2003 BMW X5 Power Train Problems

WHILE DRIVING, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I STARTED TO GO, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, YOU HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, UPON HIS INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ALSO STRIPPED. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, THE FIRST WAS IN JANUARY 2017.

Mileage: 106,000

AS I WAS DRIVING MY BMW X5 I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGIN TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE IT DIDN'T MOVE AND IT MADE A LOUD ROWING NOISE. U WAS THEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY WITH MOVING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. HE THEN SAID HE SEE ALOT OF THEM LIKE THAT BEING WORKED ON BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 120,000

STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND WHEN RESUMED DRIVING AT GREEN LIGHT, SUDDENLY HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN DRIVE MODE (D). STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY. TUNED OFF ENGINE AND STARTED AGAIN AFTER FEW MINUTES AND SAME GRINDING NOISE IN DRIVE MODE AS WELL AS REVERSE MODE. NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATE. TOWED THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW MECHANIC (HE HAS HIS OWN SERVICE CENTER NOT A DEALER OWNED). DURING PHONE CONVERSATION, HE SUSPECTED ITS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRANSFERCASE/FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND UPON PHYSICAL INSPECTION HE CONFIRMED ITS THOSE TWO PARTS. THE SPLINE CONNECTION BETWEEN DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE WENT BAD. THE MECHANIC KNEW OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING IN SEVERAL X5S BUT NOT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE (51K ONLY). ENDED UP REPLACING THE BAD PARTS THROUGH HIM AS I HAD NO HOPES DEALER WILL FIX THIS ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE BASED ON SEVERAL READINGS ONLINE AND FEEDBACK FROM OTHER CAR OWNERS. TOTAL REPAIR COST $4000 OEM PARTS PLUS LABOR. READ IN SEVERAL BMW FORUMS (BIMMERFORUM, BIMMERFEST ETC,) THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. EXPERTS BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE (DRIVE SHAFT BEING AN INCH SHORT).THERE ARE CUSTOM FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AVAILABLE THAT ARE ABOUT 1INCH LONGER THAN THE OEM PART. ANOTHER FACTOR THAT MAY BE DRIVING THIS ISSUE COULD BE RELATED TO AC CONDENSATE PIPE LOCATION RIGHT ABOVE WHERE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE CONNECTS. I READ THIS IN ANOTHER COMPLAIN BUT UNABLE TO CONFIRM AS I'M NOT THE MECHANIC. BASED ON THE SAME ISSUE REPORTED SO FAR (AND MANY THAT ARE NOT REPORTED JUST BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS INTERNET SAVVY TO REPORT), IT IS HIGH TIME BMW NEEDS TO BE PUSHED FOR REPAIRING THIS ISSUE IN FUTURE AND REFUND REPAIR COST FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY FIXED IT ON THEIR OWN. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 5 DEGREES F. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ENGINE OIL WARNING MESSAGE AND SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE HESITATED AND MISFIRED. AFTER STOPPING, THE BACK OF THE X5 WAS COVERED IN OIL. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COVERED IN OIL AND OIL COATED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE X5 HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THE CCV WAS FROZEN AND IT WAS COMMON IN THESE CARS. WHEN THE CCV FREEZES, IT CAN SUCK THE OIL FROM THE OIL SUMP THROUGH THE CCV INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VALVE COVER GASKET USUALLY BLOWS FROM THE INCREASED PRESSURE. IF ENOUGH OIL IS SUCKED IN THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IT CAN HYDROLOCK THE ENGINE, BREAKING PISTON RODS, ETC OR THE ENGINE CAN SEIZE FROM LACK OF OIL. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE CARS WHEN OPERATED IN COLD CLIMATES AND IS PROVIDING SOME RELIEF FOR SOME OF THE CARS THAT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. OIL HAD TO BE VACUUMED FROM THE SPARK PLUG WELLS. THE CCV AND ASSOCIATED HOSES WERE REPLACED WITH A NEWER INSULATED DESIGN. THE DIPSTICK TUBE WAS REPLACED. THE OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED. ANY OIL THAT MAY REMAIN IS DRAINED AND NEW OIL WAS ADDED. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DEGREASED. *TR

Mileage: 101,680

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THEIR HOME AND HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE HAD CHIPPED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 189,000. *TR UPDATED 06/12/13*LJ

Mileage: 189,000

OIL SEPARATOR FROZE CAUSING HIGH PRESSURE AND BLOWN SEALS. INITIAL COST ABOUT $1100 TO REPAIR. DEALER STATES THIS "HAPPENS ALL THE TIME" TO X5'S IN COLD WEATHER. TEMP WAS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. IN JANUARY 2013 OIL SEPARATOR FROZE TWO MORE TIMES;HOWEVER, THIS TIME DAMAGING THE ENGINE - COST OVER $5000 TO REPAIR - BASICALLY TOTALING THE CAR. WITH ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE ON BMW X5 3.0, 4.4 AND 4.8 ENGINES FROM 2001 TO 2008... LOOKS LIKE THE PARTS WERE REDESIGNED IN 2009. LOOKS LIKE A SIMPLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ROUTINE AND INSULATED OIL LINES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE" AND DANGEROUS CONDITION OF TAILPIPE FIRE, OR BEING STRANDED IN ZERO DEGREE WEATHER (WHICH SEEMS TO BE A CONDITION REQUIRED FOR THE FAILURE). OWNER OF CAR IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH ALL MAINTENANCE BEING DONE AT LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING MAJOR SERVICES AT 60K AND 90K SO THERE APPEARS THERE IS NO "PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE" INCLUDED IN EITHER OF THESE MAJOR SERVICE MILESTONES FOR THE KNOWN OIL SEPARATOR DEFECT. A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT TO INSTALL THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PARTS TO PREVENT "CATASTROPHIC ENGINES FAILURE" AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS "BEING STRANDED IN SINGLE DIGIT WEATHER" SEEMS LIKE A LOGICAL CHOICE... OR AT LEAST CHANGING MAJOR SERVICE MILESTONES TO ADD PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SO THE PROBABILITY OF THE FAILURE CAN BE REDUCED. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I OWN A 2003 BMW X5 4.6IS MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT WITH ONLY 70000 MILES . I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ IN FORUMS THAT OTHER 2002-2003 4.6IS OWNERS HAD TRANSMISSION TRANS FAILURES. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A 75K VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT LAST UNDER 100K MILES. *TR

