Common issues on the x5?

[KwlAznKid]

Hi

I'm looking at purchasing a used X5 and was wondering if there are any issues/problems to watch out for. Are there any differences between the earlier models? only considering the X5 3.0 or X5D (diesel), not the v8 ones.

Thank you

[2013X1inTexas]

I'm currently looking for the same. Following this!

[LastLong]

2011-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35i will be the best choice if you want a E70.

Common issue:
-Valve Cover Oil Leak
-Water Pump Failure
-Leaking Oil Filter Housing Gasket
-VANOS Solenoid Failure

Stay away from the 50i - lot of issue

Good luck !

[import_junkie]

Keep an eye on the valve cover oil leak as I did encounter that issue along with air suspension leveling and VANOS error. All issues were covered under my warranty which helped. Good luck!

[DakarX5]

2013 X5 3.5i with 90K. Only one issue, water pump. )

[quick]

Issues/concerns are mostly 5.0i related and not 3.5i and that's 'coz of the V8?

[Spyro235]

I'm partial to the D- so much more motor than the 35i will give you, especially preLCI without the 8 speed.

I can really only speak to the diesel in this chassis, but it's a GREAT motor for the X5. Major common issues are mostly related to the emissions systems, but those now have an extended 10 year 120k mile warranty on them from BMW. So if buying a low mileage one, you could be covered for a bit. I deleted and tuned, since I bought mine with 204k.
Delete and tune gives HUGE increase in performance and reliability by removing all the emissions junk.
Other than that, the common problem on the M57 diesel motor is the thermostat failing- if you notice a drop in mpg's, the thermostat probably failed open, causing the motor to run cold, and therefor rich. This also ends up potentially harming the glow plug control module, since the glow plugs run when the engine is cooler than it should be, and they aren't meant to run for extended periods of time.

The diesel is the way to go to have an a,ply powered, reliable X5. Its not the quickest suv out there, but it sure hauls when you want it to. Also, great MPG- before my delete and tune, I was getting 27 highway, and after it I'm usually getting 29-30mpg, with a high of 31.4 at 70mph. I also tow 6000 lbs fairly often, so it's nice to have the power to hold speed up hills.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

I'm partial to the D- so much more motor than the 35i will give you, especially preLCI without the 8 speed.

I can really only speak to the diesel in this chassis, but it's a GREAT motor for the X5. Major common issues are mostly related to the emissions systems, but those now have an extended 10 year 120k mile warranty on them from BMW. So if buying a low mileage one, you could be covered for a bit. I deleted and tuned, since I bought mine with 204k.
Delete and tune gives HUGE increase in performance and reliability by removing all the emissions junk.
Other than that, the common problem on the M57 diesel motor is the thermostat failing- if you notice a drop in mpg's, the thermostat probably failed open, causing the motor to run cold, and therefor rich. This also ends up potentially harming the glow plug control module, since the glow plugs run when the engine is cooler than it should be, and they aren't meant to run for extended periods of time.

The diesel is the way to go to have an a,ply powered, reliable X5. Its not the quickest suv out there, but it sure hauls when you want it to. Also, great MPG- before my delete and tune, I was getting 27 highway, and after it I'm usually getting 29-30mpg, with a high of 31.4 at 70mph. I also tow 6000 lbs fairly often, so it's nice to have the power to hold speed up hills.

Interesting observation regarding the thermostat. I have below than average mpg on my D (it is still within EPA estimate). Were you getting any codes for failing thermostat?

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by X5-User

Interesting observation regarding the thermostat. I have below than average mpg on my D (it is still within EPA estimate). Were you getting any codes for failing thermostat?

Nope, none at all. There IS a "thermostat plausible" code or something along those lines, but I know I, and many others, never had it triggered. If you have a way to monitor the coolant temp, its an 88C thermostat. Temp should hover between 87C and 90C after a few minutes of running. This is in 100 degree ambient, or 30 degree ambient, should be running 88C regardless.

When mine failed, my car was struggling to hit 70C. I was towing 3k lbs up hill, in 65 degree ambient temp and my temp was sitting at like 65C, just way too cold. Mine seems to be a fairly severe case of where it stuck open, most claim 70-80C steady temps. If it's holding less than 85 coolant temp, I'd be concerned.

