2007 BMW X5 Electrical System Problems

2007 X5 4.8 WITH PANORAMIC SUNROOF, SUNROOF TRAY OVERFLOWS AND LEAKS INTO INTERIOR ELECTRICAL, AIRBAGS, AND CARPET DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN/ASSEMBLY (BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND IN MOTION). SUNROOF DRAINS BOTH FRONT AND REAR HAVE DRAIN TUBES WHICH ARE PRONE TO KINK AND BACK UP WATER INTO THE SUNROOF TRAY, WHICH THEN SPILLS OVER ONTO THE TOPSIDE OF THE HEADLINER AND FROM THERE ONTO JUST ABOUT EVERY ELECTRONIC ITEM IN THE CAR INCLUDING AIR BAGS AND CONTROLLERS, LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND ELECTRICAL BOXES ON THE FLOOR AND TRUNK AREA. SOME HAVE REPORTED ARCS AND CAR FIRES DUE TO THE WATER DAMAGE; BMW SAYS IT IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ALTHOUGH HAS ZERO LISTED FOR SUNROOF MAINTENANCE, AND NO AMOUNT OF CLEANING IS GOING TO FIX THE SUNROOF DRAIN LINES THAT I FOUND TWISTED...LIKELY BEEN THAT WAY SINCE INITIAL ASSEMBLY, BUT ROUTING DOWN INSIDE THE APILLARS MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO TRY TO FIX IT, MUCH LESS SEE IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS DEFECT HASN'T INVOLVED NHTSA RECALL SINCE IT CAN VERY EASILY LEAD TO AN IN-USE ELECTRICAL FIRE AT WORST, OR AT BEST FAILURE OF AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED DUE TO WATER/CORROSION ISSUES, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FOR EACH OCCURRENCE.

MY ALARM GOES OFF WITH THE CAR RUNNING, GOES OFF IF I HIT THE LOCK BUTTON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF I HAVE TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY AND IT STILL GOES OF WITH NO POWER CONNECTION STAYS ON ABOUT 15MIN BEFORE IT COMPLETELY DIES AFTER POWER CONNECTION IS BACK IT GOES OFF AGAIN AND IS DRAINING BRAND NEW BATTERY

WATER LEAKING IN FRONT RIGHT FLOOR BOARD CAUSE SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ALSO LEAKING IN REAR AT BATTERY AREA. DEALER HAS ADVISED THIS ALSO CAUSED THE SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. IF BMW HAS BEEN SUED BECAUSE OF SUN ROOFS LEAKING BEFORE. MY CAR DIED IN A RAIN STORM AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSING GREAT DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. AND STOP ACTING LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.

2007 BMW X5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RIGHT REAR BREAK BULB MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN, DISPLAYING MULTIPLE WARNING DASHBOARD MESSAGES. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BY FLATBED AS IT WAS LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN HE COULDN'T STOP AND ALSO, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CALLED AND THERE'S SO RECALL IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE DIED

I'M GETTING WARNING LIGHTS ON MY DASH STATING MY TAILLIGHTS ARE OUT. I CHECKED BOTH TAILLIGHTS AND THE HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE BULBS ARE MELTED THROUGH. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE BULBS TO OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. THIS HAPPENS IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE TAILLIGHTS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SOME TYPE OF CODING OR RESISTER WILL NEED TO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THEM FROM OVERHEATING AGAIN

BMW WENT TO NORTH HAVEN CT DEALER FOR RECALLS SUCH AS PASSENGER AIR BAG HOWEVER THEY DIDN'T COMPLETE I AM VERY UPSET AS I HAVE A TEENAGER WHOM WILL BE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT . I WANT TO ESCALATE

