The vehicle engine was internally knocking which one dealership told me to keep driving it and bring it back at my appointment a week later and another dealership avidsed me not to drive the car as they were having a global issue with these engines and the engine could seize up... If I were on the highway or roadway and the engine seized up it could have caused a serious accident.
2011 BMW X5: engine knocking or ticking
5 of the 264 complaints about the 2011 BMW X5 describe engine knocking or ticking.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 75,000
- recalls
- 5
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls and 107 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Engine knocking or ticking by model year
- 20251
- 20211
- 20191
- 20161
- 20153
- 20132
- 20122
- 20115
- 20102
- 20091
- 20083
- 20001
What owners say
I am requesting an emergency recall of my automobile. When crossing the gandy bridge over tampa bay in rush hour traffic a couple of weeks ago, my car emitted a very loud bang and a rapid series of shaking and extremely hard knocks. The car lost power, smoke billowed out the back and I saw a stream of oil in the mirror behind me. I was able to safely pull out of the traffic lane. The problem, I have found, was that the front drive shaft failed due to a manufacturing defect in the universal joint. When it failed, the spinning parts cracked open the transmission case, the oil pan and broke several nearby parts. The event occurred on a long bridge in heavy traffic and could have resulted in serious injury. The front end of the spinning drive shaft broke loose and fell down, parts were ejected onto the highway, the transmission was cracked open and all transmission oil discharged onto the bridge. Had this occurred, for example, while passing another car on a two lane road, there could have been a serious, perhaps fatal accident. This vehicle, from production dates beginning april 5 2011, was officially recalled in may 2016 for this exact issue. My car was manufactured in march, 2011, a couple of weeks before the apparently arbitrary recall date of april 5. I now find there have been many similar failures, with photos and descriptions exactly like mine. The bmw recall notice, which I did not receive because my vehicle was not included, states that a vibration will become noticeable, and, if it fails, power to the front wheels will be interrupted, but that the rear wheels will continue to work. That is simply not true. The transfer case had to be replaced in may 2016. Updated 03/07/17.
Previous vanos recall campain / fix has not worked and has caused catastrophic engine failure. After one year from recall work the turbo failed resulting in loss of engine power. Upon replacing turbo dealer noticed metal shavings in oil. Less than one year later and multiple engine issues there is loud engine knocking. Dealer claims again there is metal shavings in then oil and the engine and turbo need to be replaced. Bmw na is refusing to cover work even though the vanos bolt issue is a well known and documented problem. These vanos bolts shear and drop into the timing chain causing metal shaving contamination to engine oil. Engine will eventuality loose power and shut down as metal works its way throughout the engine resulting in complete failure and necsitating replacement. Bmw na knows this is a problem and they are refusing to do anything about this serious safety issue.
Previous vanos recall campaing fix is not working. After one years replacement bolts are loose and loud engine knocking is back. If continue driving bolts will be sheared and break timing chain causing engine to suddenly loose power and shut down with no previous warning. When engine RPM reaches the 2000 mark engine starts to loose power and hesitates due to the bad vanos bolts. Bmw is refusing to repair the vanos unit and replace the bolts under warranty.
Margining onto freeway accelerated car suddenly lost power went into neutral and brakes went hard engine malfunction lights on the dash build date dec 2010 falls into vanos repair fixed once already and has made the vehicle inoperable bmw corporate is claiming not at fault when hundreds of cases have been reported online every vehicle made from feb 2010-dec 2010 is a ticking bomb
Service bulletins that may apply
- This bulletin outlines the Customer Care Package program that has been designed exclusively for...
- Engine will crank but not start
- Coolant is leaking from under the car which is equipped with the S63 engine
- This bulletin outlines the procedure for checking the engine timing chains for wear, and should be...
- Class action settlement: N54/N54T/N55 electric engine coolant pump .
- N63 class action settlement - battery service benefit - retrofits/ replacements
- N63: oil consumption class action settlement diagnosis/repairs (version 12.0).
- N63 engine vehicles: class action settlement for engine oilconsumption/batter.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
- Risk
- Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 23V707000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2013 X5 xDrive 35d diesel vehicles. The engine idler pulley bolt may loosen over time and break.
- Risk
- If the idler pulley bolt breaks, the vehicle may unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 18V336000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
- Risk
- If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1‑800‑525‑7417, MINI at 1‑866‑825‑1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1‑877‑877‑3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Recall number 18V248000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V683000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- Bmw is recalling certain model year 2011 5-series, model year 2010-2011 5-series gran turismo, model year 2009-2011 7-series, model year 2010-2011 x5 sav, and model year 2008-2011 x6 sav vehicles equipped with 8- or 12-cylinder, turbocharged, engines because the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat.
- Risk
- This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on december 19, 2011. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 11V521000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2011 BMW X5 knocking
Is engine knocking or ticking a common problem on the 2011 BMW X5?
5 of 264 owner complaints about the 2011 BMW X5 (2%) mention engine knocking or ticking. The model year with the most reports is 2011.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2011 BMW X5?
There are 5 recalls and 107 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2011 BMW X5
Loss of power 26Check engine light 25Overheating 19Stalling 17Fire or smoke 13Fuel pump 13Engine failure 11Won't start 7Fuel smell 6Won't shift 6Hesitation 5Jerking 5Oil consumption 5Power steering loss 5
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