The woes of a German car..
Discussion
Love hate post here so bear with me..
I bought my 2006 X5 a few years ago from a trader. Promised bells and whistles and recently found out it was a write off (he never told me) and soon as I drove it away had issues
- all alloys replaced as they were cutting into tyre
- got issue with starting and after a mechanic told me it's the gearbox sensor which means I can't start it I've had enough
About 2 months ago my car key wouldn't work so called recovery. He jumped my car and told me my battery was dead. It started fine And thought to wing it til it died again 3 weeks back. Timing couldn't be worse as we had booked a ferry trip to France which was 3 days later..my husband drove the car and when he parked up, switched off the engine then tried to switch on.. dead... we jumped it and thought lets change the battery
Battery replaced. still won't start!!
Called recovery and not even they could start the car!!
Goodness a few days before a ferry trip! That's when the mechanic said I had a gearbox issue And that I had to shift it back and forth to start the car.
The next day and since then it's driven fine
it's a superb fast M sport. But damn gave me a headache.
shall I just sell it or trade it in? It's a love hate relationship at the moment and wonder if you can advise.
I bought my 2006 X5 a few years ago from a trader. Promised bells and whistles and recently found out it was a write off (he never told me) and soon as I drove it away had issues
- all alloys replaced as they were cutting into tyre
- got issue with starting and after a mechanic told me it's the gearbox sensor which means I can't start it I've had enough
About 2 months ago my car key wouldn't work so called recovery. He jumped my car and told me my battery was dead. It started fine And thought to wing it til it died again 3 weeks back. Timing couldn't be worse as we had booked a ferry trip to France which was 3 days later..my husband drove the car and when he parked up, switched off the engine then tried to switch on.. dead... we jumped it and thought lets change the battery
Battery replaced. still won't start!!
Called recovery and not even they could start the car!!
Goodness a few days before a ferry trip! That's when the mechanic said I had a gearbox issue And that I had to shift it back and forth to start the car.
The next day and since then it's driven fine
it's a superb fast M sport. But damn gave me a headache.
shall I just sell it or trade it in? It's a love hate relationship at the moment and wonder if you can advise.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Old car with no service history, presumably multiple owners and from a dodgy trader, and you expect it to be reliable? Just wondering...
Yes, you’re being unrealistic.
I think the question was wether to keep it or not. Yes, you’re being unrealistic.
I missed the part where the OP said they was expecting their purchase to be reliable. Or has it been edited ?
Reliability isn't the question. Nor is the trader.
It's the car itself. A neighbour who jumped me has a BMW coupe and said "when they are good. They drive so well. But when something goes wrong. It goes WRONG"
I stupidly didn't do a HPI or a car check. I was rummaging around a few sites and I was incredibly shocked when I saw the write off report. Obviously I would have haggled more and quite possibly wouldn't have bought it
Its a fantastic car but boy..
Oh .. front diff had to be replaced Feb 19. Forgot that one. Almost 800 quid down on that one. (Damn BMWs)
It's the car itself. A neighbour who jumped me has a BMW coupe and said "when they are good. They drive so well. But when something goes wrong. It goes WRONG"
I stupidly didn't do a HPI or a car check. I was rummaging around a few sites and I was incredibly shocked when I saw the write off report. Obviously I would have haggled more and quite possibly wouldn't have bought it
Its a fantastic car but boy..
Oh .. front diff had to be replaced Feb 19. Forgot that one. Almost 800 quid down on that one. (Damn BMWs)
RUSSELLM said:
The jump start.... Does that involve using the battery of a donor car, to start yours ?
Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
It's auto. Used another car. After the recovery people came the mechanic hot wired the car to start the ignition Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
Now to address a few things. This is a BMW forum right? I was hoping to get guidance from fellow owners about this rather than being pointed the obvious. I've always owned reliable Japanese cars, it was only 5 years ago I was lured into Audi A6 (traded as clutch went) then the BMW which is incredibly safe to drive as a family car good economy but not confident on if SOMETHING else goes wrong. Which of course no one can predict. Damn cars...
