2002 BMW X5 from North America - Comments

I have owned a 2002 3.0L X5 for about 4 months. So far I have no major complaints. The Check engine light has came on a few times. Seems to be related to the gas cap. Light would come on a few miles after re-fueling. I took the gas cap off and re-tightened it and the light went out after driving for a short time. Don't bother taking it directly to the shop for a check engine light. Try the gas cap. This not specific to BMW. Most new vehicles have the same issue. There is also sounds (like something is loose) coming from the rear cargo area when going through semi-rough roads. I have checked and everything is tightened down. Anybody else have this problem? I also had to add a quart of oil since I bought the car. There is no noticeable leak. Does this vehicle normally consume oil like that?

Other than those three things, which I think are minor for a used car, I have enjoyed owning an X5.

I saw a post here saying that the front brakes make a clunking noise when braking in the snow. That is your Anti-lock brakes working. It is suppose to do that.

I own a X5 3.0 diesel year 2002 from new. There have been a few problems such as dead battery, aircond problems, electric window etc, but the worst is the gearbox. The car has decided to die on the road one day with no gear to put in at all. The dealer diagnosed the problem and told me to replace a new gearbox.

What I really despise them is the accusation that the car was being driven too hard and therefore it is the driver's fault. I have only done 64,000km since new, mainly to office, school run. Why can't they accept the fact that their parts are not good. I was planning to keep the car for a long time, but this is really putting me off.

My wife owns a year2000 320i saloon auto, similarly a badly built car. They cannot be classic car at all. My 1992 suzuki vitara beats them cleanly for realibility. Shame on you BMW.

Uh Oh! I just stumbled onto this forum when I was looking for a way to reset my 2005 X5 "check side lights." My lights are fine and I really don't want to go back to the dealer for this nonsense. I just bought this car off of swap-a-lease for another 14 months. Got it at 49,000 miles, so thankfully I still have a few hundred miles to go before the warranty is done. A few weeks after I got it I started hearing a popping noise at acceleration. The dealer replaced a worn part in the suspension and that seems to have cured it. Of course 2 days after I get it home this stupid light goes on. I had no idea there would be a page like this bashing BMW and the X5, just assumed it's a Beemer, so its gotta be good. Never went to the dealer once in 3 years with my Grand Cherokee, looks like I'll be there for the second time in 2 months with my Beemer.

I bought BMW X5 in 2006 and in 2007 its giving huge problems

(it will need help to start).I have used jump leads probably >50 times and used rescue service three times to jump start it after failing to start with our effort. It has been to BMW dealers twice in a week and costed £1000. First they sorted battery problems and the key. On further visit, they have changed the fuel injector and problem started again 2days after repair. It is now booked again and they are thinking to change fuel pump! However rescue mechanic says problem is probably with a spark plug!?

What a waste of money on this BMW and losing money truck on the driveway.

Dr Khalid.

I am a die-hard bmw fan, but I begin to question the bmw plant in south carolina. has bmw made a mistake allowing bmw to be built outside germany? I would rather pay extra for a bmw built in germany compare to u.s. or austria. I live in germany and have been for the past 3 years and I can tell that germans are well-disciplined and detail-oriented (perfectionist) people. there's a major difference with the bmw built in germany compare to other places. I am reading so many complaints from customers and for some reasons it's mostly about the bmw built after 2000 (south carolina plant opened in 1996 I believe)

As crazy as it sounds, I am actually glad that everyone is having these problems also. I was starting to think that I was the unlucky one to get a screwed up BMW. I bought a 2001 X5 4.4 in 2005 and it has given me problems since day 2. 2 days after I bought it, the AC went out and the window would not go up. I would much rather have those problems than the ones I am having now. Suspension is screwed up, I need to change both tail light assemblies, cars dies from time to time, engine overheats because I need new hoses, BRAKE and the airbag light is on in the dashboard, and my CD player no longer works. I WOULD NEVER AGAIN PURCHASE A BMW!

I own a 2003 X5 4.4l. 64000k. I just purchased it used in September 07 and I wish I had never done it. For the past 4 months I have been to the dealership more than 5 times and it cost me close to 1900$. I had to replace valve cover gaskets, i had problems with the starter so had to replace it, flushed all the fluids for 500$; the damn thing just doesn't start after staying two days in the garage so I had to boost it, my CD player sucks it skips brand new CD's, and now after not driving for a week I see three yellow lights on: Brake, ABS, and DCS, so once again I am headed to the dealership to waist another 500-700$. my advise to those who own an X5: YOU are SCREWED! and to those who are thinking of getting one: Stay AWAY from that piece of sh"t!

Thanks.

I want to thank all of you for sharing your experiences. I was about to buy an X5 (of course for its cool looks) and I had always thought BMW is a reliable car.

Could all of you from Canada send this guy an email and complain? He is the head of USED BMW of North America. I recently complained about them charging $500 for cars brought to Canada from US. Please send a complaint; hopefully they will hear: Bruce.Caton@bmwgroup.ca.

