2011 BMW X5: won't start

Filed May 9, 2026 · Engine · TX

There's currently an open recall for a number of BMW engines involving aluminum bolts in the vanos assembly that shear, strip, and break off completely. The open recall is somehow excluding some vehicles with the same exact problem like my 2011 BMW X5 xdrive35i N55 E70 with the inline 6. Currently my vanos bolts are already sheared off and sitting in my oil pan. My vehicle started misfiring and acting strange while I was traveling at 75mph, luckily I made it into a gas station and had to have it towed from there because it wouldn't start again and hasn't since. BMW knows about these hazardous bolts and chose to not repair some of them directly endangering drivers and their families. My local BMW dealership won't even confirm that the bolts in my oil pan are the vanos bolts even after I showed them photographic evidence which I still have. I've spoken with BMW North America and they said I need to get it confirmed by my local dealership, so where dies that leave me? Here...over $8,000 in damage/loss from an obvious manufacturer error that THEY ARE AWARE OF!

Filed Aug 16, 2019 · Engine · 156,000 miles · MA

Vanos bolts on exhaust cam sheared off while driving at hwy speeds resulting in engine malfunction, reduced power to a no start condition. The recall for this exact bolt issue was done at 86k miles, and now 70k miles later the issue occured anyway. Bmw will not cover as the replaced part only had a 2 year warranty.

Filed Oct 11, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 155,000 miles · NJ

I was told I have issues with the nox sensor and scr catalyst. I have also been preovusly told that the entire diesel emissions system was faulty and it would cost me $6000 to repair. Because I have 155k miles on the car nothing falls under warranty. Bmw is also unsure that the oxygen sensor is really the problem so it will cost me $1000 to replace that and hope it works. The issue now is my car is giving me a message "incorrect diesel fluid" even though there is correct fluid in (since the dealer is the only one who has ever put any in there) and is at the full level. The sensor is now saying I only have 60 miles to drive it before it won't start again. What I am most disturbed about is that there is information that there was a recall on this exact issue but because I can't find a recall number they will not honor it and will not fix my car. Http://www.autonews.com/article/20120504/retail05/120509927/bmw-will-recall-diesel-models-to-fix-emissions-glitch I have been with bmw for a number of years and my family has purchased quite a few. As a result of this, I have now had to purchase another car (a nissan) and had to take an uber to the lot to pick it up since my car may not even make it to the lot and back.

Filed Apr 18, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 69,187 miles · PA

This vehicle has numerous complaints about the vanos system. As I was driving on the highway with full traffic, my engine failed at 70 MPH causing to me almost get killed in traffic as I fought my way the the shoulder. The car would not start, I took the car to the dealer and it seems that the vanos bolt backed out of the camshaft and caused catastrophic damage to the engine. I went to my warranty and they would not cover the damage due to it being the bolt that backed out. As they do not cover bolts. Now I am paying for a car that I cant drive and is currently sitting at bmw of mt. Laurel in new jersey with an 18k bill. This can happen to alot of people in these vehicles. That vanos unit is dangerous and should be recalled again with the correct bolts reinforced.

Filed Jun 27, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 63,154 miles · DC

Purchace car from darcars kia with 50299 32,747,85 on about 12/08/2015.july 15th car run hot housing unit had to be replace coolant pump,asa-bolt,thermostat,coolant,ep battery 92ah cost $ 2550.48. At bmw of silver spring 3211 automobile blvd.silver spring,md 20904. Car would not starter on may 20th 2017 had a car tow to bmw of silver spring,md thursday night was told monday that tech ran diagonostict scan and found faults stored for stater tech recommendend replacing starter $1400 I decline had truck towed to rossi's automotive 903 selim rd. Silver spring,md 20910 where the car is now waiting to be towed back to bmw of silver spring. Been without my vehicle since may 20th ,2017. Had driven my car a full year .still paying geico and navy federal credit union $32,747.85

Filed Feb 15, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · CA

My 2011 bmw x5 3.0 sav was exhibiting rough starts on ignition and it stalled after a while and wouldn't start back up again. We had it towed to the dealership the first time and the vanos system was replaced( recall extended warranty). The next time it stalled and wouldn't start back up we were advised it was the starter so we had that replaced( $1163.36) along with the battery( $ 260) and then the driver side window wouldn't go down and the dash board lighting went out and the alarm wouldn't engage, the dealer advised us that it was a footwell module problem covered under extended warranty until 125,000 miles. All in all the car is rigged with problems. I have decided to look up all the federal safety agency recalls and have them done before anything else breaksdown. The federal safety agency has the vehicle down for both front driver and passenger air bags and also the in-tank fuel pump in addition to all the ones I mentioned above.

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 91,000 miles · PA

On 21 oct 16 at approximately 3:10 pm, while driving on route 30 in hampstead, md and approaching a roundabout at 30 miles per hour, the vehicle stalled without any warning lights on the dashboard. Lights were operable, but the vehicle would not restart or disengage out of park to move the vehicle from oncoming traffic. The vehicle was towed to the bmw dealership. If this had happened just 30 minutes before, we would have been on an interstate 795 traveling at 60 MPH. There was not collision. At the bmw dealership, the service department stated it was the starter. The starter was replaced but the vehicle still would not start. The service manager stated that the 'engine has seized up' and the cost would be $17,000 to take out the engine and replace the engine. The vehicle was less than two months out of an extended warranty. We are contacting bmw as the vehicle was traded because of the prohibited cost of repairs. The symptoms displayed match the part 573 safety recall report 16v‑746.