I HAVE DISCOVERED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 X5. I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, I NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK OF MY CAR WAS FILLED WITH WATER. I REMOVED 3.5 GALLONS OF WATER. I WENT TO START THE CAR BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE BATTERY AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS BEING COVERED IN THAT MUCH WATER, IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. ONCE I HAD REMOVED THE WATER AND LET IT DRY OUT I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. WHEN I GOT IT TO START, THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, 4X4 LIGHTS ALL LIT UP AMONGST SOME OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH IT IN THE GARAGE. THE CAR IS STUCK IN A LIMP MODE/SAFE MODE. AFTER I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR BMW'S. I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A US DISTRICT COURT RULING AGAINST THIS ISSUE AND THAT BMW 5 SERIES CARS BETWEEN 2004-2010 WERE COVERED IN A RECALL. THE RECALL IS DUE TO FAULTY WATER DRAIN TUBES COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AND WHEN THEY GET CLOGGED THE WATER DRAINS INTO THE TRUNK WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED AMONGST OTHER IMPORTANT ELECTRONIC ELEMENTS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AS WELL AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ALTHOUGH THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME AS THE RECALL PERTAINS ONLY TO THE 5 SERIES VEHICLES. IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SPECIFIES ONLY 5 SERIES CARS THEY CAN USE THAT AS A LOOPHOLE AND LEAVE OTHERS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.

VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AND ACCELERATING SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING MAINLY IN THE CITY I COULD B TURNING OR DRIVING STRAIGHT AND SHUTS OFF AND TAKES AWHILE TO RESTART...ELECTRICAL WIRING KEEPS SHORTING OUT SUNROOF SHORTS OUT AND TAIL LIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT...I TOOK IT TO DEALER PAID $5000 AND SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER THE GAS CAP IS OPENED WHEN RE-FUELING AND A NOTICEABLE BURNT SMELL IS NOTICED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP SERVICING BMW NEAR ME. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS ATTACHED. I INCURRED ABOUT $2230 IN REPAIR CHARGES. FROM THEN ON, THE PROBLEM HASN'T RE-OCCURED.

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOR WORKING PROPERLY. UNABLE TO SET TIME AND DATE SERVICE SCHEDULE ETC. SOFTWARE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEFINITELY HAS DEFLECTS. CD IS NOT WORKING TOO. THESE PROBLEMS OCCYRS TWO YEARS AGO AND STILL REMAIN. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER DRAINED INTO THE MODULE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIO AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUIT FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DRAINING SYSTEM IN THE REAR SUN ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, THAT WATER COULD ENTER THE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE MODULES WERE LOCATED, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, A VEHICLE STALL, OR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

IT WAS THE NIGHT OF INDEPENDENCE DAY 2012, IT HAD RAINED MODERATELY HARD EARLIER IN THE DAY. WHEN I STARTED MY 2007 BMW X5 3.0SI TO DRIVE HOME, I WAS GREETED WITH A BUNCH OF WARNINGS AND ERRORS ON BOTH MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NAVIGATION DISPLAY. THE MOST MAJOR ONE READ "ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: TAKE TO NEAREST BMW CENTER." THE ABS LIGHT WAS ALSO LIT UP. SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT, THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AND SO I PROCEEDED TO TRY TO DRIVE HOME. ON THE DRIVE HOME, I NOTICED THAT MY A/C SYSTEM SHUT ITSELF OFF AND THAT MY TURN SIGNALS WERE EXTREMELY LAGGY & AT TIMES, WERE NOT EVEN TURNING ON ' A REAL TRAFFIC HAZARD. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT HOME, BUT TURNING THE CAR OFF WAS TRICKY BECAUSE EACH TIME, ODDLY, THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR AND AMBIENT LIGHTING ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CAR WERE STILL LIT EVEN WHEN I REMOVED THE KEYFOB AND LOCKED THE CAR. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE RADIO UNIT, THE ENGINE START BUTTON. THE NEXT MORNING, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHARGED ME $200+ JUST TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR. THEY ENDED UP FINDING NOTHING AND SUGGESTED THAT I PAY MORE FOR THEM TO TAKE OFF THE TWO FRONT SEATS AND INSPECT THE WIRES UNDER THE CARPET IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR (I FOUND OUT THAT THIS BECAUSE THEY KNEW ABOUT NHTSA ITEM #: 10032845 / SERVICE BULLETIN # SIB-61-13-07). I DECLINED BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ALL FOR THEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING AGAIN. AS OF JULY 28, 2012, THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE STILL OCCURS AFTER A MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINSTORM. I BELIEVE (ALONG WITH MANY BMW X5 OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE) THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH A FAULTY DRAINAGE PIPE RELATING TO THE PANORAMIC MOONROOF, WHICH ALLOWS FOR WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE CAR AND SCREW UP THE CAR'S WIRING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS IS SOMETHING BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR & REPAIR AT NO COST. WHY SHOULD I PAY TO RESOLVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT BMW MADE!?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR COULD BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED DURING RAINY WEATHER, WATER LEAKED INTO THE SATELLITE RADIO RECEIVER MODULE AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY INFORMED THE COTNACT THAT THE SATELLITE MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 07/06/11 UPDATED 3/15/12 *CN

