Used BMW X5 Review

• by: Tara Timms
• 3 years ago

Short version, lol. Bought this 2015, X5 xDrive35d (diesel) in June 2019, from – “Barrett Alfa Romeo of San Antonio” – paid cash & bought the 3rd party extended warranty. The car was delivered dirty and had an additional 2k miles. Additionally the sunroof’s windscreen, was cracked – something that had not been previously disclosed.
Had issues within the first 4 months, took to my local BMW service dept 1- from the a/c not cooling, the sunroof’s windscreen completely snapped in two & had to force it down, in order to close the sunroof, & a timing chain malfunction & had scraps of metal loose inside the car (engine). They did the first recall of the egr cooler, something with the camshaft too. They had the car for about 2 months. Then about 5 months or so later, took it back there ; CEL on, same issues with the a/c, rear suspension failed, DPF sensor needed replacing – again they had my car for nearly 2 months. Within 2 minutes of leaving the service dept, my CEL came back on & I went straight back to BMW. (1) Service manager said it was “throwing a faulty DPF sensor” but he refused to replace it, since they had just replaced that. Instead tells me that I drive my car more than most BMW owners. Then quotes me $4500 to replace the DPF Filter, which wasn’t under warranty- even though the fault code was showing the DPF sensor was bad. I declined. I was told they only had “one” diesel mechanic working there. ONLY ONE MAN, that was qualified to work on my BMW, at the BMW service dept….. Wow…
Service manager also informed me, he wasn’t going to give me a loaner for any future service, bc “I drive a lot”. Keep in mind, both times, they had my car for weeks & weeks. Most importantly, had BMW not made such a defective crap car, I wouldn’t need the stupid loaner in the first place. They never could give me an estimated time frame when it was there – it was always late in the afternoon, calling to inform me, my car was ready. And expected me to stop what I was doing & rush straight there.
So the service manager cleared the CEL light & I left. CEL came back on the next day. Had my car detailed there & it wasn’t complete. The middle console in the 2nd row, was still dirty & sticky – leftover from something my son did. Other random areas in the car were skipped. Will never pay for that again. Living in the country, I can’t just go back & forth there.
Exactly one week later – while on busy interstate, in morning traffic, the drivetrain malfunction warning came on & I immediately lost power & was forced off the road. It would not drive whatsoever, had power, just wouldn’t move. Had it towed to the closest BMW service dept 2 (different one) they tell me, it lost fluid due to the other BMW service mechanic (1) not using the correct bolt. Had to argue for them to rent me a car, (no loaners available) since the issue was theirs. Was informed by BMW (2) I needed back tires, bc mine had a bubble & were in terrible shape. Was news to me, bc the other BMW service dept, (1) hadn’t informed me & had signed off on the “safety check”. At an oil change, at BMW (2), had them check the CEL, & the DPF Filter. They reported the DPF wasn’t close to needing a replacement. This is the same calendar yr, the previous BMW (1) had quoted me $4500 to replace it. A/c keeps messing up & neither BMW (1 & 2) can find the issue – neither would let me show them exactly the problem. CEL continously goes on & off. Two more recalls regarding the EGR cooler, etc, has been issued & there’s still NO remedy. The last was 11/2021 & as of now, in 01/23, “No remedy”.
NO remedy for a “SAFETY RECALL” for over one year now & counting.
Nor will they rent me a car or provide a loaner, until the safety recall can be performed. I’m now going to a 3rd BMW service dept & no remedy there either. Now it’s the Nox sensors, which isn’t covered & directly connected to the EGR recall issues and the faulty DPF sensor. My extended warranty has paid out right at $20k, from 11/2019 – present. (No shocker, I’m a firm believer in those)
Now let’s discuss the other issues – my “BMW Remote Service”, “BMW Teleservice”, and “BMW Assist eCall” were to expire in “08/2025”. Yet they, BMW, discontinued all 3, in late “2021”.
The BMW app, no longer works with my car either – it’s not an app issue, it’s bc BMW cut my services off. Which does mean, if my car gets stolen, I’m unable to locate it. Whereas before, the service would track it- could track via app before as well. But now that’s gone. They refuse to remedy this as well. Also, no emergency help if there’s a crash, or if their unsafe car defects again. Those are things that prompted me to buy the X5, over other brands/models.
Turns out, BMW installed outdated tech in a bunch of their vehicles – part of which was “3G”, and something that wasn’t disclosed in advance either. I was using “4G” in 2009.
My car is 2015. Brand new, my car was about $80k, and they had the nerve to install outdated tech. That’s something you’d expect from some fly by the night place – not a major manufacturer…..of luxury vehicles.
My radio is constant static, on every FM station, more often than not these days – my Bluetooth will refuse to connect at times – no matter what I try. The sunroof still messes up from time to time – not wanting to close, although in appearance, it seems fine. A/C still messes up too. My rear backup camera has blacked out spots, that can not be cleaned – pixels/light are burned out, & even both sun visors fall out & hang, unless clipped up & not moved. At 50, I’ve owned a few cars over the years, and this has been the WORST experience ever- from being unreliable, their service dept, (again I’ve dealt with 3) and BMW in general.
BMW is a joke – yeah, luxury car my ***! My 2001 GMC Safari Mini Van, was more reliable, and GMC, never talked down to me. Neither did Ford, Mitsubishi, or Lincoln.
Maybe once upon a time BMW was a decent company, but that time has long passed. And as long as people allow them to screw over their customers, they aren’t going to change.
I would NEVER recommend BMW to anyone, not now or ever.

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