[KwlAznKid]

currently looking at an 08 and 09, similar millage, same color, similar options, I can't really notice any differences aside from the 09 didn't have a spare, has an electric tailgate. were there any other differences? based on my research the 08s came in s drive only where the 09 came in xdrive only? mpg looks the same so I'm not too concerned about the xdrive, am i missing anything? thanks for all the help so far guys

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Nope, none at all. There IS a "thermostat plausible" code or something along those lines, but I know I, and many others, never had it triggered. If you have a way to monitor the coolant temp, its an 88C thermostat. Temp should hover between 87C and 90C after a few minutes of running. This is in 100 degree ambient, or 30 degree ambient, should be running 88C regardless.

When mine failed, my car was struggling to hit 70C. I was towing 3k lbs up hill, in 65 degree ambient temp and my temp was sitting at like 65C, just way too cold. Mine seems to be a fairly severe case of where it stuck open, most claim 70-80C steady temps. If it's holding less than 85 coolant temp, I'd be concerned.

I monitored the coolant temp and it never went above 80 C after 20 min of driving. Does that mean my thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced? What happens if I just keep it hovering between 70 to 80 C ? Is there any harm?

If it is just losing couple of mpg, I will live with that as this is a tedious change and I have to remove EGR cooler ..etc to get access. I prefer to do this job when deleting the emissions.

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by KwlAznKid

currently looking at an 08 and 09, similar millage, same color, similar options, I can't really notice any differences aside from the 09 didn't have a spare, has an electric tailgate. were there any other differences? based on my research the 08s came in s drive only where the 09 came in xdrive only? mpg looks the same so I'm not too concerned about the xdrive, am i missing anything? thanks for all the help so far guys

I don't think there was ever a RWD (sdrive) X5 was there?

The engine choices are different in different years, the diesel didn't exist until 2009? in the US and the turbo petrol engine was 2011?.

The 3.0i/si without the turbo was a bit under powered for the X5 IMO. It isn't terrible but it has to rev a bit to make its 260hp/232tq.

The 4.8i (which I have) doesn't get great gas mileage, I get mid to low 15s in mixed driving and can get into the high 18s on the highway. It has the coolant transfer pipe and valve stem issues that need to be addressed before I would consider it a good choice.

The iDrive is also nicer on the newer e70 X5s.


-Rich

[X5 MAN]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

I don't think there was ever a RWD (sdrive) X5 was there?

The engine choices are different in different years, the diesel didn't exist until 2009? in the US and the turbo petrol engine was 2011?.

The 3.0i/si without the turbo was a bit under powered for the X5 IMO. It isn't terrible but it has to rev a bit to make its 260hp/232tq.

The 4.8i (which I have) doesn't get great gas mileage, I get mid to low 15s in mixed driving and can get into the high 18s on the highway. It has the coolant transfer pipe and valve stem issues that need to be addressed before I would consider it a good choice.

The iDrive is also nicer on the newer e70 X5s.


-Rich

I have 2011 50i and I am quite happy with it. As usual the seller skips on maintenence when they decided to sell. I changed battery, coils, plugs, MAF sensor, fuel pump, vacuum pump, and flushed brake fluids, coolant and engine oil.

It runs like new now. Paid $15k for a 110k miler and put in another $6k and it as good as new

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by X5-User

I monitored the coolant temp and it never went above 80 C after 20 min of driving. Does that mean my thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced? What happens if I just keep it hovering between 70 to 80 C ? Is there any harm?

If it is just losing couple of mpg, I will live with that as this is a tedious change and I have to remove EGR cooler ..etc to get access. I prefer to do this job when deleting the emissions.

No danger to the motor itself, but if run for more than a few days like that, it will surely damage the glow plug system. 70% of the time it just takes out the controller, but sometimes it fries actual glow plugs too. Controller can be done with the intake manifold on, but glow plugs require removing it. If you're going to delete within the foreseeable future and want to wait, and you were planning on pulling the intake mani anyway (to do swirl flap deletes) then I suppose you could run it how it is. It's not ideal to run the motor a bit cold, but it shouldn't really hurt anything. Note, you're running rich. Long term, you're clogging up your DPF, potentially clogging the DOC cat and the SCR cat. So, you could throw a limp mode because of that, and when that stuff really clogs it CAN hurt the motor.

