XSeries-forum

I have an ongoing issue relating to cracking on the side on the driver seat in my X5...see separate thread.

When I bought the X5, five months ago, from a dealer it took me three days of 'gingerly' pulling the bonnet release to finally get the bonnet to open (I was concerned the plastic release handle was going to break off). The latch points were completely dry and had no grease evident! I note from the forum that BMW do not consider this a maintenance point!

Anyway, this raises a concern........when the X5 was being approved did the dealer ever open the bonnet (to make sure all the bits were there!) and surely if they did, the 'technician' would have had the intelligence to lubricate the latch points?

Maybe they just use the iDrive and presume that all is present and well under the bonnet!

Er....................no . You are mistaken . Its all about £££££££.

They may have opened the bonnet, and had the handle broken then they would have probably dealt with it. But lubricate and adjust if necessary or even consider the cable may stretch beyond the operational limit ? Not a bloody  chance. They will just leave it because to do otherwise will cost them money.
Instead they will leave it. Even if you notice it and mention it at the point of sale , the day you go to collect the car they probably still haven't done it and very few people would walk away from the car.
That way when you take it back they can bill the warranty company if it is covered, or you. As long as someone else is paying they are happy.
They are not there to help you out but to make money for themselves.
Been there, done that, have the t-shirt. Car dealers cannot be trusted at all .

The bonnet catch issue is just ridiculous - I have just paid approx £100 to have the Bowden cables /catches replaced on my E53 - despite full BMW service history, these are not lubricated ever and are deemed "non service " items by BMW, then when they no longer work, the warranty states as its corrosion based, its "wear and tear".  Load of rubbish, really.  Some really cheap and nasty cars have working bonnet catches for years and years, you would expect a better standard from BMW. 

As the car is in its first year of warranty I believe its not Mondial but BMW themselves who underwrite it and the bonnet catch should be replaced. I would be seriously peeved - having bought an AUC of similar age and mileage to yours - if the bonnet catches were so degraded already, at least my E53 is 12 years old, not 5 - my E70's catch seems ok at the moment.

I have taken a photo of my cars seat, BTW, will try to attach - its got no signs of cracks etc. That is just appalling and needs to be put right by BMW, its not fair wear and tear for leather to do that!  Plastic, yes - then they misdescribed the car in the advert! 

It looks like vinyl/leatherette! Unbelievable for a so called prestige vehicle!

I don't think they even looked under the bonnet when they were 'approving' the X5....just lucky all the bits were there!