2011 BMW X5 BMW X5 2011

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2011 BMW X5 repairs by problem area

Engine (51%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (7%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (24%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)

Other (1%)

Chart based on 201 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2011 BMW X5.

2011 BMW X5 engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (11%)

$500 - $999 (8%)

$100 - $499 (11%)

< $100 (67%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 83 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2011 BMW X5

Engine not specified

42000 mi Turbos leaking oil, causing oily smell in the cabin 
43200 mi Turbos were not leaking, it was actually two leaking PCV lines. Both were fixed and the smell has been abated. 

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2011 BMW X5 4dr SUV

turbocharged 555hp 4.4L V8 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

79540 mi

US $3000
Cooling system expansion tank, coolant lines, auxiliary turbocharger cooling pump 

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2011 BMW X5 4dr SUV

turbocharged 400hp 4.4L V8 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD

61800 mi

US $400
Auxiliary Water Pump for the twin-turbo's failed. 
93000 mi

US $2230
Engine turbos burning excessive amounts of oil and leaking coolant. Coolant lines replaced, turbo drain plug leaking but turbos are also faulty. turbos not replaced. 
95000 mi Coolant line burst. 
98000 mi

US $250
Spark Plug #8 failed. Replaced all 8 spark plugs. 
32500 mi oil level sensor 
38000 mi Local BMW dealer is monitoring the oil consumption by writing down the mileage whenever the low oil-level warning lights up and requires me to add more oil. Currently, 2 quarts of oil every 3,000 miles. Per BMW, this is within normal tolerance.  
47000 mi failed fuel injectors, replaced fuel injectors (8) and spark plugs (8) 
29000 mi N63 engine campaign 
99200 mi

C $5867
Vale seals, all gaskets, oil change 
63000 mi

US $1300
Needed all new fuel injectors and spark plugs. Originally they want 4500 dollars but me picked up 85 pct goodwill 
69000 mi 35d, diesel ran great til just out or warranty. I have had 6 CEL warnings in 13 months. Had to trade it in. 
48000 mi minor small leak in a vacuum pump that was covered under my warranty and would be covered by CPO 
50200 mi

US $50
Ignition coil was bad, replaced under cpo warranty 
54100 mi

US $50
Service bulletin for this engine was performed and a number of oil leaks were fixed as well. 
57000 mi

US $50
Another oil leak, this time from around the turbos 

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2011 BMW X5 4dr SUV

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD

78000 mi

US $400
Turbo actuator. The same problem over and over. Every few weeks i have a some issues with turbo engine reduced power. Out of warranty. 
58700 mi

US $50
Water pump seized 
63300 mi

US $50
Turbo vacuum line was cracked and boost reduced. 
65800 mi

US $50
Turbo vacuum line was cracked (different line than previous repair). Reduced boost was observed. 
93000 mi Accessories belt tensioner 
105000 mi

US $140
Misfires, couldn’t be replicated. 
75000 mi

US $1300
Water pump and thermostat replacement. Dealer identified an oil leak around valve cover, oil leak around filter mount, and a bush rod cover leaking. 
49000 mi Turbo was leaking. Dealer replaced the entire turbo. 
10000 mi Burning a bit of oil. Topped off, told to watch for anything further. Suspect some blow-by as direct injected 
78000 mi Turbo blown. Covered under good will by dealer. 
59000 mi

US $857
Oil cooler seal and intake manifold gasket failure. Mechanics states caused by longer periods of time between oil changes. Seals dried, compressed and failed to sustain standard oil pressure. to prevent, change oil every 6k mi instead of 10k 
71300 mi

US $1300
Complete replacement of water pump, radiator, and hoses 
80000 mi

US $600
Replaced water pump 
98000 mi

US $700
oil leak from oil filter housing.  Now shop says oil leaks coming from transmission pan gasket and oil pressure sensor. 
76000 mi

US $1138
replace oil cooler seals, valvetronic wiring harness, intake manifold gaskets 
74000 mi The coolant expansion tank cracked while driving. Overheated & had to be towed. The length of time that it was hot must have fried the water pump as well as BMW replaced that as well. 
22940 mi fuel pump failure 
80000 mi

