Wow! I have a new X5 again. I can't believe that a $30 part was causing so many issues for my X5. When I got the car back from the mechanic I immediately hit the gas and put it to the test. Very little to no hesitation after the first punch of the gas. Then the first test was a stop light. No stalling and no check engine light. Success! Engine just went back to a nice and easy idle without coughing or erupting like a volcano. The hesitation issue was gone as the X5 is receiving the proper air mixture. The issue the mechanic found was a one inch crack in the small rubber tube on the air intake. He believes it was an age factor as my car is a 2001 with 97,000 miles. What a huge improvement. I don't recall the car responding like this in a very long time. Many owners complain about a delay or sluggish start for the X5. I wonder if this crack in the air intake is a common problem and would help solve many air issues for the X5. I am thrilled that I have my old/new vehicle back. Now, if it can just hold on a bit longer for our summer road trip. San Francisco to Las Vegas and then to Disneyland and back to San Francisco.

Yesterday my X5 stalled and when I went to restart, sounded like I had a volcano under the hood of my car. Called my mechanic this morning and he was available to see the car. He received a code 268 and that the number 1 cylinder was acting up. He replaced the spark plugs and wiring last week, so he kept looking for other issues. Apparently he found a crack in the air intake boot and thinks this may be causing the issue. $185 including labor. My mechanic said the age of the vehicle (2001) and mileage (97000) could cause the crack in the rubber boot. I was a bit skeptical, but will have to take his word on this one. This could be my cheapest trip to the mechanic to date. I will be sure to give it a serious road test the next few days.

I've yet to vent on my blog, and I'm a bit embarrassed by some of my thoughts...but I'm sick of my X5. First off, I have a 2001 X5 and it was the first production year for the 3.0 model. Of course, most people tell you to avoid the first model year as the problems can be addressed and tested for the next model year. Well, I should have waited as nearly every mechanical issue has plagued my X5. Window regulators, engine wiring, oxygen sensors, temperature switches, dead pixels in display, fuel sensor outage, more window regulators (do they go out every 10k miles?), GPS display going on and off. This is just off the top of my head as I know I've had more items replaced. I do believe that the car is extremely safe and fun to drive, but at what cost?
Today, with my two children in the car, I was at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green and the service engine soon or (SES) light turns on. Unfortunately, this is a common light that comes on for my X5. I said a few adult expletives under my breath as my 4 year old is very curious about the situation. I explain that daddy's car is acting up again and that I need to turn off her music so I can listen to my car cough and sputter as if it's taking it's last dying breath. I hate this SUV or SAV as BMW calls it. Engine sputters and dies. Next step, turn on my hazards. I'm really getting too good at this process. I then say a quick prayer and turn over the engine. It starts again, but is sputtering even more. I gun it and just make it to the curb where I call my mechanic.
I will have the X5 towed over to the mechanic who can troubleshoot the latest SES light and codes. Should be a fun conversation as the mechanic supposedly fixed the same issue last week. Same issue and he replaced all six spark plugs with new wiring and all codes were removed after road test. Cost last week $800
Good news...car is paid for. Bad news...trip to mechanic always runs $350-1200.