[W0ut]

A friends brand new BMW G05 X5 45e is bricked after only 8 days of use.

Not much to say about it. Last Saturday the car simply refused to start. No drama, no strange behavior, noises or error messages in the days before.

The messages in attachment state : "Use of driving assist is limited. Power is limited. You can continue driving but contact your Service partner". But the car didn't move at all.

Garage towed the car and it's still at the garage since. Seems they can't figure out the problem. Communication from the garage is rather 'minimal'.

Not sure what to do with this. Would it still be possible to refuse / return the car?


(just to make it extra clear, not my car)

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by W0ut

A friends brand new BMW G05 X5 45e is bricked after only 8 days of use.

Not much to say about it. Last Saturday the car simply refused to start. No drama, no strange behavior, noises or error messages in the days before.

The messages in attachment state : "Use of driving assist is limited. Power is limited. You can continue driving but contact your Service partner". But the car didn't move at all.

Garage towed the car and it's still at the garage since. Seems they can't figure out the problem. Communication from the garage is rather 'minimal'.

Not sure what to do with this. Would it still be possible to refuse / return the car?


(just to make it extra clear, not my car)

That's horrible. My colleague had to return the 45e last week after having it for a couple of days. It's not charging more than 70% and they can't find the cause.

The message with the radar not working I have had in may previous car when driving in heavy rain or snow but it disappeared after a stop. I didn't experience it with the x5 yet.

Probably returning it will not be possible.

[Heavyd]

OMFG
Sometimes I think cars are too high tech. You don't want them to behave like a MS Windows computer

[James_G0540i]

Seems like these 45e's seem to be having their fair share of problems.

I wonder how wide spread these issues are for the 45e model?

I propose two new model designations for BMW G05...
45b ("b" for Bricked) and 45L ("L" for Lemon)

On a serious note, I feel sorry for your friend, I know what its like to have paid all this money and have a problematic car on your hands that's stressing you out.
Hopefully the issue is sorted out quickly.

[chrisny]

As someone that works in the software industry, I love how much smart tech is being added to cars, and everything else we use. Also, as someone that works in the software industry, I cringe (at times) at how much smart tech is being added to cars and everything else we use..

Hoping and expecting a good outcome for your friend, that will in turn ultimately benefit the next buyer. Sorry he has to be the one whose car they learn from. Hopefully they'll make it worth his while in the end.

[W0ut]

update:

After receiving almost no updates, we visited by the concession in person this weekend.

They have ordered a new DME module(??). Apparently it takes >4days to deliver from BMW since it's linked to the VIN of the car.

They plan to install and reprogram the car next Wednesday.
Kind of happy that it is 'only' a module and that they didn't had to disassemble core parts of the car.

Hopefully it's resolved next Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

[Herr]

Tx for info

[Anterialis]

I hope it works out for you! Let us know how this ends =)

[perikifi]

Originally Posted by W0ut

They have ordered a new DME module(??). Apparently it takes >4days to deliver from BMW since it's linked to the VIN of the car.

They plan to install and reprogram the car next Wednesday.
Kind of happy that it is 'only' a module and that they didn't had to disassemble core parts of the car.

Hopefully it's resolved next Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

So again, nothing to do with the car being hybrid, right?

[W0ut]

Originally Posted by perikifi

So again, nothing to do with the car being hybrid, right?

No, nothing to do with hybrid. It's the (petrol) engine management. Based upon the explanation below, I assume it's the official BMW term for what chip tuners call "the ECU".


Copy+paste:
"Digital Motor Electronics (DME) guarantees optimum reliability, maximum performance and the lowest possible fuel consumption and emissions. Its sensors continually all factors affecting the operation of the engine. The data is then evaluated by a microprocessor and translated into commands for the fuel injection and ignition systems.
The DME system receives up to 1,000 separate items of data input per second, including engine speed, air intake volume, air temperature and density, coolant temperature, throttle position, accelerator position and vehicle speed.
DME verifies all incoming data by comparing it with the reaction of the rest of the system. If a defective sensor delivers unrealistic data, DME replaces this with preset standard values. If a spark plug fails, DME immediately cuts fuel flow to this cylinder in order to prevent engine damage."

[W0ut]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

I hope it works out for you! Let us know how this ends =)

Thanks, luckily it is not my car.