Long story short, this is my opinion: If you're deleting within a month, maybe even 3... go for it, drive on it. Especially if you don't drive many miles in the first place. But if you drive a TON, or plan on pushing it 6months to a year? Just pay a mechanic the $450 it costs to replace the thermostat and have the peace of mind you're not going to damage anything.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

No danger to the motor itself, but if run for more than a few days like that, it will surely damage the glow plug system. 70% of the time it just takes out the controller, but sometimes it fries actual glow plugs too. Controller can be done with the intake manifold on, but glow plugs require removing it. If you're going to delete within the foreseeable future and want to wait, and you were planning on pulling the intake mani anyway (to do swirl flap deletes) then I suppose you could run it how it is. It's not ideal to run the motor a bit cold, but it shouldn't really hurt anything. Note, you're running rich. Long term, you're clogging up your DPF, potentially clogging the DOC cat and the SCR cat. So, you could throw a limp mode because of that, and when that stuff really clogs it CAN hurt the motor.

Long story short, this is my opinion: If you're deleting within a month, maybe even 3... go for it, drive on it. Especially if you don't drive many miles in the first place. But if you drive a TON, or plan on pushing it 6months to a year? Just pay a mechanic the $450 it costs to replace the thermostat and have the peace of mind you're not going to damage anything.

few days?! I have been running with this temperature on car for the past month day I bought the car. Temperature is between 75 and 80 C max.

I have been reading & researching this and it doesn't seem to affect anything other than mpg. For glow plugs, engine temperature has to be below 60 C
Do you have any link where it says it will kill the glow plugs controller? I am just researching this to get more idea

[mly229]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

I'm partial to the D- so much more motor than the 35i will give you, especially preLCI without the 8 speed.

I can really only speak to the diesel in this chassis, but it's a GREAT motor for the X5. Major common issues are mostly related to the emissions systems, but those now have an extended 10 year 120k mile warranty on them from BMW. So if buying a low mileage one, you could be covered for a bit. I deleted and tuned, since I bought mine with 204k.
Delete and tune gives HUGE increase in performance and reliability by removing all the emissions junk.
Other than that, the common problem on the M57 diesel motor is the thermostat failing- if you notice a drop in mpg's, the thermostat probably failed open, causing the motor to run cold, and therefor rich. This also ends up potentially harming the glow plug control module, since the glow plugs run when the engine is cooler than it should be, and they aren't meant to run for extended periods of time.

The diesel is the way to go to have an a,ply powered, reliable X5. Its not the quickest suv out there, but it sure hauls when you want it to. Also, great MPG- before my delete and tune, I was getting 27 highway, and after it I'm usually getting 29-30mpg, with a high of 31.4 at 70mph. I also tow 6000 lbs fairly often, so it's nice to have the power to hold speed up hills.

Spyro235 , two quick questions here:

Noticing you are also from the States, most places removing the EGR is considered illegal - so are you able to pass the SMOG test after having it deleted?

Second, when you guys talk about the EGR thermostat, is it the EGR temperature sensor? I've replaced mine but just want to know if they are really the same thing.

Thank you.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by mly229

Spyro235 , two quick questions here:

Noticing you are also from the States, most places removing the EGR is considered illegal - so are you able to pass the SMOG test after having it deleted?

Second, when you guys talk about the EGR thermostat, is it the EGR temperature sensor? I've replaced mine but just want to know if they are really the same thing.

Thank you.

Not all States requires SMOG testing for Diesel vehicles. Check your state.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by mly229

Spyro235 , two quick questions here:

Noticing you are also from the States, most places removing the EGR is considered illegal - so are you able to pass the SMOG test after having it deleted?

Second, when you guys talk about the EGR thermostat, is it the EGR temperature sensor? I've replaced mine but just want to know if they are really the same thing.

Thank you.

You'll never be able to do it in California. I'm considering moving to California and it would have to be a "you know someone that will sneak you through emissions. It is illegal in cali.

NJ is just OBD checks, and it's possible to get by that. Not technically legal, so I wont mention how.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by mly229

Spyro235


Second, when you guys talk about the EGR thermostat, is it the EGR temperature sensor? I've replaced mine but just want to know if they are really the same thing.

Thank you.

Just realized I didn't answer your second question.

I personally was not referring to an "EGR Thermostat" I've been referring to the coolant thermostat. It happens to reside behind the EGR cooler on the front of the engine.

[2013X1inTexas]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

I'm partial to the D- so much more motor than the 35i will give you, especially preLCI without the 8 speed.

I can really only speak to the diesel in this chassis, but it's a GREAT motor for the X5. Major common issues are mostly related to the emissions systems, but those now have an extended 10 year 120k mile warranty on them from BMW. So if buying a low mileage one, you could be covered for a bit. I deleted and tuned, since I bought mine with 204k.
Delete and tune gives HUGE increase in performance and reliability by removing all the emissions junk.
Other than that, the common problem on the M57 diesel motor is the thermostat failing- if you notice a drop in mpg's, the thermostat probably failed open, causing the motor to run cold, and therefor rich. This also ends up potentially harming the glow plug control module, since the glow plugs run when the engine is cooler than it should be, and they aren't meant to run for extended periods of time.

The diesel is the way to go to have an a,ply powered, reliable X5. Its not the quickest suv out there, but it sure hauls when you want it to. Also, great MPG- before my delete and tune, I was getting 27 highway, and after it I'm usually getting 29-30mpg, with a high of 31.4 at 70mph. I also tow 6000 lbs fairly often, so it's nice to have the power to hold speed up hills.

Spyro235 you will be my go to! I took the plunge and going to take delivery tomorrow of a 2010 xdrive35d. I fell in love with the drive and torque of the d. I'm not super worried with the additional issues it might give me as apposed to the 35i. I've heard diesels can run for a very long time when properly maintained. Noteworthy that this is my first BMW and it's my very first diesel to own. I've heard diesel technology has come a long way. With support from Bimmerpost and guys like you that have been around the engine and know some DIY tips and tricks I feel pretty confident. Thanks for the comments and you might have to elaborate on how you did your delete and tune, what it consisted of, and what it costed you. Thanks!

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by 2013X1inTexas

Spyro235 you will be my go to! I took the plunge and going to take delivery tomorrow of a 2010 xdrive35d. I fell in love with the drive and torque of the d. I'm not super worried with the additional issues it might give me as apposed to the 35i. I've heard diesels can run for a very long time when properly maintained. Noteworthy that this is my first BMW and it's my very first diesel to own. I've heard diesel technology has come a long way. With support from Bimmerpost and guys like you that have been around the engine and know some DIY tips and tricks I feel pretty confident. Thanks for the comments and you might have to elaborate on how you did your delete and tune, what it consisted of, and what it costed you. Thanks!

I'l be honest, I paid someone to do my delete. It cost $2000 at the time, including all hardware In albany NY. I deleted the EGR, DPF, and SCR. I still have my swirl flaps. I'm running DUDMD stage 2, just like my signature says, and have a Rod Sutphin transmission tune that I can't recommend enough. A trans tune could honestly be the very first modification I'd recommend other than maintenance. I also kept my stock muffler.

[2010xdrive35dinTexas]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

I'l be honest, I paid someone to do my delete. It cost $2000 at the time, including all hardware In albany NY. I deleted the EGR, DPF, and SCR. I still have my swirl flaps. I'm running DUDMD stage 2, just like my signature says, and have a Rod Sutphin transmission tune that I can't recommend enough. A trans tune could honestly be the very first modification I'd recommend other than maintenance. I also kept my stock muffler.

Well I'm not sure anyone in my area does anything like that. Maybe Houston.

Signed papers on Saturday and still haven't taken delivery yet. They said it was something to do with the DEF System.

So today I followed up and they told me the active reservoir was leaking fluid or cracked or something to do with it, and they had to replace it. So... tomorrow they are going to test drive it and make sure that's taken care of the issue.

Needless to say I'm ready to drive it home! Can't forget the torque it had when I took off. Think I'm going to really enjoy driving it.