I suspected it’s an auto.
The diagnosis would bother me, then. The rocking the car back and forth, to get it to start...
The mechanic’s suggesting gearbox.... I presume he means some kind of position sensor ? But then how would a donor battery on a none rocking car, suddenly make it spring into life ?
The two cures I’ve read so far, would have me checking the starter motor’s operation.
The diagnosis would bother me, then. The rocking the car back and forth, to get it to start...
The mechanic’s suggesting gearbox.... I presume he means some kind of position sensor ? But then how would a donor battery on a none rocking car, suddenly make it spring into life ?
The two cures I’ve read so far, would have me checking the starter motor’s operation.
uzziwozzi said:
RUSSELLM said:
The jump start.... Does that involve using the battery of a donor car, to start yours ?
Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
It's auto. Used another car. After the recovery people came the mechanic hot wired the car to start the ignition Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
Now to address a few things. This is a BMW forum right? I was hoping to get guidance from fellow owners about this rather than being pointed the obvious. I've always owned reliable Japanese cars, it was only 5 years ago I was lured into Audi A6 (traded as clutch went) then the BMW which is incredibly safe to drive as a family car good economy but not confident on if SOMETHING else goes wrong. Which of course no one can predict. Damn cars...
The “hot wiring” bit.... is he bypassing the immobiliser ?
Would I be right in saying, that’s there’s now Three different methods for getting the car to start ?
And now the mechanic can start it via hot wiring, where does he stand with the previous gearbox diagnosis ?
RUSSELLM said:
uzziwozzi said:
RUSSELLM said:
The jump start.... Does that involve using the battery of a donor car, to start yours ?
Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
It's auto. Used another car. After the recovery people came the mechanic hot wired the car to start the ignition Or is it a manual, that’s getting pushed along and bump started ?
Now to address a few things. This is a BMW forum right? I was hoping to get guidance from fellow owners about this rather than being pointed the obvious. I've always owned reliable Japanese cars, it was only 5 years ago I was lured into Audi A6 (traded as clutch went) then the BMW which is incredibly safe to drive as a family car good economy but not confident on if SOMETHING else goes wrong. Which of course no one can predict. Damn cars...
The “hot wiring” bit.... is he bypassing the immobiliser ?
Would I be right in saying, that’s there’s now Three different methods for getting the car to start ?
And now the mechanic can start it via hot wiring, where does he stand with the previous gearbox diagnosis ?
I agree with others it is a 13 year old complex car, probably not well looked after. Not noted for reliability either. I think expectations are far too high.
OP hasn’t really stated their expectations though. That appears to be a job for others to do 
FWIW, my stance on a used X5... You buy a new one and take the £7k a year depreciation hit, whilst it’s still under warranty.
Or you buy a used one, and use your £7k a year for repairs. Anything less is a bonus. It’s my theory on all used cars
FWIW, my stance on a used X5... You buy a new one and take the £7k a year depreciation hit, whilst it’s still under warranty.
Or you buy a used one, and use your £7k a year for repairs. Anything less is a bonus. It’s my theory on all used cars
tr7v8 said:
I assume it is the sensor/switch that detects it is in park. Maybe brake pedal pressed if its the same as my Cayenne. He's probably bypassed the switch would be my guess.
I agree with others it is a 13 year old complex car, probably not well looked after. Not noted for reliability either. I think expectations are far too high.
Thanks for the sound advice. I agree with others it is a 13 year old complex car, probably not well looked after. Not noted for reliability either. I think expectations are far too high.
And yes. Three ways to start the car.. since the new battery was put in its driving as good as gold. Waiting for the gearbox to go then maybe sell it for parts.
Next car non german petrol/hybrid. Gotta be done
Thanks everyone.
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