Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-70
I purchased my X5 4.4 in Nov 2003. It is a 2000. The vehicle has been in the shop 55 times for repairs. Now in the defense of BMW 15 or 20 were for maintenance. New tires twice ($300 per tire). I too was on a family vacation traveling through Chicago this past summer and stalled on the highway and there was road construction preventing me from going onto the shoulder. I wasn't a happy camper. Overall I am just not going to buy another BMW product. I am going back to Mercedes. Good luck to all of you. P.S. The drivers side door handle will not work now, and I have already had the problem with the air conditioner blowing intermittently.
I been researching for resolutions for the problems with the X5 and it seems that all I come across is the complaints posted by others. X5 has been nothing more than a problem for me. I am 110% sure that I will NEVER EVER buy another BMW again. Lexus is next for me probably. Anyway for anyone considering this car please do yourself a favor and buy something else. Sorry in advance for the person who ends up buying mine.
1. The front right signal bulb comes on/goes off and there is usually a warning to check side lights.
2. Rear signal bulbs go on/off just like the issue in the front. Very dangerous as people may not notice me breaking. I have received a citation for $50 for this issue.
3. Braking in the snow makes a very cranky sound from the front wheels.
4. Exhaust is giving off an awful smell when the car is idling. When I start driving I am sure it is still smelling, but I am not able to tell since I am in the car.
5. GPS freezes up time to time.
6. CD player has started skipping time to time.
7. Windshield washers do not spray water sometimes.
8. In the summer the air condition would not start immediately. Sometimes the fan would not even start until about half hour.
9. In the winter the rear vents only give air, sometimes hot air comes out.
10. Latest issue which has kept the car home for about a month now is the car needs a battery jump every time I want to drive. I can give it a jump and drive it for as long as I want and keep it on as long as I want, but once the car is turned off it needs a jump. I am planning on buying a new battery on my own tomorrow just so I can at least drive the car.
After 20 years of boredome of owning flawless Toyotas and Hondas, we looked upscale to what turned out to be the great misfortune of owning a BMW X5. Before one disastrous problem gets fixed at the price-gouging BMW dealer - only one in town (no one see to want to touch; some don't even know its battery is in the trunk) another even more disastrous problem pops up. Thousands of dollars and days of frustrations in main computer controller failure, radiator burst on main highway (thank god no one got killed) and car stalled, struts and CV joints knocked out before 65000 miles, starter failure.. you name the desease, our dear X5's got it. We are scared to even start the car not knowing how much of this month's paycheck is going to go up in smoke. Those who are thinking of buying one, just don't. If you still want to be the dumb and fall for the looks and sexy drive, well, at least do yourself one big favor - buy as big an extended warranty as you can possible get and pay for. May be buy a pair - you will need the other while the twin is waiting for her date with the mighty BMW dealer, which will take several weeks.
BMWs made in America have very very poor quality. The X3, made in Austria under contract, is equally bad.
My ex-business partner bought a new X5 in 2002 and it repeatedly stalled and wouldn't start at stoplights.
The only really dependable BMWs are 3 series and the old 5 series (mine had zero problems in three years of ownership, including a stint on the autobahn).
In fact, a dealer in Los Angeles was having this big 7 series sales. Why? They were all cars that were recalled under California's lemon law.
BMWs are fantastic driving cars and probably the best cars in the world if you take into account price, quality, performance, and other factors. But it's definitely buyer beware, and NEVER buy a first year model ever.
I'm happy to announce I've just sold my X5 after 10 months of constant break downs, arguing and fighting with dealers regarding various problems. It's a relief to have offloaded it to some other unfortunate person. This experience has put me off BMW or any other European cars for good. The X5 experience for me consisted of regular breakdowns, waiting up to two hours for a tow only to be told by the dealer there was no problem. These were some of the problems.
Stalling for no reason
Air Con compressor failure
Transmission problems (replaced twice under warranty)
Sat Nav failure
Noisy suspension.
The list goes on too many defects to list. BMW with there poor build quality and unreliable vehicles has forced me to purchase Japanese (which I've never owned).
Lexus RX330 I've owned this vehicle for the last 18 months and 47000kms, no problems. The build quality and reliability would put any high-end European car maker to shame.
I am sadly the owner of a BMW X5 3 lire diesel with 49,000 miles on the clock, just out of the 3 years warranty and have had to pay £2,000 for a new gear box of which BMW only offered 50% of the parts under a good-will warranty. Two days after taking the car out of the garage the electrics have completely failed, the self-leveling suspension pump has gone bonkers, the air bag sensor are on and no-other activity from the dash board. When I asked customer service in Bracknell for some help towards costs I was given a classic push off as if reading from a prepared script. The catalogue faults with this car, primarily electrical in the 18months I have owned it have been staggering, I have had to drive around with a 30meter power extension cable and a batter charger and always park close to nearby buildings so that I can get a much needed lift if the battery drains yet again, it has been into the dealer 6 times and each time they say they cannot find the fault an electrician friend of mine says the 90amp hour battery is completely under powered and the vehicle needs at least 130amp hour. It is so good to read the horror stories of other converts to Japan.
That's too bad. I know here in the states X5s have horrible reliability, but I assumed the diesel version would fare better.
