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BMW X5 Maintenance and Repair

678 messages,  Last post on Aug 27, 2012 at 12:51 PM

You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW X5, Auto Body, Engine, Suspension, SUV

Messages Page 22 of 68

#208 of 678 Towing with X5 3.0 by littlebluem3

Feb 24, 2001 (12:58 pm)

We are long time (1973) BMW users and presently have a 740iL and M3. We have used American iron to tow our tent trailer when we go camping. We recently purchased a home in the mountains (6500 ft elev.)of So.Cal. and have had our Explorer sideways 3 times in the driveway (long, sloped and icy). We need to upgrade to a 4WD/AWD vehicle and would like to take this opportunity to purchase an X5. We would like to save some money and would rather get the 3.0 if it will meet our needs. We have 3 questions:
 
1) Will the 3.0 adequately tow a 2000 lb. tent trailer. I'm mostly concerned about maintaining a reasonable speed up the "grapevine" without overheating? The low torque number of the 3.0 concerns me.
 
2) How is the overall drivability in snow / ice?
 
3) Would the stock 5-speed be better with regards to both questions 1 and 2?
 
We are interested in responses from anyone with experience with the X5 under the aforementioned conditions, especially those living in the mountains of So. Cal or Colorado.

#209 of 678 Volume Adjustment on Navigation System Problem by automator1

Mar 02, 2001 (6:34 pm)

I have a 2001 X5 3.0 with the Navigation system and am having a problem with the volume adjustment. There is an on screen volume slider control for the voice prompt volume but it doesn't work. When the slider is moved to the max or to the min adjustment the voice volume is the same. Has anyone else noticed this problem?
 
Also, I noticed that the tailgate doesn't fully latch unless it is slammed shut. If I don't slam it shut (very hard) when driving away I get the message in the display that the tailgate is open. Has anyone else had this problem?
 
I have one more. Has anyone figured out what logic this car uses to memorize the climate control settings? Sometimes I notice that the climate control settings are the same as when I last drove the car. But sometimes, the climate control settings revert to a setting that I used days prior. The settings that seem to be memorized are the temperature setting, fan speed, and airflow locations.
 
Thanks.

#212 of 678 Oil Consumption on X5 3.0 by automator1

Mar 03, 2001 (10:12 am)

I'm curious about how much oil should be consumed by the X5 3.0 engine. After 2500 miles mine used 1/2 quart of oil. This assumes that the oil was filled to the top mark on the dipstick when I puchased the X5 (I didn't check it when I bought it). What are others experiencing with this? I'm just trying to get a feel of what is normal for this engine. My prior car was a 1990 Lexus LS400 and at 120K miles, the oil dipstick still read completely full after 5000 miles of driving.
 
Also, has anyone had the problem of the tailgate relatching after you shut the drivers door? To be more specific, I press the button on the dash to open the tailgate. I hear it unlatch and then get out of the car. When I shut the car door, I hear the tailgate latch. So when I walk to the tailgate it is not open anymore. This happens every time in my X5. I can still open the tailgate by using my remote control to unlatch it again.

#213 of 678 Oil Consumption by littlebluem3

Mar 05, 2001 (5:22 pm)

If your X5 was new with only a few miles on the odo. I am going to hazard a guess that your oil consumption was due to the rings needing to be seated in. Top off the oil and check it again in 1000 miles. Hopefully there will not be any usage.
 
I have no clue regarding the tailgate.

#214 of 678 Remember... by ms_joanne

Mar 06, 2001 (9:42 am)

The X5 requires synthetic oil. I would take it to the dealer and let them top it off. That way you start documentation just in case....

#215 of 678 Airbag light on.... who do I complain by ctk1

Mar 07, 2001 (9:19 am)

Anyone has problem with the airbag light goes on?
 
My X5/3.0i has 1200 miles, the light is on. The technician has to order the module that control the airbag. After the new module replacement,the light goes off. The service tech take it out for test drive. After few mile drive, the airbag light turn on again. Service tech has no ideal.He advise me to wait while he contact the BMW head quater about this problem.
I don't feel safe to drive around with the airbag malfunction.
I don't expect this problem happen with 50,000 dollars SAV with only few hundred miles.
 
Does any one know where can I write a conplain
to ?
 
Thanks

#216 of 678 Tailgate issue by ms_joanne

Mar 07, 2001 (1:14 pm)

Yesterday I unlocked the tailgate (from outside) and then opened and closed the back door before actually opening the tailgate. When the backdoor closed it was enough force to latch the tailgate. I wonder if that is what happened to you?
 
I thought of your note when that happened.

#217 of 678 Tailgate issue by automator1

Mar 07, 2001 (4:21 pm)

Yep, that is exactly what happens to me. Apparently shutting any door creates enough vacuum in the interior to pull the tailgate shut. I would think everyone that owns a X5 would be experiencing this. This happens every time I shut any door. It sort of makes the button on the dash to open the trunk useless because by the time you get out of the X5 and shut the door, the tailgate is locked again.

Messages Page 22 of 68

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