Mileage: 70,513

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, FELT AS IF SOMETHING FELL OFF OR CAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN MIDDLE ON TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ANYONE TO CRASH THE BACK OF ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. VERY TRAGIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY VEHICLE CAME FROM THE WRONG MANUFACTURER. VERY UNFAIR :-( *TR

Mileage: 136,000

2003 BMW X5 4.4I TRANSFER CASE/FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILED LEAVING CAR STRANDED ON A RAILROAD CROSSING WITH NO POWER. RR LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH BUT MANAGED TO PUSH CAR OFF TRACKS IN TIME ONCE WE FOUND HELP (TOO HEAVY TO PUSH ALONE). SAME FAILURE AT 90K MILES HAD STRANDED CAR ON A LOCAL STREET ABOUT 2.5 YEARS EARLIER. BMW REPLACED TRANSFER CASE AND FRONT DRIVE SHAFT UNDER CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. CURRENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON TRANSFER CASE/DRIVE SHAFT LESS THAN 40K MILES / 2.5 YEARS OLD. SAME FAILURE IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS ON VARIOUS INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVING INSUFFICIENT SPLINE ENGAGEMENT AND POOR PLACEMENT OF A/C CONDENSATE DRAIN DIRECTLY ABOVE TRANSFER CASE / SHAFT CONNECTION CAUSING ACCELERATED RUSTING OF DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES WHICH EVENTUALLY WEAKEN AND STRIP OUT. ATTEMPTED TO GET BMW TO COVER REPAIR OUT-OF-WARRANTY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OF EARLY FAILURE OF A DRIVETRAIN PART. MULTIPLE CALLS (MESSAGES FOR SERVICE MANAGERS) TO TWO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS WENT UNRETURNED. CALL TO BMWNA WAS UNHELPFUL - WOULD NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AT MY EXPENSE AND WOULD (AT BEST) BE REPAIRED WITH SAME PARTS OF POOR DESIGN. *TR *KB

Mileage: 129,000

I HAVE A 2003 BMW X5 4.4. WHICH SEEMS TO VIBRATE/JERK BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. THE FIRST TIME (2009) I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TIRE WHICH I DID. THIS DID NOT HELP. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I AM LEARNING MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

80K ON MY BMW X5 AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 80

ON 01/15/2009, THE EXTREMELY CHILLY DAY, MY WIFE DROVE THE X5 ON ROUTE 2 EAST BOUND AROUND EXIT 58 IN ARLINGTON, MA, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM SUDDENLY EMITTED HEAVY WHITE SMOKE, BUT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT TURNED ON AT ALL. MY WIFE PULLED OVER THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. 15 MINUTES LATER, SHE FOUND THE ENGINE WAS DISABLED WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BMW SERVICE CENTER ,I WAS INFORMED THE CAR NEEDS THE FOLLOWING REPLACEMENTS 'CRANK CASE VENT VALVE 'VALVE COVER GASKETS AND SPARK PLUGS 'TRANSFER CASE THE TOTAL COST IS $1360+$3125= $4485. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH HE NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE RPM'S WOULD RISE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND WAS NOT IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE VIN IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.

DRIVING BMW X5 AT 50 MPH, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LOCKS UP TAKING VEHICLE FROM 50 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN ABOUT 1 SECOND THEN DIFFERENTIAL FAILS. GEAR OIL SPRAYED ON HOT EXHAUST AND ENGINE, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, PASSENGER (MY WIFE) JUMPS OUT WHEN WE STOPPED THINKING CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE (SMOKE AND STRONG BURNING SMELL FROM OIL). DEALER HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP, HAD TO REPLACE FORWARD DRIVE TRAIN. CAR WAS IN SHOP 4 DAYS. MY WIFE WILL NOT RIDE IN CAR AGAIN, SHE ALMOST IMPACTED THE DASH WHEN AXEL LOCKED UP, HAD ROAD BEEN WET OR ICY, WE COULD HAVE VERY EASILY LOST CONTROL. HAD A VEHICLE BEEN BEHIND US, VERY LIKELY THEY WOULD HAVE RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IT STOPPED SO FAST AND UNEXPECTEDLY. FELT LIKE WE RAN OVER A LARGE TREE IN THE ROAD BUT THE ROAD WAS PERFECTLY CLEAR. IMMEDIATELY TRADED THE CAR AND BOUGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE, BELIEVE NTSB NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS ELSEWHERE, VERY SCARY TO HAVE CAR WHEELS LOCK UP ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED. *JB

Mileage: 44,500

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK