loud squeal (not really driveable)
 

08 X5... when the vehicle is moving, it is squealing from the right front wheel area regardless of whether brakes are applied or not and happens at any speed, as long as it's moving. Applying the brakes, other than slowing the vehicle down as normal, doesn't change anything with regard to the squeal - it doesn't make it worse either. I don't know if something is caught clamped down or what. I have spacers installed and it seems to be spinning along with the wheel just fine. Tried DTC/DSC settings, no change. Checked in idrive the front and rear brake pads and it says it's OK for 8000+ more miles. There is no visible mark on the brake rotor that indicates something is caught in the pad. The pad is actually pretty much sitting on the rotor on all 4 wheels and applying the brakes doesn't change that, not sure if that's normal, but the squeal seems to be just from the right front.

Don't really want to drive it like this into the dealer who's 10 miles away... any thoughts?

I had the same problem. The anti rattle clip on the brake caliper had been dislodged and was rubbing against the rotor. You may have the same problem.. That's my only guess as of now..

I had this same anti rattle clip problem (along with 1000's of other problems :) when I owned a SAAB!! :(

Interesting... is this something I can adjust on my own... don't see it noticeably scoring the rotor, but at the same time I don't want to do that for 10miles with heat build-up, etc.

yeah, you would notice it just kind of on there crooked. Compare it to the other brakes. I went to the dealer, and the SA literally went out there with a screw driver and pryed it back into place

made me feel quite stupid haha

just checked it and it appears to be firmly in place and not crooked, not touching the rotor... compared with the other side too. :(

#9 in this pic: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=34&fg=05

hmm very unfortunate, Sorry, hope it works out!

Call BMW and have them tow it if 10 miles is too unsafe.

Or call the dealer and ask for their 'instruction'? Personally I dont like tows, so I'd downplay it, have them say 'drive it in' and if something is hosed, just let them replace the damaged parts...

well I had to get my wife to the station this morning so I risked it and it actually stopped after about 5 minutes of driving. So I went to a local dealer, one I didn't have a good experience with, and they fixed it in an hour... said the brake sensor was touching the rotor. So they replaced the sensors and pads on both fronts. I had no idea the pads are always in contact... he said sometimes the lips warp and that's what may have happened here. They didn't even mention the spacers.

I had checked the pad wear on idrive and with all my local driving through 20k miles, I was at 14k left on the fronts. Now with new pads I'm up at 34k left. Saves a brake job for me after warranty is out... will try to get the rears done out of courtesy before January...

Wait, did they replace the rotors too???

If they were not under maintenance (ie you were paying) you can be sure the SA would say "BMW doesnt let us change them and not install new rotors too, it is way too dangerous".