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.
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.
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.
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.
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.