US $175
Car would rev on startup 4 to 7 times. Only after engine was warm but not hot. They updated the engine software and problem was gone. 
85700 mi

US $550
Water pump going bad. Engine will overheat. 
106000 mi

US $7
Oil cooler gasket was leaking. 
55100 mi Engine light came on indication a problem with the engine and that the car was operating at reduced power. It was discovered by the dealer that during a previous service a vacuum hose was inadvertently cut. The hose was repaired. 
56300 mi The dealer had damaged a vacuum hose during a previous service. Instead of replacing the part, they attempted to repair a cheap hose, which did not hold. This hose had to be replaced on this visit. 
59100 mi

US $1400
Water pump failed and required replacement 
63000 mi Oil leak around the oil filter. 
25000 mi Fuel Filler Vent System 
22300 mi While in motion, X5 lost Drive mode, and will not come out of Neutral until turning engine off and on again + check engine light came on. Dealer left oil cap loose while refilling, oil spilled all over the engine and driveway. 
44000 mi Two bolts broke at the VANOS and cramshaft area. The X5 stopped running at a stop light. Because it's a 4 wheel drive and the electronic park that got engaged, special tow dollie wheels needed to be used. Dealer didn't want to pay for tow. 

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2011 BMW X5 4dr SUV

turbocharged 265hp 3.0L I6 Diesel 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

11700 mi engine light went on, recall, software upgrade 
21200 mi egr valve failed 
12000 mi egr valve failed 
64000 mi

US $182
Cooling system is like the old days--no clear expansion tank, etc. When the alert system says you are low on coolant, you are dangerously below minimum. Discovered this in the middle of nowhere. Partially filled system with well water and the closest anti-freeze I could find. Had the system flushed and correct coolant/water combo filled. Thought coolant system was checked whenever car was in shop (BMW 21-point check), but found out the hard way it was not. 
64946 mi Faulty glow plug (diesel) - cylinder 4. Engine fault light announced the problem. Replaced diesel glow plug control unit. Check engine light indicated problem. Diagnostic indicated the #4 plug had failed (replaced 5/3). Further inspection discovered fault in the control unit itself. 
70200 mi Exhaust Gas Recirculator cooling unit failure. CEL indicated problem. Flap function test indicated improper flap movement. Dealer covered cost as warranty had expired only 2 weeks prior to service. 
74000 mi

US $550
Mouse chewed an oxygen sensor in turbo. 
6200 mi Air Charge sensor replaced 
19220 mi Dealer replaced EGR Valve and reprogrammed ECM 
87000 mi

US $2700
Def tank 
91000 mi Replacement of second def tank due to sensor failure. 
102000 mi Emmission. DEF sensor failure. Repaired under warranty. 
124000 mi

US $550
Oil leak to turbo. 
126000 mi

US $1700
Throttle body replacement 
15280 mi

C $1191
Had to replace glow plug module and all 6 glow plugs. 
Service engine light was on-need to replace faulty sensor for emission control. Is scheduled to go in next week after ordering part. This will be third visit to identify and hopefully fix the problem. 
72000 mi

US $900
catalytic converter and exhaust 
76700 mi Mass air flow malfunction 
85700 mi Turbo leaking oil 
90000 mi

US $135
Loss of power warning. Dealer had to perform a software update/upgrade. 
20400 mi Diesel - Check engine light; intake airflow sensor was replaced under warranty. 
126000 mi

US $700
Engine temperature was operating lower than specification. Replaced thermostat and water pump. 
11000 mi Egr Cooler was cracked and replaced 
15000 mi replaced CATs and EGR valves. Replaced hoses to intercooler. Two recalls were resovled. Car was leaking oil when brought in. 
22000 mi emission system problem. Dealer replaced the DEF tank and pump. 
53000 mi Check Engine Light came on. Dealer scanned and diagnosed problem as pre-cat NOx sensor. Since California has a 7 year/70,000 miles emissions warranty, all costs were waived. 
44000 mi Check engine light and vehicle goes into "limp mode" (decreased engine power). Codes P1729 and P3160. Cause was internally shorted fuel injector on cylinder #5. BMW Part #13537808089. Covered under 7-yr./70,000-mile emissions warranty. 
56000 mi DEF temp sensor failed. Replaced under a "good will" program since it was just came out of warranty. 
59000 mi

