2002 BMW X5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE OIL SEPARATOR WAS FROZEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

IN JANUARY OF 2010 DURING A COLD WEATHER SPELL, I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING SLOWLY. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FROM EXHAUST PIPES. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILURE OF THE SEPARATION VALVE THAT CAUSED THE INCREASE PRESSURE UNDER THE VALVE COVER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND MY BILL WAS "ONLY" AROUND $350 (PLUS TOWING). I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT BMW HAD KNOWN ABOUT THAT PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND DID NOTHING. THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR CANADIAN MARKET BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. LATER MODELS OF X5 WERE EQUIPPED WITH UPDATED VALVE, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OWNERS HAD THEIR ENGINES COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO HELP THEM. I'M ENJOYING DRIVING MY X5 BUT BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM EARLIER AND SHOULD HAVE COMPENSATED THE OWNERS FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS WELL KNOWN ONE.

IN A 2002 BMW X5 WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLS. IT HAPPENS NUMEROUS TIMES PER DAY. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN MANY BMW VEHICLES AND IT OBVIOUSLY PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS OF THE 2002 BMW X5. I HOPE A SAFETY RECALL IS ORDERED FOR THESE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE TO GOOGLE THIS ISSUE WITH BMW VEHICLES (1999-PRESENT) THERE IS A LAUNDRY LIST OF COMPLAINTS. RELATED TO THIS SUBMISSION, PLEASE SEE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-74517.HTML [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X5 SUV FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) WHEN THE "FAIL SAFE" LIGHT CAME ON. HE BEGAN TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND "SYSTEM FAILURE" LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM BENEATH THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE AND HIS FIANCE QUICKLY RAN DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITH BLACK SMOKE FILLING THE SKY WITHIN MOMENTS. THE CAR IS TOTALED WITH ALL WINDOWS MELTED AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BOTH FRONT TIRES EXPLODED. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY X5'S THAT HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN SLOWING DOWN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HE RAISED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE OIL PUMP , CYCLONE SEPARATOR THAT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40000.

2002 BMW X5;4.6IS SAV. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. WENT TO AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO SAID THAT THE CODE INSPIRED RA FAULT IN THE VANOS, SYSTEM, AND RESET OBDII COMPUTER. IN TWO DAYS, THE ENTIRE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAM ADJUSTERS IMPLODED POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FORMATION OF ENGINE SLUDGE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $8000. THE X5 WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WITH BMW APPROVED OIL. THE FORMATION OF SLUDGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM. REPAIR INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION OF NEW CAM SENSORS, ACTUATORS AND NEW CAMSHAFTS. ALSO THE REMOVAL OF METAL PARTICLES IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM. THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF BMW HAD RECALLED THE OIL SEPARATOR THEY DETERMINED WAS DEFECTIVE YEARS AGO. THERE IS NO MENTIONING OF A MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. WE HAVE ALREADY ENDURED THE EXPENSE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. CAN YOU INSPIRE A RE-IMBURSEMENT OF DAMAGES INCURRED?? *TR

I WAS SOLD A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH BAD CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, AND MAKING NOISE UNDER HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT WAS NOT HONORED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THROUGHOUT THE TIME OF OWNERSHIP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING, AND SOMETIMES HAS NO POWER. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO DATE. *TR

ON DECEMBER 24, 2008, MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY TO THE BMW OF DARIEN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED WHEN OUR BMW X5 STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH HER PARENTS ALSO IN THE CAR. SHE WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE SPOKE WITH SAUN, A SERVICE REP, AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE STALLING INCIDENT. SHE SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR DECEMBER 30, 2008. WE DROVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DECEMBER 26, 2008. IT WENT OFF AND WE KEPT THE APPOINTMENT WITH BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN DARIEN, CT ON DECEMBER 30. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT IN THE ENGINE. WE PAID $657 FOR ALL SUGGESTED REPAIRS AND WERE ASSURED THIS WAS WHY THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 6 MILES BEFORE IT STALLED AND STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP AS THREE LANES MERGE ON JANUARY 1, 2009 WITH MY WIFE AND ME IN IT. BMW OF DARIEN WAS CLOSED AND THE RECORDING DIRECTED US TO CALL BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER 45 MINUTES OF UNSUCCESSFULLY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PICK UP THE PHONE, MY WIFE HUNG UP, BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND A TOW TRUCK. WE SAT ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS IN 18 DEGREE WEATHER UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE TOW TRUCK TOOK THE X5 TO THE BMW OF DARIEN DEALERSHIP. ON JANUARY 2, 2009, A SERVICE REP, PAT, TOLD THAT THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE WAS BROKEN DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND WE WERE QUOTED $1,000 TO REPAIR IT AND THE SPARK PLUGS. AS WE RESEARCHED ONLINE, WE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS BMW MODELS. ADDITIONALLY, BMW HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART AND ADDED INSULATION TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN AND BMW REFUSES TO INFORM THE CONSUMER. OUR CAR STOPPED TWICE AND PUT MY WIFE, HER PARENTS, AND ME IN HARM OF BODILY INJURY. *TR