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X5 and poor bumper design
My X5 is in for service where they are providing me a new rear bumper. Raises the question of why. So here is the story:
There seems to be a very common issue with the X5. With this problem, it's easy to miss when looking up close. If you look down at the bumper, you'll notice a gap between the bumper and the body. If looking at it from 20 feet away or so though, it becomes easier to notice. You notice that there are ripples in the top of the bumper. Seems to be a design flaw that the reinforcement clips tend to break. The service center told me that it must have been from hitting the something. I told them about this days after I received the car, and the dealership agreed that it should have been fixed before delivery to me, so they're covering the cost. I thought it would just be a process of taking the bumper off and reinforcing it with new clips, but seems like they think it needs a whole new bumper. Now that I am aware of the issue with my truck, I've been noticing it on more and more X5s that I come across. Raises the question of how to get BMWNA to acknowledge that the bumper is not designed to US Safety laws of being able to withstand a mild bump. Here is a thread on bimmerfest with dozens of owners that have the issue. 2010 BMW X5 Rear Bumper Problems - Quality Issue - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums |
Now I need help from fellow owners.
I picked up my X5 from the service center on Friday. After a couple days of driving, there is an ever so slight gap in the middle of the bumper again, between bumper and body. When I push on it, it slides in, but after a bit of driving, the slight gap is back. Can't be more than 2mm or so, but I'm wondering if I should be seeing ANY light between bumper and body. |
2 mm?
Horrific. Sue them. |
I don't believe that I was asking for wiseass comments. I was asking if it's as it was meant to be. If not, then I would need to get back to the service center before they try and charge me money for a fix since this new bumper is all of 5 days old.
So anyone have any useful input? |
Sorry that I didn't specify. I mean a gap when looking at it from the top. With full tailgate closed, when looking down at the bumper, there is a gap. You can see the ground under the car through the space between bumper and body.
I have to leave and drive up to Boston, but will try and get a pic of the gap later today or tomorrow. |
I just checked and looking straight down there is no gap. At a slight angle, there's a small space. Compare it with other E70s at the dealer's service lot next time you're there.
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Thank you for taking the time to look!
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Anybody with LCI painted rear bumpers have small blemishes/bulges/lumps mysteriously appear, as if something is protruding from underneath? I tried to take a photo, but it is hard to capture. No paint damage or any other indication of impact, just a ~1/2" protrusion.
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MY story:
Have a 2012 MY X5 M sport that I picked up in Dec 2011. Was at the dealers on friday to get a small squeak behind the drivers seat looked at, took technician out for drive so he could hear, yup squeak coming from back of rear seat. SO Parks back at dealers opens trunk and tech (fairly big lad) jumps in boot space to see if he could identify where noise was coming from. No joy, so he jumps out and when I close tailgate the fecking bumper catches on the lower tailgate. Now cars never been hit (since I owned it) and he says it must have been. Then I remember reading this and other threads about the weak clips and them popping on X5's and I mention this to him, straight away he says they will fix under warranty. So they must recognise this is a common problem. It did push back down and seems ok for now, but will get it properly fixed as once clips pop I think they will be prone to continue doing it as they are weak in the first place. After leaving dealers I remembered that when I was checking the car over before handover there was a very light scratch (barley recognisble) on the rear bumper that I agreed could be touched in & polished. Scratch was quite small, low down & I didn't want a painted bumper on a new car and didn't fancy reordering another car and waiting 6-8weeks for UK delivery, so agreed to the touch in repair. Cars booked in next week, so hopefully get squeak and bumper fixed. I'm sure I read a thread about this issue that had pics of the offending clip, but can't seem to find, anyone have a link?? |
I'll have to ck mine tomorrow, thanks for the info!
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