2009 BMW X5: engine overheating

Filed Mar 3, 2025 · Engine · 230,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking space there was white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle and the engine started overheating. The contact added coolant immediately. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump, thermostat, and heater hoses had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the coolant had leaked out and the engine started overheating. The contact added more coolant to the coolant reservoir; however, the failure recurred 20 miles later. After parking the vehicle, the contact became aware that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle had not been returned to the mechanic. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure however, the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 230,000.

Filed Mar 7, 2022 · Fuel system · AL

I was returning home from work and the engine started to sputter/vibrate. I was right next to a gas station and as I was pulling into the gas station, the engine died and would not restart. I had the car towed and then I proceeded to troubleshoot the problem. I did a fuel pressure test and found that there was no fuel pressure. I tested the fuel pump relay and found it to be operational. I accessed the primary fuel pump to check power and found the fuel pump wiring to be missing an inch of insulation on both wires and the insulation is brittle for another inch or two. There were two splices on the fuel pump wiring where recall #16V746000 was performed and a new connector was spliced in. Those two splices were melted together. Recall #16V746000 was a problem with the fuel pump connector melting due to loose wiring. I have concern that there is still an issue with the fuel system wiring overheating or the repair process is not adequate to solve the issue.

Filed Jul 13, 2020 · Engine · 119,000 miles · MO

Car began to overheat while driving on highway, exited highway to city street, then the alert for low coolant came on. Immediately found a place to park to keep engine from being compromised. Allowed to cool, opened reservoir and coolant was low. Added one gallon of approved coolant. Drove for 5 miles. Car sat for several hours. Started car, alert came back on. Checked beneath vehicle, all of the coolant leaked onto the ground.

Filed Mar 18, 2018 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · FL · fire

My truck bmw parking for more than 6 hours, fire without a known cause, remaining with total loss, I communicated via email with the bmw, after reviewing the internet and find the research done by you, and receiving the possible diagnostic of what happened "an overheating in the pcb valve that rusted and caused the truck to fire", and knowing the bells that are reaping to pick up the vehicles in the united states and canada, but that they know should be extended to other countries, I put in I know the facts, receiving from them, exactly the bmw group mexico, the answer that they had no responsibility for these events, because two years ago I did not maintain or wash the engine with them; facts that have nothing to do with the defect of the vehicle. Please ask for your help and collaboration, the incident occurred in cucuta, colombia. The police of my country made an inspection of the events, which resulted in the fact that there was nothing external that had caused the fire, which was the truck alone, which caught on and in very short terms was burned as a total loss. I really understand that this country has rules that can give me a protection, but the bmw is one, and the manufacturer must respond from any point of view, by vehicles that manufacture no matter where they are. Reviewing the models and years to which they are predicted to have this defect, is the x5 series, between the years of manufacture 2007 to 2011, and the truck of my property is x5 - 2009. This is the answer that the bmw invia "dear [xxx] : thank you for contacting the bmw group. Based on your email, we internally review the history of your bmw xdrive30i, VIN [xxx], with factory warranty expired in april 2011. We found a pair of keys reading, which shows lag in the required maintenance services according to factory specifications. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Engine · 86,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 bmw x5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the overheat engine warning light illuminated continuously. In addition, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The contact was an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the electrical water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v521000 ( engine, engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

Filed Jan 27, 2015 · Engine · VA · fire

The circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump overheated and caused smoldering.

Filed Nov 5, 2013 · Engine · 52,743 miles · FL

On 10/28/13, I was on a two lane county road, speed limit 45, travelling at 45mph, when the engine overheating light came up on the panel, advising me that the engine was overheating. Shortly thereafter, the warning light advised that the engine had overheated and to pull over asap. While trying to find a safe shoulder, the engine shut down, so there was no more power. I was able to get to the side of the road, gliding. While trying to call for assistance, the electrical system shut down, so that I was unable to operate the windows or any other functions. I had the car towed to the dealer. Per the dealer invoice, the electric water pump/coolant pump were defective and needed to be replaced. In addition, due to the incident, the thermostat had to be removed and replaced. The bill was $1136.77, not including a "dealer goodwill" credit of $268.59, reflecting 50% of the cost of the new water pump. While the car was at the dealer, I went on line and discovered that there have been dozens upon dozens of reported problems with the bmw water pumps, and that this part has been the subject of recall 11v521000, for 2008 models, and that recalls exist for more recent models. I attempted to discuss the matter with bmw north america customer relations, the supervisor there advised me that the problem was not with bmw, but that the problem was that my VIN number had not been listed by the nstb on the recall, and that it was therefore the government's fault! I urge you to review the blogs noted on arfc.org regarding 2008 x5 water pump problems. The fact that the car's response to the water pump failure was to shut down with only seconds of warning placed me, and any other driver of this vehicle in a life threatening situation--several of the posts talk about this happening on a busy highway. I could have died. The car should be recalled, and I should be reimbursed.