IN MAY 2007, I PURCHASED A NEW BMW 2007 X5 4.8 VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED "HIGH BATTERY DRAINAGE" WARNINGS AT LEAST 12 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW A HISTORY OF THIS MESSAGE AND IT DOES NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. THE CAR ENGINE ALSO FAILS TO START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS- THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND AIR TURN ON, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 12 TIMES SINCE 11/2007 AS WELL- BUT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE "HIGH BATTERY DRAINAGE" WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP FAILS TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE STARTING WHEN I TAKE THE CAR IN. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) STAYS LOCKED IN ONE GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVS UP WHILE DRIVING, FAILING TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNLESS THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL OR PUSHES THE GAS PEDDLE TO "THROW IT" INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT WOULD ALSO LURCH ON INCLINES, BUT STOPPED EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM (PERHAPS COINCIDENTALLY) WHEN I REMOVED MY CELLPHONE FROM THE CAR'S BLUETOOTH/HANDS-FREE SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN SAID THAT IT COULD NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. BMW USA IS NO HELP EITHER, SINCE THEY RELY ON THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPORT ISSUES TO THEM. IF THE LOCAL DEALERS AREN'T REPORTING THE ISSUES THAT OWNERS EXPERIENCE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND AN ANSWER, THEN NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2007 X5 OWNERS FOR THE SAME ISSUES ON WEBSITES SUCH AS EDMUNDS.COM AND OWNERS LOCALLY WHERE I LIVE. PLEASE ASSIST US, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME CLEAR THAT WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR RECOURSE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIPS. BELOW IS THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR
2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FUEL MILEAGE AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILES. IN TOWN RANGE DROPPED BY 40% TO 7.8 MPG OVER THE SAME ROUTE, INDEPENDENT OF GASOLINE SOURCE OR GRADE. EXHAUST GASES ARE VERY HOT AND EXHIBIT A PRONOUNCED SULFURIC, GUNPOWDER LIKE SMELL. ELECTRICAL FANS CONSTANTLY ON DURING CITY DRIVING ATTEMPTING TO COOL THE ENGINE. EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP ON EXHAUST COMPONENTS. ENGINE EXHIBITING RICH RUNNING CONDITION. A PERSISTENT MECHANICAL ENGINE WHINE DEVELOPED EMANATING FROM THE OIL PUMP, POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PEAKING AT 1700-1900 RPM UNDER LOAD. AT 1,200 MILES, THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED ERRATIC SHIFT BEHAVIOR BETWEEN 1ST-3RD GEARS. AT FAIRLY CONSTANT SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR, ALTERNATING UP SHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WITHOUT ESTABLISHING PROPER GEAR. COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE SURGES REVOLUTIONS BY UP TO 500 RPM ON THE 3-2 DOWNSHIFT AND UP TO 800 RPM ON THE 2-1 DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING A SUDDEN AND ABRUPT HALT, ENGINE BRAKING EFFECT. BEHAVIOR IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN STANDARD D TRANSMISSION MODE, MINIMIZED IN DS MODE AND COMPLETELY ABSENT IN MANUAL MODE WITH AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT. AT 2,200 MILES, GUNPOWDER LIKE EXHAUST GAS SMELL MORE PRONOUNCED AND EVIDENT WHILE AVERAGE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TO 6.4 MPG OVER THE SAME COURSE. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS OF FAILING TO UP SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR FOLLOWED BY A MECHANICAL CLUNK AND SHARP JOLT AFTER FINALLY GETTING IN GEAR. VEHICLE DOES NOT EXHIBIT ANY STORED OR ACTIVE FAULT CODES WITHIN THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
