My problems with X5 and the dealer (long read)
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,471
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From: SF
My problems with X5 and the dealer (long read)
I am having problems with my X5 4.8i
So this is what happened before all the problems. Monday evening, I was driving home, and all the sudden the back door unlatched it self, and I couldn't lock it back. I tired that over for another 3 or 4 minutes trying to close it back, but it just kept unlocking itself. So, I just kept on driving, and decided to bring the car to the dealer on the weekend.
I drove IS350 for all day, but in the evening, I needed to send someone to airport, so I needed to use the X5. After loading the boxes, I couldn't start the car anymore. The car has symptoms similar to the dead battery. Went to pepboys and buy jumper cable, and tired to jump start.
At that point, the dash was flashing all the possible warning lights you can think of. 4x4, transmission, DTC etc malfunction signals. Needless to say, I couldn't start the car.
Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
Luckily, the car started after 30 minutes. As I was pulling out from the garage, the tow truck arrives, and no BMW tech, and yes it was a dolly tow truck.
I drove my car to the nearest BMW dealer, and drop off the key with sales folks as the service was closed.
I called in this morning, and asked what's going on and for a loner. I was told that no more loner left, and I could get a ford focus or something from the rental. I didn't really care, but spending 80k, you'd expect something like a 3 series from them.
And here is the shocker : I was told that I didn't drive the car enough ( I have 7000 miles on the ODO after 8 months) and that's the reason that the battery is drained and destroyed. I told them it was not the battery problem and they still giving me the same BS, and told me that they would charge me 150$ for the inspection fees since the battery is not covered under warranty.
Any thoughts?
P.S Sorry for the long posts, and I don't usually post that long. It's just pissing the hell out of me because they are just refusing to service the car when obviously it is broken not because of the battery.
So this is what happened before all the problems. Monday evening, I was driving home, and all the sudden the back door unlatched it self, and I couldn't lock it back. I tired that over for another 3 or 4 minutes trying to close it back, but it just kept unlocking itself. So, I just kept on driving, and decided to bring the car to the dealer on the weekend.
I drove IS350 for all day, but in the evening, I needed to send someone to airport, so I needed to use the X5. After loading the boxes, I couldn't start the car anymore. The car has symptoms similar to the dead battery. Went to pepboys and buy jumper cable, and tired to jump start.
At that point, the dash was flashing all the possible warning lights you can think of. 4x4, transmission, DTC etc malfunction signals. Needless to say, I couldn't start the car.
Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
Luckily, the car started after 30 minutes. As I was pulling out from the garage, the tow truck arrives, and no BMW tech, and yes it was a dolly tow truck.
I drove my car to the nearest BMW dealer, and drop off the key with sales folks as the service was closed.
I called in this morning, and asked what's going on and for a loner. I was told that no more loner left, and I could get a ford focus or something from the rental. I didn't really care, but spending 80k, you'd expect something like a 3 series from them.
And here is the shocker : I was told that I didn't drive the car enough ( I have 7000 miles on the ODO after 8 months) and that's the reason that the battery is drained and destroyed. I told them it was not the battery problem and they still giving me the same BS, and told me that they would charge me 150$ for the inspection fees since the battery is not covered under warranty.
Any thoughts?
P.S Sorry for the long posts, and I don't usually post that long. It's just pissing the hell out of me because they are just refusing to service the car when obviously it is broken not because of the battery.
I am having problems with my X5 4.8i
So this is what happened before all the problems. Monday evening, I was driving home, and all the sudden the back door unlatched it self, and I couldn't lock it back. I tired that over for another 3 or 4 minutes trying to close it back, but it just kept unlocking itself. So, I just kept on driving, and decided to bring the car to the dealer on the weekend.
I drove IS350 for all day, but in the evening, I needed to send someone to airport, so I needed to use the X5. After loading the boxes, I couldn't start the car anymore. The car has symptoms similar to the dead battery. Went to pepboys and buy jumper cable, and tired to jump start.
At that point, the dash was flashing all the possible warning lights you can think of. 4x4, transmission, DTC etc malfunction signals. Needless to say, I couldn't start the car.
Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
Luckily, the car started after 30 minutes. As I was pulling out from the garage, the tow truck arrives, and no BMW tech, and yes it was a dolly tow truck.
I drove my car to the nearest BMW dealer, and drop off the key with sales folks as the service was closed.
I called in this morning, and asked what's going on and for a loner. I was told that no more loner left, and I could get a ford focus or something from the rental. I didn't really care, but spending 80k, you'd expect something like a 3 series from them.
And here is the shocker : I was told that I didn't drive the car enough ( I have 7000 miles on the ODO after 8 months) and that's the reason that the battery is drained and destroyed. I told them it was not the battery problem and they still giving me the same BS, and told me that they would charge me 150$ for the inspection fees since the battery is not covered under warranty.