It's a friends car who ordered his X5 45e a few months after me.
I feel kind of responsible because I talked him out of ordering a Volvo T8. :-)

[Anterialis]

Originally Posted by W0ut

Thanks, luckily it is not my car.

It's a friends car who ordered his X5 45e a few months after me.
I feel kind of responsible because I talked him out of ordering a Volvo T8. :-)

Trust me, a broken x5 is still better than a Volvo 🤣🤣

[-Mrc-]

So I'm the friend of W0ut. Just got an update from the garage: replacing the DME didn't resolve the problem and they don't have a clue what the problem might be.

At the moment i'm pretty annoyed, first of by the blatant lack of communication from their side. If I hadn't put in hours of trying to contact them, the only thing I'd basically know whas that my car was at the garage.
One would expect that a customer was handled with a bit more respect.

2nd thing that annoys me is that my car has spent more time being broken in the garage than I've been driving it. If after 11 days the garage is only able to make a wrong diagnose and fix the wrong part, then I'm seriously doubting if they are the correct party to fix the car. As I told W0ut: If my doctor doesn't know what's wrong, I'd like him to send me to a specialist rather than to mess around for a month. The same thing goes for my car.
The people in the garage I consider doctors: they know a bit about everything, but they aren't experts in anything. It seems in this case some decent expertise is needed.

So I'm gonna try and talk with the boss of the garage today and I'm going to want to see some improvement, both on the communication front and on the solution front.

Also thinking about some sort of compensation in the mean time. I'm too happy about paying a whole month of renting for a car I didn't have... Some sort of compensation is in order it seems...

Oh, and Anterialis is right: a broken bmw beats a volvo :')

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by -Mrc-

So I'm the friend of W0ut. Just got an update from the garage: replacing the DME didn't resolve the problem and they don't have a clue what the problem might be.

At the moment i'm pretty annoyed, first of by the blatant lack of communication from their side. If I hadn't put in hours of trying to contact them, the only thing I'd basically know whas that my car was at the garage.
One would expect that a customer was handled with a bit more respect.

2nd thing that annoys me is that my car has spent more time being broken in the garage than I've been driving it. If after 11 days the garage is only able to make a wrong diagnose and fix the wrong part, then I'm seriously doubting if they are the correct party to fix the car. As I told W0ut: If my doctor doesn't know what's wrong, I'd like him to send me to a specialist rather than to mess around for a month. The same thing goes for my car.
The people in the garage I consider doctors: they know a bit about everything, but they aren't experts in anything. It seems in this case some decent expertise is needed.

So I'm gonna try and talk with the boss of the garage today and I'm going to want to see some improvement, both on the communication front and on the solution front.

Also thinking about some sort of compensation in the mean time. I'm too happy about paying a whole month of renting for a car I didn't have... Some sort of compensation is in order it seems...

Oh, and Anterialis is right: a broken bmw beats a volvo :')

Totally of topic but I think you mean general physicians. And it's not really nice to compare their more than 10 years of education and empathy and hard work with the knowledge of a mechanic in a BMW garage not doing his work. 😉

But indeed very frustrating situation. I just wonder who is going to be the specialist that is going to solve this situation. BMW headquarters in Munich?

Probably the best for you would be to let them take back the car en reimburse you. But I doubt if they will do that.

Maybe you should ask a lawyer? Do you have rechtsbijstand in your car insurance. I would at least try to get the monthly rent back. Did you get a descent replacement car?

[-Mrc-]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

Totally of topic but I think you mean general physicians. And it's not really nice to compare their more than 10 years of education and empathy and hard work with the knowledge of a mechanic in a BMW garage not doing his work. ��

But indeed very frustrating situation. I just wonder who is going to be the specialist that is going to solve this situation. BMW headquarters in Munich?

Probably the best for you would be to let them take back the car en reimburse you. But I doubt if they will do that.

Maybe you should ask a lawyer? Do you have rechtsbijstand in your car insurance. I would at least try to get the monthly rent back. Did you get a descent replacement car?

Didn't mean it in a degrading manner. Just wanted to say that, like a physician , a mechanic knows about normal day to day problems but when you need an expert opinion about a complicated matter, the mechanic, again just like the physician, must be able to say "We don't know this, let's get the expertise of someone who does".
I've got a great physician, and the first time I went there (after 1 month of bad tonsils which the old physician didn't cure), she looked into my throat for 2 seconds, said "this needs an expert", made a call and got me an appointment the very same day. That's what I call a good physician.

