Here is my experience. The vehicle was maintained regularly without skipping services. At no time did i know or were advised by BMW that Transmission oil needs to be replaced around 90-100K km (R12K). Nor was I aware that the motor would accumulate carbon requiring a decarbonisation process (R12.5K). With 150K on the clock it is a good idea to also use a very good quality engine oil i.e. Liquid Moli plus an additive (R2700). The usual oil the dealer uses is cheap and not adequate. We also cleaned the injectors (R5000K).
They also suggested a DPF clean (R5000). They also found an oil leak and a couple of the small issues which they supposedly fixed.
I discovered this info when looking around for a garage to map my car and the garage I approached vehimently disuaded me from doing this and suggested to rather do a decarbon process +++ which all made sense to me and I went for that.
Once this was completed the dash showed an issue with the mas air flow sensor which they then replaced with an after market part, not OEM (Never use after market sensors as they generally do not work), this one did fail. but not immediately. Then suddenly the turbos were blowing oil. So we had them overhauled (R40K).
Then suddenly the EGR and cooler were not working. BMW had a recall on these because they had latent defects. I am trying to get the original garage to get a refund for me from BMW, the cost was (R15.5K). Then the exhaust sensor failed (R1.7K). Then the elect valve need replacing (1K).
After all of this they could not get rid of fault codes and proceeded to remove the DPF which was still blocked despite their cleaning it and install a down pipe with coding (R14K). Yet this still did not fix the car and it was blowing smoke and fault codes remained etc.
They had the car for 3 months. It cost me R160K and they then resigned and referred me to another garage.
I did call that garage but after chatting to the owner did not feel he understood this X5 because he had never had one with these type of problems.
I searched and was referred to Xcede performance who a member of this group suggested was the only person in Cape Town who would get to the bottom of the issues and actually fix the vehicle.
Enter Ashley from Xcede. This was the most unconventional workshop I have encountered. I say this for a number of reasons but primarily because they did no charge me for all the man hours it took them to identify all the problems the car had. Having said this they did learn a great deal in their unwavering quest to sort the car out for which I am very grateful. This will now prepare them for the next X5 like mine and i am sure solve the problems much quicker. It took them approx 70 days to fix.
I must say that under these circumstances you have to give the mechanics latitude and as much time as they are willing to throw at the problem in order to trouble shoot and test the car so they can solve the problem. Xcede landed up redoing a couple of things the previous people messed up and a few new parts such as a turbo pressure sensor.
A car of this age would not be economical to fix at a dealership because all they do is replace everything new and even then do not speak of transmission oil changes because the dealer guide says it lasts a lifetime. But that's because BMW planed obsolescence for the car is 100K km. So when the transmission packs up which it surely will, the dealer make you buy a new one.
Be aware that when you add a down pipe and eliminate the DPF, the car emits a lot of toxic gases like a big truck, its not pleasant, but the power is awesome. I drive with the fan recycle butt on on around town.
Now I can't say how long these fixes will last because its been a roller coaster ride for six months. What I do know is that I wish I knew about Asley at Xcede performance. It would have save me a lot of cash and time.
My experience shows that a car of this age can be a moving cash target requiring perpetual spending to replace aging parts. Its also necessary to work with a garage that has experience in working on a similar model vehicles because they are familiar with which parts fail and the remedies thereto.
I will keep the car for now because a car with 400 hp costs R1,5 m plus.
I hope my experience will educate you in the ways of the lovely X5 and prepare you for the fateful day of red dash lights and limp modes.
Peace to you all and happy driving experiences in your beamer's.
They also suggested a DPF clean (R5000). They also found an oil leak and a couple of the small issues which they supposedly fixed.
I discovered this info when looking around for a garage to map my car and the garage I approached vehimently disuaded me from doing this and suggested to rather do a decarbon process +++ which all made sense to me and I went for that.
Once this was completed the dash showed an issue with the mas air flow sensor which they then replaced with an after market part, not OEM (Never use after market sensors as they generally do not work), this one did fail. but not immediately. Then suddenly the turbos were blowing oil. So we had them overhauled (R40K).
Then suddenly the EGR and cooler were not working. BMW had a recall on these because they had latent defects. I am trying to get the original garage to get a refund for me from BMW, the cost was (R15.5K). Then the exhaust sensor failed (R1.7K). Then the elect valve need replacing (1K).
After all of this they could not get rid of fault codes and proceeded to remove the DPF which was still blocked despite their cleaning it and install a down pipe with coding (R14K). Yet this still did not fix the car and it was blowing smoke and fault codes remained etc.
They had the car for 3 months. It cost me R160K and they then resigned and referred me to another garage.
I did call that garage but after chatting to the owner did not feel he understood this X5 because he had never had one with these type of problems.
I searched and was referred to Xcede performance who a member of this group suggested was the only person in Cape Town who would get to the bottom of the issues and actually fix the vehicle.
Enter Ashley from Xcede. This was the most unconventional workshop I have encountered. I say this for a number of reasons but primarily because they did no charge me for all the man hours it took them to identify all the problems the car had. Having said this they did learn a great deal in their unwavering quest to sort the car out for which I am very grateful. This will now prepare them for the next X5 like mine and i am sure solve the problems much quicker. It took them approx 70 days to fix.
I must say that under these circumstances you have to give the mechanics latitude and as much time as they are willing to throw at the problem in order to trouble shoot and test the car so they can solve the problem. Xcede landed up redoing a couple of things the previous people messed up and a few new parts such as a turbo pressure sensor.
A car of this age would not be economical to fix at a dealership because all they do is replace everything new and even then do not speak of transmission oil changes because the dealer guide says it lasts a lifetime. But that's because BMW planed obsolescence for the car is 100K km. So when the transmission packs up which it surely will, the dealer make you buy a new one.
Be aware that when you add a down pipe and eliminate the DPF, the car emits a lot of toxic gases like a big truck, its not pleasant, but the power is awesome. I drive with the fan recycle butt on on around town.
Now I can't say how long these fixes will last because its been a roller coaster ride for six months. What I do know is that I wish I knew about Asley at Xcede performance. It would have save me a lot of cash and time.
My experience shows that a car of this age can be a moving cash target requiring perpetual spending to replace aging parts. Its also necessary to work with a garage that has experience in working on a similar model vehicles because they are familiar with which parts fail and the remedies thereto.
I will keep the car for now because a car with 400 hp costs R1,5 m plus.
I hope my experience will educate you in the ways of the lovely X5 and prepare you for the fateful day of red dash lights and limp modes.
Peace to you all and happy driving experiences in your beamer's.