Any thoughts?
P.S Sorry for the long posts, and I don't usually post that long. It's just pissing the hell out of me because they are just refusing to service the car when obviously it is broken not because of the battery.
So this is what happened before all the problems. Monday evening, I was driving home, and all the sudden the back door unlatched it self, and I couldn't lock it back. I tired that over for another 3 or 4 minutes trying to close it back, but it just kept unlocking itself. So, I just kept on driving, and decided to bring the car to the dealer on the weekend.
I drove IS350 for all day, but in the evening, I needed to send someone to airport, so I needed to use the X5. After loading the boxes, I couldn't start the car anymore. The car has symptoms similar to the dead battery. Went to pepboys and buy jumper cable, and tired to jump start.
At that point, the dash was flashing all the possible warning lights you can think of. 4x4, transmission, DTC etc malfunction signals. Needless to say, I couldn't start the car.
Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
Luckily, the car started after 30 minutes. As I was pulling out from the garage, the tow truck arrives, and no BMW tech, and yes it was a dolly tow truck.
I drove my car to the nearest BMW dealer, and drop off the key with sales folks as the service was closed.
I called in this morning, and asked what's going on and for a loner. I was told that no more loner left, and I could get a ford focus or something from the rental. I didn't really care, but spending 80k, you'd expect something like a 3 series from them.
And here is the shocker : I was told that I didn't drive the car enough ( I have 7000 miles on the ODO after 8 months) and that's the reason that the battery is drained and destroyed. I told them it was not the battery problem and they still giving me the same BS, and told me that they would charge me 150$ for the inspection fees since the battery is not covered under warranty.
Any thoughts?
P.S Sorry for the long posts, and I don't usually post that long. It's just pissing the hell out of me because they are just refusing to service the car when obviously it is broken not because of the battery.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,471
Likes: 0
From: SF
Sounds like an isolated incident in which the battery was drained. Did you post this in Bimmerfest to avoid the a-typical BMW bad electronics bash that will follow as this thread builds up.. I bet you will get the same response below from Bimmerfest... Perhaps you left the lift gate or door open for an extended period of time when the car was parked? How long was the car parked before you attempted to drive it?? The car must be driven to keep the battery charged (this goes for any make, model). I know with my X3, if I don't drive it for a long time, the battery in the key fob will be depleted. The key must be in the ignition and the car driven to recharge the key. Same holds true for the auto battery. Car must be driven to re-charge the battery.. The auto battery has a seperate warranty from the bumper to bumper.. Not sure what the free battery replacement period is (don't have my manual in front of me) could be 12,24,36 months. When the free replacement warranty is up, the battery is prorated. Has the dealer replaced the battery as you read this? Does the car start up fine. What is the story now?
Given where you stand with BMW in the pervious threads, I was afraid that you are going to post in this thread, to be honest.
It's electronic failure, and I know that much. I just had my car recalled service a week ago, and everything checked out just fine.
I left my IS350 for 2 months when I was gone for Asia, and the car started up just fine.
I, too, never bought the BMW bad electronic bashing before I experienced this. The sad truth is, it's real and BMW's service is crap compare to Lexus'.
It's electronic failure, and I know that much.
I just had my car recalled service a week ago, and everything checked out just fine.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,568
Likes: 231
From: San Francisco, CA
wow. im pretty sure the battery is covered for 12 months or something miles, like the lexus battery. even though i was out of warranty, i still got my battery changed for free by lexus. thats service for ya.
keep us posted on the click click noise, because the same thing happened to my RX330 a few months ago. i came down in the morning needing to go to work, and the tick tick time bomb noise was there. the keys to unlock the doors didnt work, all the electronics were dead. i had to call lexus roadside and they sent AAA within 20 minutes. the car started after a jump start, and no problems since
keep us posted on the click click noise, because the same thing happened to my RX330 a few months ago. i came down in the morning needing to go to work, and the tick tick time bomb noise was there. the keys to unlock the doors didnt work, all the electronics were dead. i had to call lexus roadside and they sent AAA within 20 minutes. the car started after a jump start, and no problems since
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Sounds like an isolated incident in which the battery was drained. Did you post this in Bimmerfest to avoid the a-typical BMW bad electronics bash that will follow as this thread builds up.. I bet you will get the same response below from Bimmerfest... Perhaps you left the lift gate or door open for an extended period of time when the car was parked? How long was the car parked before you attempted to drive it?? The car must be driven to keep the battery charged (this goes for any make, model). I know with my X3, if I don't drive it for a long time, the battery in the key fob will be depleted. The key must be in the ignition and the car driven to recharge the key. Same holds true for the auto battery. Car must be driven to re-charge the battery.. The auto battery has a seperate warranty from the bumper to bumper.. Not sure what the free battery replacement period is (don't have my manual in front of me) could be 12,24,36 months. When the free replacement warranty is up, the battery is prorated. Has the dealer replaced the battery as you read this? Does the car start up fine. What is the story now?
