ANYONE HELP ME WITH A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS WITH MY X5?
Discussion
Can anyone help please?: I've got a couple of small but annoying problems on my 04 X5 3.0D Sport:
Firstly: Horn should work in four push positions, but one position has stopped working; I need to get the hub/steering wheel centre cover off to have a look/find out what's wrong; does the cover just pull/prise off or do I need to do something with either the two screws or the two slots I can feel around the back - the side that faces the instrument panel?
Secondly, I have the factory fitted bluetooth phone kit - with a phone specific cradle in the lift up armrest - the phone works 100% perfectly except for one thing - it will only charge up as it should do (and used to do) when slotted in the cradle when the whole centre consul lid complete with snap in cradle is in the up position, that is when the centre consule's lid is open; open the lid up and the phone illuminates and then charges, close it (as it should be)and it stops charging: I was thinking that maybe some connection wires from/to the cradle have got nipped and they only connect properly when the lid is open / armrest up, but it all sounds a bit unlikely; a broken wire is usually a broken wire i.e. usually a case of either it works/connects or it doesn't.
Any help/hints/suggestions on either anyone can make would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
Firstly: Horn should work in four push positions, but one position has stopped working; I need to get the hub/steering wheel centre cover off to have a look/find out what's wrong; does the cover just pull/prise off or do I need to do something with either the two screws or the two slots I can feel around the back - the side that faces the instrument panel?
Secondly, I have the factory fitted bluetooth phone kit - with a phone specific cradle in the lift up armrest - the phone works 100% perfectly except for one thing - it will only charge up as it should do (and used to do) when slotted in the cradle when the whole centre consul lid complete with snap in cradle is in the up position, that is when the centre consule's lid is open; open the lid up and the phone illuminates and then charges, close it (as it should be)and it stops charging: I was thinking that maybe some connection wires from/to the cradle have got nipped and they only connect properly when the lid is open / armrest up, but it all sounds a bit unlikely; a broken wire is usually a broken wire i.e. usually a case of either it works/connects or it doesn't.
Any help/hints/suggestions on either anyone can make would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
I may be able to help with the first issue.
Firstly disconnect the battery and make yourself a cup of tea. The contacts need to be off for about 10minutes before you start work.
Behind the steering wheel there should be 2 torq screws, once these are undone the airbag part of the wheel should come away, you can now clean the horn terminals which are probably causing your issue.
Never had bluetooth - sorry.
Neil
Firstly disconnect the battery and make yourself a cup of tea. The contacts need to be off for about 10minutes before you start work.
Behind the steering wheel there should be 2 torq screws, once these are undone the airbag part of the wheel should come away, you can now clean the horn terminals which are probably causing your issue.
Never had bluetooth - sorry.
Neil
Neil
Thanks very very much indeed - I'm so glad I posted the question on Pistonheads, else it sounds like I might well have gone ahead in well meaning ignorance and set off the airbag, which would have been a total disaster >
The reason I was thinking about having a go at a bit of DIY was that > wait for this > when I enquired as to getting my two problems solved, my dealer Sytner Oldbury (previously Rydale Oldbury) noted to me they have a "minimum diagnostic fee of £100" which apparently buys the customer one whole hour of their technicians time; to my mind, what this actually means is that they aren't prepared to anything on a (any) longstanding customer's BMW unless they can charge me (them) at least £100, which I think is absolutely unnacceptable and totally appalling (and probably illegal).
In this particular instance, sorting out my two problems for what will hopefully be 'just £100'(!) won't be totally unreasonable, just typically Main Dealer BMW daftly expensive; but can you imagine how ripped off you'd feel if you had a small problem that you knew they could most likely identify and sort in 15 minutes, but that they wouldn't be prepared to even look at it (let alone touch it) at all unless you agree prior to getting a (minimum) bill of £100!
As I said, I think this dealer's (i.e. Sytner's) way of doing things is wholly unnacceptable; in fact, after having a good go at them at a higher level, if no joy, I am going to take this up with BMW themselves and if I don't get any joy there, then it'll be trading standards next. Taken to the extreme, could one imagine that Sytner's technicians do something like an actual nine hour day but manage to record/charge out say fifteen plus customer chargeable hours per day?
To my mind, this sort of minimum bill approach towards a longstanding BMW customer from a main dealer (that I have bought four cars off over the years) is absolutely not on. Anyone else come across similar? This is a new one on me; I never had any so blatant 'in yer face rip-offs' like this when it was Rydale! I am totally gobsmacked to the point that I may well have bought my last BMW (and Mini)
Thanks very very much indeed - I'm so glad I posted the question on Pistonheads, else it sounds like I might well have gone ahead in well meaning ignorance and set off the airbag, which would have been a total disaster >
The reason I was thinking about having a go at a bit of DIY was that > wait for this > when I enquired as to getting my two problems solved, my dealer Sytner Oldbury (previously Rydale Oldbury) noted to me they have a "minimum diagnostic fee of £100" which apparently buys the customer one whole hour of their technicians time; to my mind, what this actually means is that they aren't prepared to anything on a (any) longstanding customer's BMW unless they can charge me (them) at least £100, which I think is absolutely unnacceptable and totally appalling (and probably illegal).
