The indicator is based on USE not MILEAGE. So if you are driving less aggressively, and therefore using less fuel, the indicator can go up....

These are not 'sensors' but just guesstimates.

On the indy front- you can usually develop a relationship with an indy where you pay maybe 10% more for parts than you can get online... and not get screwed with abuse of book time. I guess I am lucky/cursed that I do everything (non-warranty) myself.... :)

A

I wonder how accurate these estimates are, e.g. I wonder what they read just before the actual wire sensor signals a brake pad change.

Do you know for a fact that it is based on fuel usage? I noticed that my CarChip reading the OBD-II buss can record "hard stops" and "hard accelerations," with a user-specified "G." If BMW was smart, they could use some of that data in the brake life algorithm. Though on the X5 it seems BMW has some non-standard data flowing, as the car chip will record lots of hard stops and accelerations, even with normal driving... I have to set the level at the max in the range to avoid a plethora of hard stops and accelerations being recorded, as compared to what the chip seems on the Ford OBD-II buss.

Well the problem is back. I had the satellites, VDC and shocks replaced under warranty 3 years ago and now the message is back. I have an extended warranty and they have rejected the claim saying that shocks are excluded from the warranty. I tried to explain to them that is was not the actual shock, but the controller that sits on top of the shock. No go! The only way to get the controller is to change the shock itself. Dealer says that both need to be changed at the same time. $5,200.00 $CDN is the cost. What to Do, any suggestions? The Warranty ( SAL Protection Plan) is not budging at all. I even offered to pay for half of the cost and still "No, shocks are excluded".

Post the terms in the contract (scan it, black out the parts that ID you), and the part numbers the dealer says need replacing.


Looking at real OEM, the VDC is the strut/shock:
RealOEM.com * BMW E70 X5 4.8i Strut, rear / VDC / control module
Item #1

Hard to argue with that....

Why are you using a BMW dealer?????

Whch dealer are you going to? Why not get the parts from a US dealer like getbmwparts.com or pacificbmw.com. If you are in Toronto , go see RMP motors. He worked on my M3 for years, only indy I would trust. Just to show you how bad the parts pricing is in Canada, I priced the centre grill piece from getbmwparts.com. It was roughly $30 US. I called BMW Toronto for pricing, $90 CAD. I couldn't help but laugh.

Did you purchase the extended warranty at the BMW dealer and insured by GMAC?

I'd say 'no'...

Industrial Alliance Pacific - Creditor Group Insurance & Specialized Products - SAL Protection Plan

No The BMW dealer did not offer a very good plan and it was $3,500.00 more that what I paid at the time. I have attempted to upload the PDF, but keep getting internal error message.

Here is the contract.

Does anyone think I have a legit warranty claim? Really is an interpretation, contract states that the control module is covered, but it says shocks are excluded. The module (satellites) are attached to the shock housing and need to be replace in pairs.