Ownership Diary - G05 X5 30dXdrive M Sport (MHEV)

Mini-update.....

In principle all going well and still happy with the car, but for a few niggles/glitches. Whilst I was in with the X1 today I took the opportunity to pick the guys brains on the major niggle: for some reason when making or accepting a call via the BMW connection, the microphone / speakers don’t work so you can’t hear/nor can your other participant hear anything.

Interestingly it all works fine in Apple CarPlay mode but ironically after being head over heals for CarPlay, I find the BMW connection so slick for using Spotify/Handsfree that I prefer to select that and deactivate CarPlay.

That was the main thing. But whilst it’s going in, they’re going to look at why I have intermittently (on two occasions) lost the subwoofers. After shutting down and restarting later in the day they’ve come back into play but a bit disconcerting/annoying.

Then it’s also the turn of the creaking electric steering column extender. Still upon startup and shutdown the casing creaks when extending or contracting.

No arguments about booking and also got to chose my courtesy car. Had the choice of a 118d, MINI One, brand new X3 20d, 420d GranCoupe and a 330e. Decided on the 330e as I’m intrigued about the hybrid power train and to see how well the EV only works on my local journeys.

All booked in for 11th Jan.

 

Quick update - just had a call from Baron’s to say that the creaking steering column has been fixed.

On the topic of the faulty microphone and subwoofers, the technician has confirmed that there are fault codes for the subs and the microphone appears not to be “waking up” - the two potentially linked and hopefully solved by way of a software update. This is being run now and will take several hours so the car is being kept overnight and into tomorrow to verify that the software update has or hasn’t worked.

So far great customer service from Baron’s. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

 

Back from the dealers (on Weds in fact), steering column now moving silently, subs fully working and no further issue and everyone left scratching their head as to the mic issue.

The software update failed to work, but the mic works with Voice Recognition & Apple CarPlay calls so no hardware issue. The issue has been reported to BMW AG and once a fix is suggested then I’ll receive a call to get it booked in.

Lovely to get back into the X5. I enjoyed the two days with the 330e but it reaffirmed just how much I love the comfort, size, luxury and driving feel of the X5.

As usual I told them not to valet it. However, I need to give it some TLC myself.....

 

Loving the winter look. There's a thread on PH dedicated to that sort of thing, get it on there!

 

The car got a bit worse from the photo above but I eventually got my butt into gear and gave it a good clean on Saturday.

It took a lot of pre-washing with Citrus Power and Avalanche (two coats of each) before I went near it with the wash mitt. But came up looking lovely, if not ever so slightly hologramy from previous washes prior to my ownership. A good reminder it needs a corrective polish and wax come spring.

Anyway, it looks marvellous again and was the perfect transport for a night away to a fancy hotel with Mrs Spuff...........to celebrate her officially becoming Mrs Spuff at a point in the near future! Thats right - I took the opportunity to wine & dine her and pop the question!



Feet back on solid ground, the X5 is having a Brink towbar fitted today by my trusty friend Barry at Starmo Auto Electrics. The umpteenth towbar he has fitted for me - wouldn’t trust anyone else. Once that’s on, he’s going to wire in the Thinkware Q800Pro front & rear which was originally installed in the Cayenne GTS. Up until now I’ve been relying upon the BMW Drive Recorder but it’s fairly limited in its scope of what it does and can record, so much happier now to have the better system plumbed in.

 

Ahhh, congrats chum, wonderful news! Congrats on the engagement as well.