I don't know where they would/could get the expertise, honestly, I don't care either, that is their problem

I do have rechtsbijstand in my insurance, I tried contacting a responsible at the dealer, both of them weren't in due to meetings. If I cannot get a hold of them tomorrow and get some detailed feedback about how things are going to progress, I will contact the rechtsbijstand.
Another "we don't know" will simply not suffice.

As for a replacement car: currently got an 5 series berline, which isn't bad, but which also isn't what I'm paying for, nor does it have the trunkroom the X5 does.

*edit*
At least was able to get a mechanic on the line. There is a 5V voltage drop, but they don't know where. They are in communication with BMW Germany and are awaiting feedback after letting them know replacing the DME didn't fix the issue. Will try to have a talk with the dealer responsible tomorrow about the replacement car (they do have an X5 45e demo model) or the monthly rent

[awosy]

I don't think it's so easy to diagnose a car full of electronics, even though I understand your frustration. Probably you would feel a lot better if there was proper communication from your dealer about the issue and about what's happening.

What worries me a bit is they need feedback from BMW Germany to help them find a voltage drop issue. I would guess they can use a voltage tester to detect the cause of this. How could someone in Germany tell them where it is coming from?

[pho]

I've never heard of a dealer compensating the car financing for the period of unavailability and would be very surprised if they'd do that. They're a private company selling franchise products, if anybody is going to compensate you it will probably be BMW Belux, I imagine they are ultimately responsible in case of warranty issues, not your dealer.

I feel for you, I've been in a similar situation and it's beyond frustrating, especially if the communication is lacking!
Always keep in mind though: they want to find a solution just as much as you do :-)

[Herr]

Any news?

[W0ut]

Car is back and working since last week. It was >2 weeks in the garage.

Turned out to be a sensor cable that was pinched between two metal surfaces.

[Herr]

Thanx

[x5mad]

Originally Posted by pho

I've never heard of a dealer compensating the car financing for the period of unavailability and would be very surprised if they'd do that. They're a private company selling franchise products, if anybody is going to compensate you it will probably be BMW Belux, I imagine they are ultimately responsible in case of warranty issues, not your dealer.

I feel for you, I've been in a similar situation and it's beyond frustrating, especially if the communication is lacking!
Always keep in mind though: they want to find a solution just as much as you do :-)

I second this.

When we had issues with our brand new X3 as in literally drove out the door and had electrical issues, we contacted BMW as the dealer could not rectify and was just letting a brand new car sit in the dirt with very little communication.

I demanded the car back and took to another dealer who managed to solve the problem.

All in almost a month of not having the car, I suggested Bmw compensate me for that month and they obliged. Very quickly actually, quite impressed.

Fast forward a few months and similar issues occurred. I went straight to BMW and suggested they extend my warranty as my faith in the car was dwindling. They extended the manufacturers warranty another 2 years on top of the new car warranty.

So yes go straight to Bmw, never confronting but firmly state what it is that needs to be done in order to restore faith in the brand and make you whole. I think it's best that you have an idea of what it is you're looking for.

[Usher9387]

Originally Posted by x5mad

I second this.

When we had issues with our brand new X3 as in literally drove out the door and had electrical issues, we contacted BMW as the dealer could not rectify and was just letting a brand new car sit in the dirt with very little communication.

I demanded the car back and took to another dealer who managed to solve the problem.

All in almost a month of not having the car, I suggested Bmw compensate me for that month and they obliged. Very quickly actually, quite impressed.

Fast forward a few months and similar issues occurred. I went straight to BMW and suggested they extend my warranty as my faith in the car was dwindling. They extended the manufacturers warranty another 2 years on top of the new car warranty.

So yes go straight to Bmw, never confronting but firmly state what it is that needs to be done in order to restore faith in the brand and make you whole. I think it's best that you have an idea of what it is you're looking for.

I agree, I did compensate twice by BMW Canada.

My car was in the garage for 6 weeks to rectify KAFAS camera issue and once again it went back to dealer for the same reason and stayed for 8 weeks.

Both times BMW Canada compensated me.