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From: Michigan
With a user name like STIG, I don't want to insult your basic car knowledge, but have you ever dealt with an undercharged battery before? Everything DASHOCKER bolded from your first post makes it sound like a low battery. Also, the first time you jumped the X5, did you leave it hooked up to the running car for a good few minutes or shorter than that? I know when you're in a hurry, 20 or 30 seconds can seem like an eternity when you might need to leave a really low battery hooked up for 3 to 5 minutes.
I've had a few cars, Lexus and other, sit for a while and not start. If you were able to successfully jump your X5 and drive it in without warning lights on the dash, it sounds like the battery and not anything more extreme.
I've had a few cars, Lexus and other, sit for a while and not start. If you were able to successfully jump your X5 and drive it in without warning lights on the dash, it sounds like the battery and not anything more extreme.
The dead battery was only part of the problem, the other part of the problem is the service from BMW and he has every right to be disappointed.
He was lucky that he was in a populated area. What if here were on a road trip or far from home?
Called BMW road side assist, and waited 1 hour, and the flat bed arrived. The problem is that my car is parked in the structure that the tow truck can't access. The guy didn't know what to do, and he tired to jump started the car. Same problems happened. So, he basically told me to call BMW again to send me another tow truck with technician. It was around 8pm by then and my friend missed the flight already.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
Called BMW again, and the said they would send another tow truck with a technician with a dolly tow. At that point, I don't even think these people know anything about BMW at all. I told them I have X5 and needed a flat bed to tow. Anyhow, sure enough, a dolly tow truck arrived, with the driver. He was a pretty nice fella and basically told me the same thing that the first driver said. At this point, I read the owner manual, and did the transmission release and electronic parking break release, and the car still didn't move.
it was around 11pm, and we figured that the 4x4 or xdrive malfunction and it was in the locked position. The car sounded like a time bomb, with that Click Click Click noise from the fuse box area. I thought it was some kind of relay malfunction. And the dash light kept flashing as that click sounds continued.
Called BMW again, the next day, and spend about 3 hours, literally, on the phone with them to send me a BMW tech, not the tow truck with a driver. They told me that he would arrived around 4pm, so I went home, and waited for him. 5pm, still no tech, 6pm still nothing. At that point, I figured that I would just tried jump starting the car again. I called and see what's up. The guy basically go banana on me and telling me that he was really busy and told me to wait.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,568
Likes: 231
From: San Francisco, CA
He was lucky that he was in a populated area. What if here were on a road trip or far from home?
Sounds good but he couldn't even get a free battery out of them nor could he get the inspection fee ($150) waived.
So dealers are in the business of just giving away car batteries possibly out of warranty to keep the customer happy?? Which dealers are these? I recall in 2001, The OE battery in my GS400 disharged in my hot garage during the summer heat wave. I called Lexus roadside assistance at the time and guess who arrived at my home? Not a Lexus Tech in a RX300 labled "roadside assistance". It was a AAA pick up truck. Took him 4 hours to arrive (lucky I was home) To speed things up, I took the car to Bayridge Lexus (where I purchased the car)the next day to have them do a load test. they told me that the battery can no longer hold a charge and that I will need a new battery. They wanted to charge me $125.00 for the replacement. I told them why should I have to pay for this? Service advisor told me that the battery is no longer under warranty.. No free battery for me. Quite odd eh?? I paid the $125.00 for piece of mind...
I never impressed about the BMW dealer here in Vegas, they are the only one in town, and the service and attitude are 
, that is one of the reason I sold my 2003 530I.
One time I was there to set up a service, at 6:00PM when they are closing, the service mgr saw my car, and told me they are closed and just turned around and left. Meanwhile, there was a 750I pull up and this same guy walked up to him and asked him what he needed, and guess what? He took the owner in!!!
Later I heard those ppl don't pay any respect unless you drive some 7s or Ms cars.
Lexus never gave this kind of attitude!!!
, that is one of the reason I sold my 2003 530I. One time I was there to set up a service, at 6:00PM when they are closing, the service mgr saw my car, and told me they are closed and just turned around and left. Meanwhile, there was a 750I pull up and this same guy walked up to him and asked him what he needed, and guess what? He took the owner in!!!
Later I heard those ppl don't pay any respect unless you drive some 7s or Ms cars.
Lexus never gave this kind of attitude!!!