New to BMW Ownership - Bought an X5

[MrJayhawk]

Bimmerfest.com and bimmerpost.com for discussion. I have F15 so cant really help on mechanics other than if you intend to keep car, do not skimp/skip on maintenance. These are not Toyota/Hondas where you just change oil and gas it up. You might get by doing so, but if you get unlucky your wallet will suffer the consequences.

 

[MCompact]

I'd suggest joining BMW CCA; many dealers and indie shops offer club discounts. If you have a dealer that you trust you should get a BMW MasterCard; you earn points that can be used to pay for parts and service.

 

[edyvw]

Okay, two more questions for all of the BMW owners here on BITOG. Particularly those that may have experience with the G05 platform, or newer BMW models.

I bought an extended warranty with my X5. But after reading through all the exclusions in the warranty contract, and after also reading so many positive comments about reliability of the B58 engine and ZF 8HP transmission, I'm starting to doubt if there is any value in keeping the warranty. It has a 30 day cancellation clause, allowing me to get a 100% refund.

Two systems on the car that I am concerned about, is the air suspension and all the electronics on the car. I have heard that both can be very expensive to repair. Are my concerns sound? Or no?

Second, I'd like to join a BMW discussion forum. Have any of you found any site that you are particularly impressed with the knowledge and helpfulness of the members there? Any sites I should avoid? I don't want to join a site that is a bunch of BMW chest pounding fan boys, but rather one where I can find real advice and experience, that will help me care for my X5.

please, I'm not interested in hearing from those of you who have a second cousin twice removed, that was the fourth owner of a BMW back in the '90's. Just those that are actually close enough to a newer model BMW, particularly a G05, to be intimately knowledgeable about it's reliability, or lack thereof.

Bimmerpost (better) and bimmerfest.
Don’t skip on preventive maintenance.
At 100k replace every possible coolant hose and both coolant reservoirs.
Replace before that coolant flange with aluminum one.
your rear airbags will die. They die on all cars and actually BMW here is one of the better ones. Lexus has big issues with those. So, no company is spared. Arnott makes aftermarket ones that are cheaper. Not sure what they offer for G05.
Depending how long is your warranty. If warranty is higher than 100k, I would keep it bcs. air suspension.

 

[BHopkins]

Bimmerfest.com and bimmerpost.com for discussion. I have F15 so cant really help on mechanics other than if you intend to keep car, do not skimp/skip on maintenance. These are not Toyota/Hondas where you just change oil and gas it up. You might get by doing so, but if you get unlucky your wallet will suffer the consequences.

Bimmerpost (better) and bimmerfest.
Don’t skip on preventive maintenance.
At 100k replace every possible coolant hose and both coolant reservoirs.
Replace before that coolant flange with aluminum one.
your rear airbags will die. They die on all cars and actually BMW here is one of the better ones. Lexus has big issues with those. So, no company is spared. Arnott makes aftermarket ones that are cheaper. Not sure what they offer for G05.
Depending how long is your warranty. If warranty is higher than 100k, I would keep it bcs. air suspension.

Absolutely agree that doing all preventative maintenance on time, and then some, makes all the difference on the reliability of, not only BMW cars, but most all European cars. I'm a big believer in that.

The extended warranty is 4 year/75k miles. I bought the X5 with 32k miles on it, so the warranty could cover me out to 107k miles, but based upon our driving style, it will likely have less than 80k miles on it, at the end of the warranty.

I appreciate the advice re. the air suspension.