He is the horse himself...

Well, well, well! I am entirely angry! I thought I was buying the "Ultimate Driving Machine"??? BOOOOOHHoo! I got it last week CPO (certified) Yada yada, but it's been in the shop twice for the "check brake & check rear light coming on. Angry is not the word.

Even though the X drives smooth, all these blogs have got me shaking in my boots! They call today and said they replaced the rear lights, but I don't know if I am going to have to bring it back. Like the first time when I brought it in and they only replaced a light bulb and sent me on my way. Hope this is the only problem, because this is my dream truck.

I traded in a Jag X-Type 3.0; the suspension was horrible, you could ride over a pebble and feel it. It sucked!

Well well, I also own a 2003 BMW X5 and I have had problems with the blower motor resister; $380.00.

Both rear window regulators; $468.00.

Front and rear lights keep going bad, and a fuel pump sensor; $1300.00.

The dealer here in Houston loves me, they even know my name already. I will never buy another BMW in my life, but I tell you what, the BMW 650 convertible sure does look nice.

BMW LOVER.

All vehicles have problems. I have X5 2002 4.4. I had a stall out a day age. I think my battery is getting weak. I think that many dealers and shops are ripping us off. I had problems that seem big at the time, but was something minor.

Be cautious BMW owners.

I have a 2001 X5 3.0 that I have Owned since new. I can't say I will never buy another again, but I will add to the list of issues>

1) Eats brakes. I'm Changing brakes at a pace of 30K miles for a cost of $600 + per axle.

2) Constant stalling in a left turn in the middle of an intersection. Caution, I waited too long to finally get mad enouh to take it to the dealer to be fixed. Out of warranty. Cost me $1,700 to have a wiring harness replaced. It did fix the problem.

3) Constant tail light issues. I have a box of tail lights because I didn't want to pay for the assembly.

5) Cam shaft position sensors both upper and lower had to be replaced. Something about the 'O' rings leaking and getting fowled by oil.

6) Stock battery didn't last past 60K miles.

7) Paint has pealed away from the primer in unexposed areas such as under the hood, in the door jams.

8) Had to have some resistor pack replaced to fix the AC.

9) Rubber seals around the doors are falling apart.

10) Door handles (interior) chipping. (Dealer replaced outside of warranty)

My dealership mechanic and I are on first name terms. With all these problems I have a love hate relationship with this vehicle. Although I have to admit, my wife simply hates thus vehicle.

Bottom line, if you are going to buy the X5, get the extended warranty for as long as you can and enjoy the ride.

BMW X5 3.0 L 2001 - family owned throughout. Driven very carefully, primarily by my wife. Currently at 120k (I don't expect that this car will last beyond 130k, for the electrical problems outlined in other posts and in this post).

- Suspension (CV joints, rear trialing arms, etc) ~$3k CDN (dealer quoted well above $5.5k)

- Brakes (similar price to post above) - pads go every 20-25k, rotors every 40-50k.

- Interior falling apart

- X5 intermittently will not start (battery dead - I have replaced it twice). Upon turning the car off, sometimes the fan will stay on for hours. Sometimes the light on the automatic transmission shifter will glow (on the 'P' or Park position) for hours. Sometimes nothing seems to be on.

Irrespective, like others I keep booster cables and a charger in the hatch. Battery doesn't have enough 'juice' to start the engine about 25% of the time.

I think BMW should provide a built-in charger, so at least we can just plug it straight into the wall, rather than having to pop the hood and attach cables. Or, build a car that is worthy of the price tag.

To all of you whom are having problems with there X5, I agree with your issues. But I also think everyone should have done some research before buying. I did mine. And I'm just fine with my X. I bought an ext. warranty and it has saved my rear end a few times. I've done a lot of maintenance on this X but I did buy it used with 60k back in 2005. I also have joined a website called "X5world.com" This is the best site to join for free to search for real world problems that many and I mean many can be fixed by any novice. I love my X5 even with its little problems that have been corrected and all under warranty. I can't complain with BMW at all. This truck is a tank and I have 100k on it. Runs and drives better then brand new. I will buy another BMW, nothing drives like a Bimmer, nothing. By the way I have a 2001 X5 4.4i sport, with a dinan stage 2 performance package. This truck kills many sedans and sport cars on the road. Even these new ones. Good Luck, but don't bash Bmw because either you don't know, or your dealer or mechanics are not experienced enough with them or just are trying to scam you out of money. This is very typical of dealerships, not all, but the majority. "If you don't know, now you know" quote...

We are original owners of a 2000 BMW X5 with only about 53,000 miles, never driven off the road. Three of the window mechanisms have failed -- the left rear at 45,258 miles, then right rear at 51,873 and the left front at 52,721. Each repair cost about $500. This is clearly a factory defect, not a coincidence, since it is widely reported in forums like this (and bimmerfest). The cars should have been recalled. The company should at least pay part of the expense when this happens to such a low-mileage vehicle.