In this particular instance, sorting out my two problems for what will hopefully be 'just £100'(!) won't be totally unreasonable, just typically Main Dealer BMW daftly expensive; but can you imagine how ripped off you'd feel if you had a small problem that you knew they could most likely identify and sort in 15 minutes, but that they wouldn't be prepared to even look at it (let alone touch it) at all unless you agree prior to getting a (minimum) bill of £100!
As I said, I think this dealer's (i.e. Sytner's) way of doing things is wholly unnacceptable; in fact, after having a good go at them at a higher level, if no joy, I am going to take this up with BMW themselves and if I don't get any joy there, then it'll be trading standards next. Taken to the extreme, could one imagine that Sytner's technicians do something like an actual nine hour day but manage to record/charge out say fifteen plus customer chargeable hours per day?
To my mind, this sort of minimum bill approach towards a longstanding BMW customer from a main dealer (that I have bought four cars off over the years) is absolutely not on. Anyone else come across similar? This is a new one on me; I never had any so blatant 'in yer face rip-offs' like this when it was Rydale! I am totally gobsmacked to the point that I may well have bought my last BMW (and Mini)
What they want to do is plug the car into their diagnostics machine which is what the service dept chaps idea of sourcing the problem or simply tell you what the problem is, but you know that...
By the sound of it your problem is with the crude mechanics of the car, not the engine/gearbox.
It is quite normal for dealers to charge an hours labour for such tests, but £100 does seem over the top.
I would strongly suggest taking the car to your local BMW specialists. I was charged £35 for a diagnostics test there which identified a fault. bearing in mind this is not service work so your service history book is all still stamped up main dealer, you will still have an invoice with 'BMW' marked up all over it you will not affeft the value of the car whatsoever.
I dont have much faith at all in the dealers, the most I would ever have done there is the absolute MINIMUM such as the service to have the booked stamped. Everything else (repair work etc) I would have done at a specialist. Half the labour costs and much more attention to detail.
Dont get too frustrated with the dealers, write a letter if you want but dont expect anythuing in returm but be happy in the knowledge that nearly all main MD of all companys are like this and that there is a wayout - probably an ex-employee who now works a mile down the road who can do EXACTLY the same work for cheaper.
By the sound of it your problem is with the crude mechanics of the car, not the engine/gearbox.
It is quite normal for dealers to charge an hours labour for such tests, but £100 does seem over the top.
I would strongly suggest taking the car to your local BMW specialists. I was charged £35 for a diagnostics test there which identified a fault. bearing in mind this is not service work so your service history book is all still stamped up main dealer, you will still have an invoice with 'BMW' marked up all over it you will not affeft the value of the car whatsoever.
I dont have much faith at all in the dealers, the most I would ever have done there is the absolute MINIMUM such as the service to have the booked stamped. Everything else (repair work etc) I would have done at a specialist. Half the labour costs and much more attention to detail.
Dont get too frustrated with the dealers, write a letter if you want but dont expect anythuing in returm but be happy in the knowledge that nearly all main MD of all companys are like this and that there is a wayout - probably an ex-employee who now works a mile down the road who can do EXACTLY the same work for cheaper.
Edited by Neil.D on Thursday 10th April 10:45
X5 ummm !
Had a conversation down the pub withe some mates, some of whom have owned X5's.
Definately the X5 is the new Suzuki Vittara and absolutely a hair-dressers car.
A but like messing about wtih animals. feels just like the real thing with the lights off, but you wouldn;t want to be caught doing it - same as driving an X5
Oh dear ! never mind you can aways put lifts into your shoes.
Had a conversation down the pub withe some mates, some of whom have owned X5's.
Definately the X5 is the new Suzuki Vittara and absolutely a hair-dressers car.
A but like messing about wtih animals. feels just like the real thing with the lights off, but you wouldn;t want to be caught doing it - same as driving an X5
Oh dear ! never mind you can aways put lifts into your shoes.
Neil: All noted with thanks: I'm going to get these two problems fixed by the MD, having another pop at them about this minimum bill approach en route; then if no joy, then I'll explore the 'specialist independent route'. As you say, my issue is with them, not the car; have had it from new, now four years old and other than these two glitches, it has performed brilliantly; still achieves near 30mpg towing a very big trailer (with a racing car plus all its kit inside it) with barely any reduction in performance.
And I have no interest whatsoever in what some internet nerd (and/or his pub mates) think about anything! I for one can do without that sort of meaningless b
hy twaddle on Pistonheads / any of it's Forums.
And I have no interest whatsoever in what some internet nerd (and/or his pub mates) think about anything! I for one can do without that sort of meaningless b
hy twaddle on Pistonheads / any of it's Forums. The phone charging sounds like a break in the loom that runs from the cradle unit or if you are lucky the loom is tight and just pulling the contacts off in the down position, they will probably need to take the centre console out to access and check the wiring which is over an hours work.