US $2350
EGR Valve failed and needed to be replaced. 
24700 mi Extreme cold operating temperatures (Below zero Fahrenheit for 10+ days) caused low EGR flow reading and orange CEL that does not self-clear. System checked, code cleared by dealer. On the plus side, diesel started easily in cold weather. 
36000 mi Upper radiator hose burst resulting in coolant loss. 
55400 mi

US $50
Emissions check engine light activated. Diagnostic flow chart showed first step is to "reset adaptations". No parts, just programming and diagnostics. Emissions light returned again within hours of leaving dealership with truck. Emissions error code second trip - Replaced Exhaust Cooler and Exhaust Cooler temperature sensor. Emissions light returned while driving X5 back to work after leaving dealer, see next repair trip for resolution. 
56000 mi Third trip for emissions system troubles. Replaced EGR throttle valve assembly. 
59000 mi

US $50
"Charge Air Pressure Sensor" failed and needed to be replaced. Car was diagnosed and could have been fixed on this trip if part were available. Car drivable, picked it up, drove it home and brought it back to dealer again next day. "Charge Air Pressure Sensor" that was diagnosed as having failed on prior repair visit (and ordered on prior repair visit) arrived at dealer and was installed. 
65000 mi

US $50
Temperature sensor inside Diesel Exhaust Fluid active tank giving anomalous readings. Repair is to replace active tank, a $1,000+ part that'll take 5 hours to R&R. Part not in stock, ordered, will have to return to repair. Diesel Exhaust Fluid active tank arrived and dealer installed it. Final straw, I no longer trust this car to be a long time keeper. I traded it in on an i3 lease. 
42160 mi Bolt fell out of idler pulley for serpentine belt. Sould have been a recall notice sent but we were missed and it broke. 
12900 mi Emission related 
13300 mi Diesel related problem, a bad EGR valve. It just took them a few tries as there is more than one but the codes do not differentiate. 
75000 mi

US $400
One morning car went into limp mode. P0401, P0101, P0069, P0299. Dealer performed smoke test and found leaks in crankcase breather hose, breather hose heater and turbo boost sensor. Only boost sensor was covered by NCA warranty. 
83000 mi

US $150
Engine light came on, dealer diagnosis was upstream NOx sensor, but advised it could also be downstream but wouldn't know until upstream replaced. Also stated could be catalyst. No repair performed, engine light did not return during the last six weeks I had the car... 
10400 mi Engine light on. Mechanic found mouse nest under air cleaner cowling. Changed sensor. Inspected wiring for damage. Did scheduled maintenance. Problem resolved. 
17980 mi Problem still not resolved. BMW must develop a fix. This is an issue with all X5 diesels. They will call when they figure it out!! 
21700 mi EGR Valve. Something relating to an IB issue. Not a recall but a common issue. 
33340 mi EGR replacement. Regular scheduled maintenance. 
40300 mi Engine light on. Exhaust system sensor. 
40300 mi Engine light back on. Same problem with sensor in exhaust. Time to replace car. Done. 
38000 mi Check Engine Light --> SCR Delivery Module failed and replaced. Check Engine Light --> EGR module failed and replaced. 
60000 mi Faulty oxygen sensor warning light (check engine) 
77500 mi

US $1071
Diesel emissions warning "incorrect DEF". Front and rear NOX sensors faulty; diesel exhaust fluid metering valve faulty. Repaired and replaced. BMW provided "good will" covering 35 percent of cost. Net cost actually paid reported. 
20700 mi Oil Change. Exhaust smell in vehicle. 
26300 mi Exhaust smell in vehicle. Area surrounding turbo has turned black from soot. BMW says this in "normal". Vehicle inspection. 

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2011 BMW X5 Engine Problems

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