Liviu Marcus
Introduction
BMW X5 Engine Overheating Problems – and – How to Fix? Check this great article below!
Affected BMW X5 Models:
- E53 BMW X5 (1998-2007)
- E70 BMW X5 (2007-2014)
- F15 BMW X5 (2014-2018)
- G05 BMW X5 (2018-Present)
The BMW X5 is a Mid-Sized SUV produced by BMW since 1998, more commonly known as the E53 model. Please read the whole article about this great SUV and its engine overheating problem/issue and also the solutions to fix or prevent this problem. The X5 was always called an SAV by BMW, which stands for Sports Activity Vehicle, but the rest of the market always named it an SUV since its dimensions were no different than other competitors’ SUVs such as the Audi Q7. Since its launch, the X5 has been the leading example of SUVs in the luxury SUV segment.
The BMW X5 has proved to be relatively reliable with very few instances of mechanical failure or setback that cause the engine to overheat, but this can be prevented or fixed, so there are no worries regarding this… You should not drive the car if the engine overheats and you need to contact the service for a fast fix, as soon as possible, if you need to drive the car again and not to burn out the engine.
In 2007, the second generation of the X5 was unveiled to the masses under the E70 model, this model received the latest tech features which were not found on competitor cars along with an optional 3rd row which increased the seating capacity to seven, a high-performance variant was also launched under the BMW X5 M name, which featured a twin-turbo v8 that made 555hp and 500lb/ft of torque.
However, the launch of the E70 also bought along with it a problem that every E70 X5 owner dreaded, which was the cooling system failure. The cooling system was notorious for its premature failure which caused the engine to overheat in many instances. The majority of cooling failures were in the 2007 BMW X5, which was the first year of the E70 model, later model years experienced the issue as well, but in lower numbers.
Main Reasons for Engine Overheating
A car’s engine can overheat due to a wide array of reasons, from the inadequate coolant to damaged radiators or radiator fans or leaking coolant hoses. But in the E70 BMW X5, the overheating issue is caused by the inefficiency of the cooling system caused by the failure of the water pump and the thermostat, in the E70 BMW X5, the water pump is electric and has the thermostat integrated into one unit, so if either of the two components fail, the whole unit has to be replaced as one.
When the water pump fails, the car begins to overheat and the fans turn on at full speed to cool down the car, alongside that, the car is automatically put into a limp mode along with a message on the infotainment system which states ‘engine temperature too high drive moderately’, in which power is severely reduced to prevent further damage to the engine, many times, the temperature sensors can also malfunction and report a higher temperature, which causes the car to exhibit the same behavior, the sensors, however, are a cheaper fix than the pump.
Problems Explained
The E70 BMW X5, unlike many other cars of its time, relied on an electric water pump that was made mostly of a plastic material that easily degraded over time that caused the engine overheating issue, rather than a mechanical water pump which many other cars at the time used, initially the pump proved to be more efficient than the traditional, mechanical pump, which is why it was very well received.
Although as time passed and the pump degraded, the shortcomings of the electric pump were quickly known of, early failures, untimely failures, and general undependability were the characteristics that were associated with the cooling systems of not only the X5 but many other cars in the BMW line-up as they utilized the same pump, this problem plagued the vast majority of the BMW line-up in the mid to late 2000s, so, this problem caused the BMW X5 engine to overheat.
How to Avoid This Problem
Generally speaking, preventative maintenance such as coolant flushes and regular maintenance such as replacing various gaskets and seals along with rubber hoses that can generally degrade with time and age, would help prevent the engine overheating problem, but in this case, nothing much can be done due to the fact the pump itself has a critical design flaw, which means that you wouldn’t be able to prevent its imminent failure.
The most you could probably do is to watch for when your cars fans begin to ramp up or you see the temperatures gradually rise out of the regular values, to prevent yourself from being stranded, later on, have the car towed to your mechanic and have it inspected, if the water pump is dying, it will need a replacement promptly to prevent you from having to deal with a major breakdown on the side of the road, which can be very inconvenient and dangerous too.
How to Fix This Problem
The problem is rectified by a very straightforward solution, which is to replace the electric water pump with an OEM or OE replacement, using aftermarket parts is generally not recommended due to the fact that it might not have many required certifications, only in a few instances, some aftermarket parts perform better than the manufacturers OE parts.
You can choose to fix the BMW X5’s engine overheating issues yourself if you have the skills to do so or have a certified mechanic with expertise to have it done for you. Keep in mind that you can damage your engine if you leave the problem ignored for long.
How Expensive is It to Repair?
BMW X5 engine overheating repair costs… how much $? – The repair costs can be pretty hefty since the BMW X5 is a luxury, German SUV with heaps of complicated bits, along with very tight spaces around the cooling system and engine area. if you get the repair done from a dealership outside of warranty, the costs of the repair can exceed upwards of US$1000. The pump itself varies from $300-$500 depending on whether you have four-zone climate control or not.
Although, if you perform the repair by yourselves, you will have to only pay for the parts and will save you more than $600 which would be the price for labor alone. Being smart and trying to save in particular areas such as labor and getting the best-priced parts can also significantly reduce the overall costs.
Is There a Recall About This Issue?
Yes, BMW has issued multiple recalls over the same overheating issues, one in 2011 and another in 2018 because the pumps caused the circuit board within the pumps to overheat and become a fire hazard since the plastic build of the pump itself was very fire-prone and could easily catch fire, two recalls were performed because BMW was not able to fix all the cars in the first recall as more cases of pump failure and small fires slowly spreading, eventually destroying the whole car and burning it down. In multiple instances, BMW cars have caught fire, such as the 3 series, 5 series, X5 and X6.
The fix from BMW in the second recall was to replace the pump with a newer design that has a better internal design and a better material, although it is still made of plastic.
Is the BMW X5 a Reliable Car?
Like any other German luxury car, the BMW X5 always requires meticulous care and attention to ensure that the car performs the way the manufacturers intended it to, along with the fact that BMW, or as a matter of fact, any German car manufacturer builds their cars with extremely complicated engineering and often in the pursuit of perfection, they overlook the other aspects of cars.
In the X5’s case, the car, in general, is very reliable, with no major faults other than the water pump and a few other electric gremlins. However, as these cars age, they heavily depreciate to the point where most of them sell for 70% off their MSRP just a few years later down the road, which prompts many people on the used car market to purchase one, without realizing that they will have to spend a lot more money in maintaining the car.
This is why most of these cars begin to fall apart and most of their owners begin to neglect the car to the point where it can’t even drive safely without endangering the occupant’s lives. This isn’t the case with X5 itself, it happens to most luxury cars after they depreciate within a few years, unless they are maintained by their owners.
A great example is the BMW X5’s tires, they are not the size that a regular SUV would have, especially the rear tires, they are very wide, and changing all 4 tires on an X5 easily costs upwards of $1000.
Conclusion
The BMW X5 isn’t a bad car, nor is it unreliable, but it requires a lot of maintenance for it to perform in its prime like most other luxury cars of its time, if you are in the market for a used one, make sure you buy one that has had its maintenance done periodically and all of its gremlins taken care of because if not, the car will be a nightmare to own due to all of its problems. Your best bet would be to purchase a car from a reputable dealer that will offer a pre-purchase inspection and a warranty of at least 6 months.
This will ensure that you are sold a car that has a trustworthy history and has been meticulously maintained, all of these factors are major contributors to owning a hassle-free car.
