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.

My second month on Yuwie was spent joining clubs and accepting and making new friend requests. Yuwie has clubs for all interests and has over 2,000 new members joining each day. Yuwie is a free social network similar to Myspace or Facebook and does not charge a membership fee. This is a social networking site first and foremost and should always be understood that it is not a business marketing or spam free for all. I have enjoyed meeting new friends from around the world and sharing stories about work, family, school, ebay, investments, and hobbies. My referral tree also grew in February and I had about 300 total referrals through 8 levels. Yuwie shares a portion of the revenue from advertisers up to 10 levels. The RSR, or Revenue Sharing Rate for February was 38 cents. The RSR will increase as the number of Yuwie members increases. As more join, the advertisers will want to bid higher for ad placement on Yuwie. Currently, Myspace and Facebook does not share this revenue with it's members....but Yuwie does. Pretty cool! My earnings for February were $5.68. Not a lot of $$$.... but this is just the beginning.

First, Yuwie is a free social network similar to Myspace or Facebook and does not charge a membership fee. Second, I have had the chance to view several screen shots of some paychecks valued at $100-200. Now, it would be a scam if you read an article, blog, or advertisement that claimed someone on Yuwie is making thousands of dollars today. Yuwie is only about 8 months old and no one to my knowlege is making thousands of dollars yet. Yet, that means it is possible. For the record I received my first earnings report for the month of December and made 87 cents. This may not seem worth it to some, but I see the potential for many referrals as this is a social networking site that builds upon friendships, blogs, pictures, video, and more. I have already doubled my page views for January and expect to make $1-2 in January. This may seem like peanuts, but the point is to build a downline of active referrals and equip them to do the same. The social networking market is still growing and Yuwie is sharing a portion of their ad revenue with members. Yuwie pays it's users up to 10 levels and that can add up to a lot of money quickly. I want to be realistic about this and not expect to make thousands as some are claiming. I think a goal of one hundred a month would be a good realistic goal. If I could offset one bill, that would be a huge success. I get excited thinking of my car insurance or water bill being paid by Yuwie each month.