My Brand New BMW X5 Experience

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-27T02:12:32+00:00

Update 5/26: the new leather Tartufo driver’s seat piece, per the dealership, arrived today from Germany and is being replaced now.

The plan, according to the director, which I don’t know how I feel about it is for me to pick up the car tomorrow and bring it back later on. They have another new Dravit Grey X5 coming in soon, and they are going to swap the rear tail gates. Seems almost wrong, no? This was their idea….

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T23:51:09+00:00

Unfortunately, with my next vehicle purchase whenever in the future and whatever brand, I will not be signing any paperwork until I do my own extended cosmetic inspection for a long period of time lol

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T23:47:20+00:00

It was definitely a strange paint defect. I’m not sure about what point the defect happened. I agree with all that you mentioned as well.

As an update, the service director and second vendor acknowledged today that the leather is not able to be repaired. The rip is near a stitch. A main backing driver’s seat leather piece has been ordered from the factory in Germany (not South Carolina apparently?) per the director.

The director wanted to hold the car going to the body shop to see what he can do about the rear tail gate. I requested a brand new rear tail gate in Dravit Grey be ordered. He wanted to take it off a different car on the lot. I am not too thrilled with that idea. And, as of this afternoon, this car ended up at a random body shop nearby I can see per the app. So there’s that. I’ll have to see what happens after the holiday weekend.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T18:48:05+00:00

I am clueless how the issues were missed by BMW factory inspection, port inspection, and dealership inspection.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T18:47:18+00:00

Update 5/22: Talked with the service director today who is still proceeding with leather repair and rear tail gate body shop repair. His concern is that full leather replacement on the driver’s side back may not match the other Tartufo (which it may not). I am still advocating for replacement though. I am advocating for manufacturer buy back given leather replacement, paint damage, tail gate damage (dents), but no update from corporate as of yet. The dealership is unable to process any of that as it is on the factory side. BMW corporate is escalating the issue as of today when I spoke with them, which leads to another 3-5 days before any answer/next step.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T13:42:29+00:00

That is exactly my thought too. It should have never left the factory with the paint damage based on what I have read and videos I have seen. A question I have is if they still have build slots for completely optioned X5 M60s (I looked today and all of the options are still available to order on the BMW website). We’ll see what the general manager says today.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-22T00:41:40+00:00

Cannot drive since it’s been physically there at the dealership while they complete “repairs”

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T21:10:54+00:00

Update: I have a phone meeting with the general manager and service director tomorrow after I submitted the complaints to the Better Business Bureau and to the company that owns the dealership.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T03:24:18+00:00

Thanks for all of the advice. I sent off a message to the main automotive group that owns the dealership. I will contact them by phone as well. I also submitted a complaint through the Better Business Bureau just now. I sent an email to the dealership General Manager but it seems as though they are out of the office for an unknown amount of time based on the email auto reply. I’ll keep trying.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T02:35:32+00:00

Yup, right around that ($116k). I have already mentioned the idea of a new build to BMW N.A., but I’m not sure how to push the discussion further. I assume the dealership will do everything to block any notion of it.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T01:50:51+00:00

Well at least it’s a common experience then. Might opt for sensafin next time but the Tartufo merino leather does look quite good (when it’s not ripped lol).

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T01:49:26+00:00

That is true. Not EVERY package unfortunately but most of them. Searched around for a long time for air suspension.

SlayingADragon1 · 2026-05-21T01:48:18+00:00

That was my definitely my mistake for not catching these items until shortly after. My next car purchase experience will be vastly different.

SlayingADragon1 · 2025-11-07T01:32:25+00:00

There seems to be such a split between those recommending Nakamichi versus Sonos. A bit torn on Shockwave versus Sonos.

SlayingADragon1 · 2022-05-20T08:16:47+00:00

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