The diagnosis charge is perfectly normal even for cars within warranty, it is to cover the dealer for time if the fault proves not to be a warranty item and subsequently the customer wants to take the vehicle away for repair elsewhere, if it is warranty the customer is not charged.
It is not unreasonable to not want to diagnose jobs for free to assist the competition
I can give you examples a customer with a one series came in with a rattle from under his seat, really kicked off in reception and refused to pay anything as it was under warranty, our new receptionist took it on anyway and after testing it we found two live shotgun cartridges inside the airvent under the seat rolling around.
Another was a battery drain which turned out to be a non standard tracker device fitted after sale.
All that said our dealer only charge half hour initial diagnosis, which in reality will usually get you an hour of the Technicians time.
The diagnosis charge is perfectly normal even for cars within warranty, it is to cover the dealer for time if the fault proves not to be a warranty item and subsequently the customer wants to take the vehicle away for repair elsewhere, if it is warranty the customer is not charged.
It is not unreasonable to not want to diagnose jobs for free to assist the competition
I can give you examples a customer with a one series came in with a rattle from under his seat, really kicked off in reception and refused to pay anything as it was under warranty, our new receptionist took it on anyway and after testing it we found two live shotgun cartridges inside the airvent under the seat rolling around.
Another was a battery drain which turned out to be a non standard tracker device fitted after sale.
All that said our dealer only charge half hour initial diagnosis, which in reality will usually get you an hour of the Technicians time.
Things have gone from bad to worse!
It went in to and back from the Dealer today:
Problem 1 (just one of the four horn push positions not working) not resolved; says on invoice "suspect airbag weak and not pushing horn contact". Worrying that the airbag might 'fire' accidentally and/or that it might 'not fire' if I had an accident, I asked what this meant; words to the effect "oh there's nothing wrong with the airbag, but the contact comes with and is only available with the airbag as a complete assembly and it'll cost £543 - I think that about what she said, because frankly I was in a complete state of shock. Madness
Problem 2 (the phone charging only when it's carrier lid is in the open position) also not resolved; says on invoice "removed wiring covers and suspect loom faulty in hinge"; they have contacted BMW to find out whether there is that part of the loom available, as all they can find on their parts system is wait for it..........a whole new wiring loom!!!!!!!!...........they are coming back to me on that.........the price doesn't even bear thinking about. Madness
The car was returned with a completely new problem; the invoice says; "investigated radio cuts in and out carried out battery reset and retested, cut out again suspect radio unit faulty". I am livid; I reported no such problem and in the just over four years from new, I have never had such a problem and that includes yesterday when we went out and played the radio en route. I drove the car home tonight (after they dropped it off at my office about 4.00pm) and I have no sound at all.........not on the radio, not on the CD and not on the Sat Nav! Madness
Will be phoning them first thing tomorrow morning. I am utterly appalled and in a state of shock - an unbelievable situation for a well looked after, always serviced by them, one owner from new four year old 'premium car' with barely 35,000 miles on the clock. Goes in with two simply annoying problems, comes out with three, two of them apparently whoppers.
If, contrary to my previous experiences over 15 years with BMW products, this is now par for the course with BMW products nowadays, then for sure, this will be my last one ever, be it a four or two wheeled BMW or Minis.
It went in to and back from the Dealer today:
Problem 1 (just one of the four horn push positions not working) not resolved; says on invoice "suspect airbag weak and not pushing horn contact". Worrying that the airbag might 'fire' accidentally and/or that it might 'not fire' if I had an accident, I asked what this meant; words to the effect "oh there's nothing wrong with the airbag, but the contact comes with and is only available with the airbag as a complete assembly and it'll cost £543 - I think that about what she said, because frankly I was in a complete state of shock. Madness
Problem 2 (the phone charging only when it's carrier lid is in the open position) also not resolved; says on invoice "removed wiring covers and suspect loom faulty in hinge"; they have contacted BMW to find out whether there is that part of the loom available, as all they can find on their parts system is wait for it..........a whole new wiring loom!!!!!!!!...........they are coming back to me on that.........the price doesn't even bear thinking about. Madness
The car was returned with a completely new problem; the invoice says; "investigated radio cuts in and out carried out battery reset and retested, cut out again suspect radio unit faulty". I am livid; I reported no such problem and in the just over four years from new, I have never had such a problem and that includes yesterday when we went out and played the radio en route. I drove the car home tonight (after they dropped it off at my office about 4.00pm) and I have no sound at all.........not on the radio, not on the CD and not on the Sat Nav! Madness
Will be phoning them first thing tomorrow morning. I am utterly appalled and in a state of shock - an unbelievable situation for a well looked after, always serviced by them, one owner from new four year old 'premium car' with barely 35,000 miles on the clock. Goes in with two simply annoying problems, comes out with three, two of them apparently whoppers.
If, contrary to my previous experiences over 15 years with BMW products, this is now par for the course with BMW products nowadays, then for sure, this will be my last one ever, be it a four or two wheeled BMW or Minis.
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