Guess it's a bad vehicle regardless of the engine.
Well it seems many have had problems and don't like the X5.
I have owned a 2002 3.0 petrol sports model, did 70,000 kms in 21 months and not a problem ever. Have now got a 2004 3.0 diesel, just passed 35,000 kms and again not a problem at all.
It is my 7th BMW, 4 2 door 3 series and a 540 sports model before the X5s. Before BMW's, nearly always Ford.
Maybe we have been lucky here in Australia with what has been shipped to us versus what everyone else seems to have got. I have many friends with X5's, Merc, s Lexus, etc and I believe that the X5 is the one that seems to stand out over the others.
At this stage, I would buy another when the new model comes out.
Happy motoring guys.
Your experience is the exception not the rule.
I have owned five BMWs, all made in Germany, and they have been reliable. In fact, my 2000 528i was the most reliable car I had ever owned, including Toyotas and Hondas.
I wouldn't touch any BMW made in America.
I have had two 2001 BMW x5 4,4's and I never had any real issue. The first X5 was bought used at 49k and I had the lower control arms changed under warranty as the ball joints took a bad hit form airborne antics off road. I had it until 79k and nothing, but oil changes were done. I sold it and bought the same model with 69k and every option as the other was just a 4.4. I had to change the AC Climate control module as the fan would pick it's own speed (usually high) I did the repair my self in 15 min's. At 78k just did front brakes and coolant flush. I do not baby my vehicles and both x5's have held up very well to an abusive life in New York City. Also if you have a bad battery NEVER get the dealer battery. It's total crap and low quality as compared to the original. You are better off with Interstate at half the price and twice the warranty.
J.
My fan also has a mind of its own, along with the several other problems that I have had with my X5. It stayed at the dealership for over a week and they still could not figure out exactly what was wrong with my X5, seem stupid to me because it is their vehicle, it was almost as if I had taken them a Yugo or something. I HATE this car!!! Anyone want to buy an X5?
I spent 5 hours reading BMW X5 issues tonight, it is a very informative forum. Thanks everybody for sharing the information.
Since acquired the 2002 BMW X5 (3.0) in November, 2005 from a private party (with extended warranty to November 2007 or 100 miles), my life takes it as a burden. I used to drive to humble Toyota camry, and never had any issues in past. Owning the car for only about 8 months and only drove about 2000 miles, I had already three different breakdowns. BMW it is supposed to be the one of most reliable cars, how come BMW X5 can be like that?
Today, the AC/Fan/Vent part has stopping working completely, no air blowing from dashboard, although the rear seat AC/Vent still working (but no cold air). I had one similar instance a month ago, it resumed working after I shut off the fan. Today, no matter what I do, it won't not resume. It is a hot summer, the car is a hell. Any of you have the similar problem, is this covered the extended warranty?
Enough and enough, I have two more other breakdowns for my mere 8 month ownership:
A month ago, my car stalled in the middle of an intersection when I made a very gentle left turn. I was scared because the car stopped suddenly and stuck in the heaving traffic (could had a devastating accident), The car was able to be restarted and the same did not happen last 30 days. Keeping the incident in my mind, I don't have much confidence to have the car for over two-hour away from home, because I am afraid it will stall in the middle of the highway. I saw a few mentions on the forum, but not seeing a resolution and recalls. I did not send it to the dealer yet because I am afraid I will be buying the bill for their hours of hours of no-resulting diagnosis.
My audio/radio has been replaced already during first 2 month of ownership. Funny enough the car had issue with cold weather, the audio did not work when it is parked outside for a while (no sound at all even though the dashboard can display). and it will work after driving for a while. The case lasted for a month, then it turned to a complete breakdown. I took it to a BMW dealer in Boston (Herb Cambers), they charged me $1040 for the repair (they said the amplifier failed due to trim leaking?), I was not happy at all. The extended warranty does not covers CD/Radio, but CD/Radio was OK, the issue was caused the electronics/circuit due to body defects that I am supposed to pay?
I hope BMW-NA is there to read my miserable story. As a loyal believer of BMW products, I have a lot to say about BMW after the experiences. For those who can provide some directions of my problem, please help me, you are highly appreciated. Thanks a lot!!!
Sept. 15, 2006 We have always had BMW motorcycles, wonderful, dependable, run forever, so I decided to look at the X-5 (2003) to replace my old dependable Jeep. Luckily I wanted to take it home for my husband to check out, a distance of 80 miles. I had driven 30 miles when it began running very rough and stalling frequently. I managed to get back to the dealership with it after stalling at nearly every red light. I returned the keys to the dealer, got in my old dependable Jeep Grand Cherokee and left. I do not intend to return.
I just bought a BMW X5 4.4i from a dealer in Toronto, Canada and after reading some of these comments I think I've made a big mistake!
If only I had done some research.. wish me luck people! : (
I wish you good luck!! I was thinking myself about getting BMW X5 (2003-2003) from one of Toronto dealers. I'm considering Murano, MDX and BMW. I don't like RX330 style (that's only my opinion, no offence to actual owners) The last one is the most expensive, but it gives you a "shiny respectable look". Well, after reading about reliability problems I think MDX would be the best choice. Thanks everyone for your posts.