Reports magazine always gives crappy report about X5. Did anybody notice ?

I don't read Consumer Reports, but I do follow various quality surveys (JD Power, etc). BMW isn't near the top of most lists. In my case, I accepted the mid-pack reliability results because other things about the car were positive (driving experience, handling, etc). Everything is a trade off in life.

I think there are likely few BMW owners who believe that BMW initial product quality is class leading. And yet at the same time, BMW sales volumes have grown fairly well.

What I found odd about CR reliability reports on the X5 is that only one category was below avg or poor on the 2009 X5 (the fuel system). Two categories were average and the rest was good or better. Yet, the 2009 X5 overall reliability was a tad below average.

However, other cars/suv's that had good overall reliability ratings would often have many more specific major areas that were rated below average or poor (2 or 3 black marks).

CR is good for vacuum cleaners and vcr's......not automobiles.

A bad rep is hard to lose, bro.

CR is not the mag I used to tell me about the E70's handing, performance etc. But is it the mag I used to tell me about reliability. The CR reliability ratings are based on SURVEYS of auto owners. It is the owners themselves that are telling the tale, not the CR appliance testers.

The E70s seem to be more reliable than the E53s but still not in the top ratings. You only have to look at the number of people reporting that they had to take there vehicle into the dealer within the first few thousand miles, to know you are reading a BMW forum, not Lexus.

Take just the subset of the X5 35d. We already know of one catastrophic engine failure, where BMW probably didin't install one of the rod bolts. Four 35ds have had the exact same Air Temp Sensor replaced. One is having 2 of the fuel injectors and one of the exhaust fluid tanks replaced. Another has had the other exhaust fluid tank replaced....

As you probably know I bought a 35d anyway. I'm just keeping a very watchful eye on the reliability issues. Hence the failed Air Temp Sensor thread, etc.

Funf Dreisig

My E53 4.4 had a number of issues with the value timing motor which was fixed by the dealer. It seemed like a highly complex machine that was prone to some failure. The variable value concept/design was new at the time and it seems like that was the issue.

My 2008 E61 BMW is even more complex but has been vertically bullet proof. I think that with time BMW has improved the complex electrical system in the car but it is still complex system that is prone to failure. The sophistication of the systems/engine in the car makes it fun to drive.

Easy answer, BMW's aren't the most reliable vehicles. That by no means makes them bad, just not as reliable as others. I usually tell people, your BMW may be in the shop..but when it is running, there is nothing better. I've had just under 10 Bimmers and each had its share of problems that I would have considered unacceptable. For example: my M3 that had its weatherstripping fall off with less than 3000 miles on it. My trans in the X5 that stopped working with less than 30K on it, my 6er that had its entire NAV/Radio stack need replaced, my 5er that eventually lost its dynamic drive capability...and so on and so forth. I think I've had a range of Bimmers...each one had issues...so to that tune..sorry...CR is correct.

Forum does not speak !
 

I wouldn't judge based on the forum. Most people are here while they are making purchase decisions and as soon as they get the vehicle they disappear. That leads us to see posts with problems. So most of the posts we see here are complaints rather commends. I agree to the fact that BMWs are average when it comes to reliability. That been said, I have less (may be no) problems with 328 than I had with my 2002 TL.

I've had a 525i, 4.4X5, 2 M3's, M5, and my current 4.8 and they've all been great.

Sorry.... that old saw won't cut.

My judgment is not based on percentages of complaints vs commends. It is based on absolute numbers of problems reported. And I am reducing even these, by only considering problems that immobilized the vehicle or at a minimum set the CEL and threw a DTC code that required a trip to the dealer to repair.

IMO even if we are reading about every problem with every E70, this is not an enviable reliability record.

Funf Dreisig