V8Granite wrote: Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:43 pm
In "oh bollocks" news, the ML needs a gearbox rebuild. It shifts lovely, smooth, as quick as it always has but when doing a gearbox oil change it had brass in there and I've got a bit of a whine. 170,000 miles on it now and 110,000 done by us.
I can't find anything I like that won't cost me 15/20k as an upgrade so I'll get the gearbox refusrbished at about 2.5k and give it a bit of love, some level sensors as the casing has cracked, new drivers mirror glass, fog lamps and possibly send the headlights away to get new reflectors in as I think they are the reason the headlights aren't as good as before, new bulbs made no difference.
Dave!
I sometimes look at changing our 2008 X5, but BMW basically didn't change the model significantly until 2019 - even then I would have to add at least £30k to the value of ours to swap it, and all I'd really gain is a car I'd be more concerned about being trashed (kids, outdoor activities, parking in central London), an engine with less character and worse steering.
Re: Your fleet running reports
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:45 pm
by V8Granite
Pretty similar reasons to us then.
As much as I'd love an ML63 the extra fuel consumption, tyre and brakes cost and the fact it's our tow car, family bus and dog wagon makes me not want to be too precious over it.
It's probably the same value of the car but it's not cost us much and it does everything we need.
Dave!
Re: Your fleet running reports
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 5:19 pm
by Mito Man
The newer X5s drive like shite. I think BMW just gave up trying to make their SUV handle like a road car after the E70 and they became a bit more barge like with every subsequent generation.
Mito Man wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 3:23 pm
Question for the BMW owners who have idrive based service history. If you service it and reset the regular service reminder but not the dealer only idrive service history will the car throw a hissy fit and keep saying that it’s overdue for a service?
my '05 5 is iDrive and when I've reset the service indicators, it's not complained afterwards.
On about the next gen version. You have both the usual service indicators and another page which connects to the dealership server.
I'd suggest selling it and buying an older one, then.
I found a guide, and the software for it is free