2001 BMW X5 engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE AUXILIARY FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE FAN AND THE FUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN) OR 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,177.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BEGIN TO ILLUMINATE AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MANY TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE OIL SEPARATOR FRACTURED AND CAUSED OIL TO SPRAY OVER ALL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE OIL SEPARATOR, VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A CRANK CASE VENTILATION BLANKET IN ORDER TO KEEP IT WARM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN ACTIVATION. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BEGAN TO CIRCULATE WARM AIR. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COOLING FAN. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V138000 AND 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE SAFETY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“ON COLD DAY, '01 BMW X5 3.0, STARTED, BRIEFLY WARMED AND DRIVEN 8 MILES B/F ENGINE QUITS AND WILL NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOR OVERHEATING INVOLVED. MECHANIC INDICATES ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED DUE TO OIL SEPARATOR FREEZING FROM RESIDUAL CONDENSATION IN AIR AS WELL AS CRANKCASE RESULTING IN OIL FORCED INTO CYLINDERS, CHOKING MOTOR, AND CRACKING CONNECTING RODS. ENGINE HAS NOW FAILED REQUIRING A NEW OR USED MOTOR - ESTIMATED AT $7,500 REPLACEMENT (NOT TO MENTION SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERING RESALE VALUE SINCE NEW MOTOR WILL NOT MATCH VIN). VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BEYOND MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED INTERVALS (EG: OIL CHANGE EVERY 3K MILES WITH BMW SPEC'D OIL AND FILTERS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW, PARTICULARLY THE X5 - OIL SEPARATOR IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WAS REDESIGNED TO ADDRESS ISSUE. NO WARNING FROM DEALERSHIP WHO MAINTAINED CAR UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT HAS NOW CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND COULD VERY WELL CAUSE CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR DEATH OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IF ENGINE FAILS ON HIGHWAY, RATHER THAN ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD DRIVING @ 5 MPH.. BMW SHOULD HAVE MADE A RECALL ON THIS PART BEFORE…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN SIX DEGREE WEATHER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OIL VALVE SEPARATOR ISSUE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE FROZE AND SHOT OUT ALL OF THE OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE FAILURE COVERED BY HER AFTERMARKET WARRANTY, BUT THEY REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE OIL VALVE SEPARATOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH RESEARCH, SHE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND, AFTER THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. SHE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,500.”