2002 BMW X5 from North America - Comments

I live in the UK and purchased a BMW X5 3.0 diesel Sport in 2004 directly from a German dealer and had it imported.

The car has done about 45,000 miles and is mainly driven by my wife on local runs.

We've had a few electrical problems over the years, the current issue is the brake and rear warning indicators are constantly on. I've tried replacing the bulb holders but while all lights work when the vehicle is stationary, they start to fail when it is moving, presumably due to the vibration of the car affecting the bulb holder contact with the light cluster. A local dealer has confirmed this is a "common fault" with the X5 and suggested I need to replace both rear light clusters at a cost of approximately £200. If it's a common fault, then surely it's a design fault and BMW should be paying for replacement parts! I'm finding it hard to part with this money as the rear light clusters are in immaculate condition and it is only the "contact" points that are causing the problem. I'll probably end up replacing them but wonder if this is the start of a very costly relationship between us and our X5.

Maybe we should dump it now, the trouble is they're worth next to nothing in the current economic climate! This is the 3rd BMW I've owned (had a 318, then a 530i) and it will be the last.

I've been driving a Jaguar XKR for the last 2 years and haven't had a single problem. It seems that BMW have become a low quality mass car producer and have given up on quality.

I bought my X5 2002 with 69K in March of 08 from a private individual. Beautiful car, it drives like a dream. Here are the problems:

1. The driver side door lock unite (inside the door) broke. Looked up DIY on x5world.com and bought the unit for $130 and replaced it myself, the dealer wanted $600 for the job. It was not a fun job to do but I am very technical.

2. Passenger side back seat window broke. Window will not operate with the motor. The glass some how separated from the motor connection. Fixed also, cost my no parts. Dealer wanted $300.

3. CV boot broke and start leaking, replaced axle $2200

4. One night on the way home from a short trip, the dash all light up and headlights went out except for one, and lost all power of the car. Made it home driving with flashers 35 mph. Next day took it to local BMW mechanic shop and replaced battery, alternator, thermostat, belts, headlight bulbs and tail light bulbs $1000 and considered it a deal.

This morning my X5 will not start, I called my mechanic to troubleshoot (like a computer right); he said the battery is weak. I jumped the car, and it started.

The moral of the story, you fall in love with this car when is it not in the shop, but all in all, it is not worth it. I owned a 325 convertible few yrs back and I said I will not buy a BMW again. It was the same story. I like to know that my car is reliable 90% of the time, not the case with the BMW. I would probably trade it in this spring for a Lexus, Toyota, or Acura.

2003 X5 problem with vibration, it goes all the way up to the steering. I had rotors changed, wheels balanced still not fixed. It doesn't happen all the time.

We cannot pinpoint it. It feels like the wheels are going to come off. Is it the CV joint? Help, Please...

...and so it goes on. Unreliability to the point of being scared to get in the vehicle in case it leaves one hanging in the middle of nowhere. My South African 2002 3.0d X5 has developed so many new problems in the last 4 months, I'm finding it hard to believe there's anything else that could possibly go wrong. At the moment its in the shop having the gearbox replaced. Suffice it to say that soon as it's fixed this time it's being replaced by a Toyota.

I also have a 2002 X5 6 cylinder and will never buy another BMW. I also have a 03 525i.

The x5 lights are always blowing, the windows stopped working, the door lock on the drivers side stopped working and mysteriously started again, the lights on the radio the pixels are disappearing...Don't buy German... Get a Japanese or Ford.

I contacted BMW to tell them how disappointed I was with the product, and they said thank you for your comments

I live in South Africa and have a 2002 3.0 X5. The transmission failed on 140.000 km. Cannot mention other problems, as this is a good and safe car to drive. I had other BMW models, which also had minor problems.. I can dearly agree with some of the persons on this forum that there is dealers ripping us off, and BMW should be more sympathetic to their products problems. This is not a cheap car to buy or to maintain as most owners will know.

Happy driving, this might sound stupid, but I will buy again another BMW.

I have had a lot of problems with the BMW X5 over the years - radiator exploded, thankfully we had just got off the motorway with our 3 children in the back of the car.

We have also had to replace the bootlock 2 times. The worst being now.

We have a BMW X5 2002 (only 50,000 miles). The front passenger side door is in a locked (deadbolt) position. The BMW car dealership cannot open it and have told us it will cost over £1,200 to replace. I have sent a letter to Managing Director at BMW - I have done research and the locking system appears to be a problem with these cars - BMW have said it is not their problem because the car is out of warranty. Obviously I am concerned for the safety of anyone in the passenger seat. Surely BMW should take responsibility for designing a faulty lock?

Thankyou everyone for this library of very informative review information. I was about to buy an X5, but have decided it is a bit of a risk, and shelved the idea.

The theme that did come through is that the X5 is built in USA and South Africa and that the USA (Spartenburg) built units seem to give far more trouble.

I am on my fouth BMW (E30 318 1989, E36 318 1997, E46 320 2003 and E82 125 2009). I still own and am very happy with the last two. The only problem I had with all four was the head gasket blew on the E30 after it had obviously been threshed by previous owners.

I will not touch the X5, but I will always buy BMW (German built.. although my E46 is South African built and is a great car). It will be hard for BMW to compete with the fantastic E36 range because their later models have so much more electronic equipment (where most problems seem to occur).

I have a 2002 BMW X5 also, and have similar problems as the above people have mentioned. It is indeed an expensive vehicle and expensive to maintain, especially after the warranty goes away. Reading all available data that the auto consumers magazine stated, it seems like the Toyota 4 runner is the only SUV type vehicle that has had raving reviews and very little to no problems, and retains a good resale value.

One additional problem is that the brakes seem to go fast and the front rotors WARP all the time. Thus you have to replace them - BMW does not favor turning the rotors and recommends new rotors each time, along with a new sensor cable.

I bought an X5 (2008 model) from a reputable BMW dealer 3 months ago.

The problem I am having is that the car is pulling to the left.

I have had the alignment sorted out, but the problem is still there.

I am told by the service manager that this is normal for the X5?

Is this so?

Please advise!!!

I bought a brand new 2008 model of X5 from an importer that imported into to my country from the United States. Since I have bought the X5 three months ago, it's has been one problem or the other. The Local BMW Authorised Dealer in my country (Nigeria) is asking me to pay over 7,000 GBP before he can diagnose to even know what is wrong with the car.

This is a very sad situation. And right now I feel BMW is neglecting the Nigerian market and making it tough for BMW lovers to enjoy our cars.

Any any advice will be appreciated.

Same here folks, I have a 2002 X5 3.0 and it has been one repair after another. Here's a short list;

- front brakes, rotors twice (second time after only 40k kms)

- front calipers (warped the first set of rotors)

- back brakes and rotors

- tail lights (multiple issues... no help from BMW... eventually took my electrician brother-in-law and a soldering iron to fix it)

- window problems

- front control arms (both)

- CV boots (both in and out)

I've had the truck for 2.5 years and I'm torn between 'what else could possibly go wrong at this point' and 'dump it while there isn't any warning lights on'.

I wish I knew which way to go...

Bmw X5 3.0d 2005. I bought the vehicle from a BMW dealer about 12 months ago. The problem that I have is that if you drive down hill and only touch the brake, the auto kicks down two gears, sending you threw the front window. And also lately, a humming noise. Dealer says it's tyres, but hard to believe that tyres start making a noise all of a sudden. The noise persists in freq on different road surfaces, anyone out there with the same problem?