[mscot]

Hi All. New here. I’ve read back at least 14 pages of this forum. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so much useful information.

I m considering ordering a 50e but all the stop sales and other issues people have reported here have me concerned.
I don’t need a new car. I have a 4Runner that would likely outlive me but I hate driving it. I really don’t want another season of Denver to Vail and back in a 4Runner.

I’m told that If I order in the next week or two, it would take 8 to 12 weeks.
Do you all think these issues will be resolved by the time mine goes into production?
Should I just suck it up and wait for a 2025?

[aaaaaaaaaz]

No need to wait unless you are looking for a better deal at end of the year.

Unlikely the valve will get updated in next few month. You could wait for next model year which is more than 1 year away, but that is too much of a wait, and even by then we don’t know if bmw will redesign the part as MY26 will be a new generation.

For other recall, everything seems easily addresseable with a dealer visit.

[Tejas1836]

What is your gut feeling?

[gadgetfreak2024]

So far — knock on wood — we haven’t had these issues beyond being subject to the recalls. But I had already received my vehicle so now it’s just a matter of when the solution is available and those issues don’t affect my usage or enjoyment of the vehicle.

I also don’t know just how prevalent these bigger issues are (like the check engine light that necessitate service) since forums like these will naturally attract people who want to share issues and concerns — vs people coming to affirm they have no issues or concerns. For those affected, though, it obviously sucks and they have my sympathies.

I think it’s too early to tell if this is a model year that will be looked back at as being particularly problematic. But hopefully the issues identified so far are discrete and fixable with remedied parts. And once those are resolved, they are truly resolved.

Now this comes from somebody who also owns a 2011 50i with the dreaded 8-cylinder that was poorly designed and prone to massive issues for which solutions were only temporary band aids. The 50e’s issues don’t feel like that type of more global problem that will nag at you over the lifetime of ownership — but again, too early to tell.

For me the thing that would govern the decision more is if I thought there was a feature that would be introduced in the next MY that I would be sad to miss (for instance, IAS, iDrive 9, etc.). But that’s always going to be the challenge as tech evolves.

[The Libertine]

Unless there is a dire need, may want to delay until the issues get sorted.

[jkramerXXX7]

Even though my 50e was affected by the refrigerant valve issue, I would purchase again as I truly enjoy driving the car. You could be waiting forever if you want the latest tech as there is always something new on the horizon. The current features satisfy my needs nicely. It's a bit loud with the 21 inch Pirelli runflats but this seems to be dependent on road conditions. So far I've driven about 2600 miles with 75% being totally electric. Would have driven more on electric but wanted to put some hours on the ICE.

[mscot]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Unlikely the valve will get updated in next few month.

The HV battery refrigerant shut off valve? So it’s a faulty design not a bad manufactured batchthat can be replaced?
In another thread I’ve seen people mention it taking 3 days to 3 months to get a part and there was a suspicion that it was a faulty batch.
I also saw a mention that it was just in cars from late May through late June. Do we have any firm information yet?

As for latest tech. I know chasing it is a losing game.

I’ve also read that the X5 doesn’t have acoustic glass. Is that true and if so why?

[couchgate]

I think we also have to keep in mind that posts here on the forum are not representative of the whole population. Folks with issues are more likely to post here - and there's probably tons of happy issueless 50e drivers out there. I've got a 50e on order and am not sweating it at all.

[beammeupscottie]

YOLO; get it now. Don’t wait.

[RNorb]

Originally Posted by mscot

I’ve also read that the X5 doesn’t have acoustic glass. Is that true and if so why?

No acoustic glass on X5's sold in the U.S. I've got it on my 2020 X5 and will wait to order a new X5 until its available here again.

[mscot]

Originally Posted by RNorb

No acoustic glass on X5's sold in the U.S. I've got it on my 2020 X5 and will wait to order a new X5 until its available here again.

Will that happen later in this model year or will we have to wait until 2025?

I keep cars at least 6 years so I want to make sure I’m buying the right vehicle and won’t be unhappy with such a large purchase.

[RNorb]

Originally Posted by mscot

Will that happen later in this model year or will we have to wait until 2025?

I keep cars at least 6 years so I want to make sure I’m buying the right vehicle and won’t be unhappy with such a large purchase.

I don't think anyone knows for sure. It must be a supply constraint issue which one would think would be solved over time.

[mscot]

Thanks RNorb

How big of a difference does having acoustic glass make? As I mentioned I'm driving a 4Runner which is basically a 20+ year old vehicle in design. Really the most modern car I've had was a 2010 Toaureg TDI (which I loved).

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by mscot

Thanks RNorb

How big of a difference does having acoustic glass make? As I mentioned I'm driving a 4Runner which is basically a 20+ year old vehicle in design. Really the most modern car I've had was a 2010 Toaureg TDI (which I loved).

Hard to say for me as my reference is a 2011 X5, not a recent model with acoustic glass. That said, I did an 80 mile road trip yesterday (all hybrid) and while on Driver Assist Plus with my arms folded up and my feet resting on the floor, I put the radio on mute (using gesture control) and thought to myself, “wow, it’s pretty quiet in here.” Perhaps those are ideal conditions. By the way, I’m riding on stock 20” A/S run flats.

Just my experience and YMMV. But I definitely have not had an occasion to think that I wished it was quieter. That’s over about 2k miles so far, admittedly with a lot of that electric.

[mscot]

Thank you. My understanding is that the windshield is acoustic glass but the sides are not. Is this correct?
If so, I would guess that the windshield introduces the most noise while driving.

[couchgate]

Acoustic glass and B&O are my two biggest wishlist items... but even if those get solved in MY25 I'm sure there will be other great things that won't come until MY26!

[mscot]

Originally Posted by couchgate

Acoustic glass and B&O are my two biggest wishlist items... but even if those get solved in MY25 I'm sure there will be other great things that won't come until MY26!

Is B&O that much of an improvement over the HK?

Has BMW committed to a new model in 2026?


Thank you all for putting up with my 1000s of questions.

[apw2607]

OP, as far as known issues, you'll have nothing to worry about. No 50e is leaving the factory with those known issues now. Period.

However, unknown issues ... well sadly none of us have a crystal ball. Is there going to be more issues? Maybe ... but there could be more issues with any production year as BMW often makes incremental changes to parts, suppliers or software.

Its unfortunate for current users caught up in the stop sale/parts shortage issue .. but for ordering now. I don't see an issue.

I was on the fence (for multiple reasons) but placed an order for a 50e last month.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

re: knee airbag / DMTL etc:
BMW officially recognized issue and recall should already be addressed.

re: valve design vs manufacture issue:
No one know if it is design issue or manufacture issue; however it does not seem to be contained in a specific batch or the batch has not seem to be exhausted yet as newly delivered cars continues to report it fails. BMW has not officially ack'ed such issue yet, and no one can say if the part is still manufactured the same way prone to failure as there is no information.

re: valve replacement part availability:
The car is a new model and replacement part should be more available over time if it is frequently ordered. While dealer would keep your car when replacement, they'll likely give you a loaner; and the part would fail in a "fail safe" state where it would not likely escalate the failure to cause more issue but you might suffer lower efficiency.

re: acoustic glass:
No one know if it will be available again, but trend does not seem going the right direction.

re: HK / B&W:
B&W diamond is nice but way too expensive - you'll get better aftermarket solution for lower price.
Also seems from 7/5 series trend BMW is "rebranding" the current HK to B&W; note it is still a lower tier and there is still a higher tier called "B&W diamond" available.

[mscot]

Thanks apw2607
I may wait another 6 weeks just to see how things settle - plus I'll get my raise by then, so I'll know if I'm jumping ship or not.

[arRod1981]

Originally Posted by couchgate

Acoustic glass and B&O are my two biggest wishlist items... but even if those get solved in MY25 I'm sure there will be other great things that won't come until MY26!

Originally Posted by mscot

Is B&O that much of an improvement over the HK?

Has BMW committed to a new model in 2026?


Thank you all for putting up with my 1000s of questions.

Originally Posted by alanzyy

re: knee airbag / DMTL etc:
BMW officially recognized issue and recall should already be addressed.

re: valve design vs manufacture issue:
No one know if it is design issue or manufacture issue; however it does not seem to be contained in a specific batch or the batch has not seem to be exhausted yet as newly delivered cars continues to report it fails. BMW has not officially ack'ed such issue yet, and no one can say if the part is still manufactured the same way prone to failure as there is no information.

re: valve replacement part availability:
The car is a new model and replacement part should be more available over time if it is frequently ordered. While dealer would keep your car when replacement, they'll likely give you a loaner; and the part would fail in a "fail safe" state where it would not likely escalate the failure to cause more issue but you might suffer lower efficiency.

re: acoustic glass:
No one know if it will be available again, but trend does not seem going the right direction.

re: HK / B&O:
B&O diamond is nice but way too expensive - you'll get better aftermarket solution for lower price.
Also seems from 7/5 series trend BMW is "rebranding" the current HK to B&O; note it is still a lower tier and there is still a higher tier called "B&O diamond" available.

It's B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) not B&O (Bang & Olufsen).

[mscot]

Originally Posted by arRod1981

It's B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) not B&O (Bang & Olufsen).

That’s interesting since the same company that owns HK owns BO I assumed BMW would use BO.