I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 BMW X5 IN DECEMBER 2006. DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE PROBLEMS 18 TIMES. SIX OF THOSE TIMES IS FOR "HIGH BATTERY DRAIN". THE CONSEQUENCE IS A CAR THAT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS START. AFTER THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE BATTERY DRAIN PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT. SINCE THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TWO MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME BATTERY DRAIN PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME I HAVE BATTERY PROBLEMS BECAUSE I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH. BMW RECOMMENDS YOU DRIVE THE CAR AT LEAST 7,500 MILES PER YEAR FOR PROPER BATTERY OPERATION. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR 12,000 A YEAR, EXCEEDING WHAT THEY RECOMMEND. I HAVE ALSO HAD THIS VEHICLE IN FOUR TIMES TO FIX A DMTL PUMP PROBLEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA SUGGESTED THAT THE BATTERY DRAIN HAS ALSO CAUSED THE DMTL PUMP NOT TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE DMTL PUMP PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF A LOOSE CONNECTION, THEN A GAS CAP LEAK, THEN THE VENT VALVE STICKING OPEN AND LASTLY SAID ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO FIX IT THAT THE DMTL PUMP JUST DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND REPLACED IT. WHAT IS IT??? I DO NOT RECEIVE THE SAME ANSWERS FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA VERSUS THE DEALERSHIP. I ALSO INVESTIGATED A WEB FORUM PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME "HIGH BATTERY DRAIN" PROBLEM. THE BATTERY DRAIN PROBLEM IS NOT BECAUSE "YOU DO NOT PUT ENOUGH MILES ON YOUR CAR" AS BMW CLAIMS. IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

IN JULY 2007 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW, FULLY LOADED 2007 BMW X5 4.8. BACK THEN, IT WAS MY DREAM CAR. NOW, IT IS A NIGHTMARE. FROM THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DIFFERENT MINOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR (DVD PLAYER NOT WORKING, FOR EXAMPLE) THAT THE DEALERSHIP FIXED. HOWEVER, ONCE WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING, THAT WAS NO LONGER A "MINOR" ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR DID NOT START WAS AROUND THANKSGIVING IN 2008, ONLY A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER I HAD PURCHASE MY CAR. BY THE SUMMER OF 2009, THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND HALF THE TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE FINALLY TOOK THE CAR IN (NOV 2009) AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE BATTERY WAS DEATH, AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AT NO CHARGE (WARRANTY). EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL MARCH 26, 2011, WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE AND MY CAR DID NOT START. AT THIS POINT, I WAS SO FRUSTRATED THAT I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I DID NOT WANT A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK PARKED IN MY GARAGE, SO I WAS GOING TO DROP IT OFF. IT WAS A SATURDAY, SO I DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, ONLY TO TELL ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS VERY LOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY DRIVING HABITS, BECAUSE MOST OF MY TRIPS ARE VERY SHORT (LESS THAN 5 MI) TRIPS. I ASKED THEM IF I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO WORK, AND THEY SAID "HMM, YEAH". REALLY??? TO TOP IT OFF, SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED DUE TO MY "DRIVING HABITS", I NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS PROBLEMS. NO CAR, ESPECIALLY NO HIGH END CAR, SHOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE "IT IS NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH". DID BMW ENGINEERS FINISHED THE DESIGN AND SAID, IT IS DONE, BUT IT WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU DRIVE IT ENOUGH!. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND STOP BLAMING THE CAR OWNERS FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN.