2011 X5 crankshaft bearing seized, oh dear! ADVICE.

[Topshots]

Hello everyone, I have enjoyed being the owner of an X5 4.0 xd M Sport for over twelve months. 48k miles, regular BMW servicing, last completed a few months ago at a main dealer.  Drove onto drive a few days ago, oil dribbling out. Recovery called, general thought was it was going to be oil hose from turbo cooler, anyway guy was very knowledgeable and confirmed it wasn't, he had pipes onboard as this is a frequent fault- be warned! Vehicle recovered to independendant bmw specialist, old acquaintance I used to play squash with. A day later he gave me the bad news that the crankshaft pulley bearing had seized and pushed through the crankcase, engine still runs smoothly would you believe! Not that I've driven it since of course. More recovery to BMW garage, just been given the bad news. £4500 to remove engine, strip and inspect it, before application of any goodwill that may be or may be not forthcoming from BMW!

Have had various thoughts, including selling the vehicle as is, thought some of you may have some advice. Has anyone any knowledge of this alleged unusual breakdown? 

I look forward to your advice.

Andrew

p.s the tailgate electric spindle has broken too!!! 

 

 

[Bimmer Owners' Club]

Hi Andrew...welcome to the Forum

Sorry to hear that you've had such major issues with the X5 and let's hope BMW will sort it for you (at their cost)...not the sort of failure you would expect from a prestige motor car of that age.

I think it will become a blame/responsibility situation with BMW blaming the pulley supplier who in turn will blame the bearing manufacturer, etc...let's hope it resolves quickly for you though!

Cheers   Trevor

 

[Topshots]

Further to my previous. After an abortive visit to one BMW garage where I was told it would cost £4500 for engine removal and strip down then rebuild plus whatever was needed for the repair! I subsequently took it to another BMW garage where the strip down etc. Was £890, they have kept me continually updated and are now putting the case to BMW to ascertain what good will can be expected. I am told the pulley bearing has seized, scoring the Franck and cracking the block etc. Basically a new engine!!!! Not good news. So I have to wait to hear from BMW, but I can't imagine them wanting to dig deep to help out! I can see solicitors becoming involved in this, perhaps I'm being pessimistic! 

Anyone any advice, experience of this type of debacle? how much for a reconditioned engine? All comments welcome.

Andrew 

[Topshots]

On 19/11/2016 at 0:42 PM, Topshots said:

Further to my previous. After an abortive visit to one BMW garage where I was told it would cost £4500 for engine removal and strip down then rebuild plus whatever was needed for the repair! I subsequently took it to another BMW garage where the strip down etc. Was £890, they have kept me continually updated and are now putting the case to BMW to ascertain what good will can be expected. I am told the pulley bearing has seized, scoring the Franck and cracking the block etc. Basically a new engine!!!! Not good news. So I have to wait to hear from BMW, but I can't imagine them wanting to dig deep to help out! I can see solicitors becoming involved in this, perhaps I'm being pessimistic! 

Anyone any advice, experience of this type of debacle? how much for a reconditioned engine? All comments welcome.

Andrew 

Bmw have offered to pay 60% as a goodwill gesture! This still leaves me £8500 out of pocket! Anyone want to buy an X5 with a new BMW engine and turbos, 2 year unlimited mileage warranty??? Seriously it will be up for sale shortly and will be the last BMW I ever buy. Not just because of my experience which I am stoical about, but once you start investigating, the true extent of BMWs unreliability and the companies synacism and duplicity, all start to become clear! I have no doubt I will NOW receive many posts disagreeing with me, in stark contrast to the replies I have received to date for a genuine and needy post, thanks Trevor for being the only one to reply! 

[Bimmer Owners' Club]

It's a shame you've had such a bad experience with BMW as I know some of the older models go on year after year with no problems at all.

I do know they now source materials and components from dubious sources (regarding engineering quality and materials used) and some models are assembled by less than skilled operatives, so overall...I think it is no different from most manufacturers but BMW cost a lot more to put right if they go wrong

 

[derf]

Trevor's nailed it on the head

 

All in all, I don't think we can get away from the fact that even the "luxury" European brands are probably beginning to or already are (need you to tell me) the effects of relocating manufacturing to a cheaper location with less skilled workers getting paid less to care. Here in the US, a ton of the manufacturing has been moved to Mexico.  The jobs are gone and they're not coming back.  The quality is gone too -- not that it was ever stellar over here---but my overall point is (sorry for the roundaboutness) that a $90K car can be made with sub par lower quality parts and assembly and still sell for $90K --- but ONLY FOR SO LONG.  For as long as it takes the public to realize the days of superiorly engineered mass produced cars are ending.  If you build a BMW, they will come.  If you build a POS BMW, they will come, get burned, and never come back