Ten problems related to power train have been reported for the 2008 BMW X5. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 BMW X5 based on all problems reported for the 2008 X5.
Ive been experiencing drive train problems with my vehicle and upon research ive concluded that not just only me but many people with the same vehicle as mine have been having transfer case/driveshaft/differential problems and the scary part is that no codes pop up for this issue!! I've already took it to many shops ive even took it to an official BMW dealership and they dont seem to help but the real reason im reaching out is because I nearly had a near death experience related to this issue on the freeway. . The vehicle seemed to shake violently and felt like it wanted to seize up while driving and had to do an emergency pull over but once again it doesnt throw no codes and not only that I've already spent thousand of dollars into this car for it to react like that while driving! please ???? hear me out and help me resolve this as soon as possible. . Thank you - mr. Solano.
While driving in a highway far from any measure city, the car start slowing down and overheating signal showed up. Fan start running like a jet engine. After towing it to a mechanic. It turns out the water pump failed a long with thermostat and the plastic resurve water leaked. It seams like a design fault to make a plastic resurve water that hold hot water. The car had 121000 mile. Coast was $5400.
Seat calibration; airbag/seat belt tensioner, level control system malfunction etc.
Car will not start. Towed over 120mil to the closest mechanics. Starter was dead.
Computer system does not function properly, causing vehicle to go into transmission error mode-vehicle abruptly loses power and speed while driving. This has happened on highway (saw our lives flash before our eyes as semis bore down on us and almost drove over us/other vehicles trying to avoid collisions and in town with several near-collisions involving ours' and other vehicles. Vehicle has had several recalls and computer system has been updated at our expense with problem not resolved and we are told we need new tranny. We do not believe this is so as when you turn off vehicle and turn it back on-code disappears and car drives fine until you go up a hill or let foot off accelerator/ accelerate, ect. Instead of addressing the problem with the computer system, dealerships make bank on replacing transmissions that soon fail again due to the computer issues.
While vehicle is running transmission malfunction code comes on and vehicle instantly loses power. Almost been rear ended on highway several times. Spent 1000 recently on transmission parts. Researched and found out this is a soft ware issue and BMW has not acknowledged although thousands of reports have been filed-some by owners with only 1000 miles on them this has been an ongoing issue that BMW has ignored.
While driving with the heat on, there's a burning smell that come through the vents. Continue driving with heat on long enough and despite the smell, the right side(passenger) began to smoke, so bad you cant see to drive. . . While driving and you press on the gas to accelerate, it's not a smooth transition, u cant beat a Honda. . . While driving every now and then u hear a loud screeching sound till you turn your car off. . . In stationary position with the car on, its makes loud engine running sounds. . . The car also pulls to the right. . .
I was traveling on I-78 east in pennsylvania, approaching exit 59, and suddenly the car jerked and began to decelerate. At that time my speed was 40 mph. That part of the interstate is pretty much uphill, that's why I was driving at a reduced speed. When I pressed down on the gas pedal a little more that's when the transmission malfunction warning light appeared. I immediately pulled off onto the shoulder. I had my car towed to the nearest BMW dealership and was told a new transmission will cost me $7,776. 45 excluding labor and taxes. It's baffling that an X5 with 73k miles would need a transmission that soon.
I was driving my car under normal conditions, around 40mph and all of a sudden I started to loose the power to my car to the point that it shut down in the middle of the road. I called my husband and there was nothing we could do to start the car to move it to the side. It had to be towed to the dealership to reset some electronics and was told its a safety issue on the car. I asked them to explain to me what would happen if I was on the new jersey turnpike or staten island expressway or route 17 in NJ what would happen . No explanation well I can explain it . I would probably be rear ended and cause a pile up. I think this needs to be looked into. I wonder how many times this has happened and the accidents it has caused.
The X5 does not response well to throttle inputs. Hesitation is extremely pronounced at all times. The hesitation feels like stalling. Not sure if this is caused by the engine, transmission, software or some other reasons. This happens mostly when the transmission is in regular "d" mode but it also happens in the manual mode at times. Passing and merging in heavy traffic should be avoided because the X5 could receive rear-ended accidents due to the sudden hesitation. Had many near-misses and suspect eventuality.