Annoying things in the X5

[DavidTSG]

Originally Posted by Buckerine

Very interesting. Are you sure though? I've got my list set to random. The HUD playlist displays ALBUMS randomly, but then includes every song in that album sequentially. I didn't realize that until it was evident that the next few songs in the list were all by the same artist.

So, maybe I'm testing the wrong scenario. I tried 3 different tests this morning to see if I could duplicate what I think you're describing.

1) Select a playlist that is a mix of artists and albums. In iDrive, turn off the Random option. Flick the scroll wheel, and the list is displayed in the order of the playlist. In iDrive, turn Random back on. Flick the scroll wheel, and the list is now random.

2) Select "All Songs". In iDrive, turn off the Random option. Flick the scroll wheel, and the list is displayed in alphabetic order by song name. Turn on the Random option. The list is displayed randomly, crossing artists and albums both.

3) Search on a specific artist, in this case one with multiple albums. Select Play and turn off the Random option. The scroll wheel list is displayed in alpha order by song name. Turn on Random. The list is displayed randomly, crossing albums and not in album order.

Not sure what I'm doing differently than you, but it feels like mine is working the way you describe wanting yours to work.

[vishal_ds]

AUTO/START STOP is the most annoying feature of the car, and utterly useless. Useless enough to cause extra wear and tear to components. Also, where I live (Panama) people drive crazy, the time it takes for the car to turn on people are already honking behind.

Yes, it can "save" fuel, but hey, if you buy a BMW you are not buying it because if its fuel saving abilities, you are buying it because you want to drive spirited and use up your gas. In reality, my X5 has better mileage than any 6 cylinder toyota or nissan I or my relatives have owned (dozens). It gives me almost 35% more MPG than any toyota or nissan with a 6 cylinder engine, as long as you drive it in Eco pro mode, and don't floor it for no reason. You can easily glide at 160-170kmph and your engine doesn't need to be in the 4-5k rpm ranges.

Whenever I start the BMW, I never feel very patient about the road, I just want to drive fast, because it feels good and effortless in it. Whenever I sit behind the wheel of my Toyota, I just don't want to drive it fast, because it just feels too crazy to do it in a toyota. Its a mental thing with these cars, but somehow, it works. These cars are built to run, waste, and cost you money in maintenance, but they are fun to drive and own.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by vishal_ds

AUTO/START STOP is the most annoying feature of the car, and utterly useless. Useless enough to cause extra wear and tear to components. Also, where I live (Panama) people drive crazy, the time it takes for the car to turn on people are already honking behind.

Yes, it can "save" fuel, but hey, if you buy a BMW you are not buying it because if its fuel saving abilities, you are buying it because you want to drive spirited and use up your gas. In reality, my X5 has better mileage than any 6 cylinder toyota or nissan I or my relatives have owned (dozens). It gives me almost 35% more MPG than any toyota or nissan with a 6 cylinder engine, as long as you drive it in Eco pro mode, and don't floor it for no reason. You can easily glide at 160-170kmph and your engine doesn't need to be in the 4-5k rpm ranges.

Whenever I start the BMW, I never feel very patient about the road, I just want to drive fast, because it feels good and effortless in it. Whenever I sit behind the wheel of my Toyota, I just don't want to drive it fast, because it just feels too crazy to do it in a toyota. Its a mental thing with these cars, but somehow, it works. These cars are built to run, waste, and cost you money in maintenance, but they are fun to drive and own.

Sometimes it's not just about fuel cost and mpg savings but also about the environment, most people will keep their vehicle idling while waiting for someone or when stuck in traffic, it helps keep things green. You can either turn it off with a press of a button or put the vehicle in sport mode which will also disable it, or of course you can code it and disable that. It has never taken my vehicle any longer than it would be to cause people to honk behind me and we also got some crazy people in New York. BMW should have still made it a bit different like pushing the brake all the way down to activate it or something like letting go of the steering wheel (with sensors on it) to enable the auto start/stop. The best way would be to send the feedback to BMW and offer suggestions, I am sure they will listen, if not in next model year, but down the line.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Barbja

Aren't most cars in the universe like this? Turn the key back one stop and you're in accessory mode, then again for off. With a key you can slide right through accessory to off in one stroke. How are you supposed to approximate all this with a button? One push for accessory, two for off, and hold to go straight from On to Off perhaps? Sounds like a pretty good solution to me.

I like the way it works. When I get to work, I hit the button once to kill the engine then screw around with prepping to get out of the car: my bag, drink, breakfast, pick up stuff that fell on the floor, whatever. Then get out and get my jacket and laptop out of the back seat and my grooving tunes don't stop until I lock the car. Awesome.

Nope. On my M3, and several cars I've owned before that, a longish push (like a full second) will shut everything down completely, which is what I quickly got in the habit of doing. A quick push would just shut of the engine, leaving accessories on, if that's what you want. It is extremely irritating that this is not consistent across the BMW line. When I pull into my driveway at 6 in the morning and shut the engine off, I want the radio off also before I open the doors. My neighbors do not need to hear my radio at all hours of the night or early morning. Common courtesy. Several times I've come to a stop in my driveway and shut the engine down and pushed the button again to shut everything else down but I still had my foot on the brake, so the engine started again. WTF were these people thinking.

[igorsvrub]

I have one thing which is also annoying me, may be somebody can tell how to disable it.
When I switch on navigation(enter address) and after reach address, keep on moving after destination reached I have arrorws(showing where is destination which I entered into navigation) on my HUD. I mean to say these are simple arrows(up, down, left, right...) not like navigation instruction before you reached destination points where you can see road, showing turns and distance till next turn.
Does somebody has same?
And may be can explain how to remove it?
P.S. Sorry if I was not clear.

[tnikolov]

Originally Posted by igorsvrub

I have one thing which is also annoying me, may be somebody can tell how to disable it.
When I switch on navigation(enter address) and after reach address, keep on moving after destination reached I have arrorws(showing where is destination which I entered into navigation) on my HUD. I mean to say these are simple arrows(up, down, left, right...) not like navigation instruction before you reached destination points where you can see road, showing turns and distance till next turn.
Does somebody has same?
And may be can explain how to remove it?
P.S. Sorry if I was not clear.

You have to manually stop the guidance. You can do that from the top icon when in navi/map mode-> stop guidance. And it irritates the hell out of me too.

[igorsvrub]

Originally Posted by tnikolov

You have to manually stop the guidance. You can do that from the top icon when in navi/map mode-> stop guidance. And it irritates the hell out of me too.

This is what I exactly doing
But I thought that there is some way to do it differently

[ydchoe]

One thing I find annoying is how windshield defroster works for my X5. When I turn it on (and it seems to be more often than my other cars since it fogs up more), it blows too hard in maximum strength by default and I always have to turn it down; usually to just one bar which is sufficient, in hurry because it is just blowing too hard and makes a lot of noise. I do not have "Auto" setting on and I would think there should be a way to just start the defroster in minimum mode. Anyone have any trick on this?

[barcelona]

^^^ To stop Navigation, use voice commands " route guidance stop" Page 130, I said others words .... and it stopped
If I was inclined there are some good voice commands that I should attempt to remember ( pg 128)

2014 NBT Navigation Entertainment Communication Manual.pdf

[Dash52]

Drivers inside door plastic grab handle is disappointing. I would have preferred the more substantial leather wrapped handle similar to passenger side. I think that BMW could have been more creative..... Thoughts?

[F15GorDe]

Originally Posted by Dash52

Drivers inside door plastic grab handle is disappointing. I would have preferred the more substantial leather wrapped handle similar to passenger side. I think that BMW could have been more creative..... Thoughts?

+1

[bronch]

So, I've owned my new X5 for about 3 hours now, lol. So, it could be I just haven't figured things out yet. But, I do have a few gripes/whines, but mostly because I have to change my habits. I think most if not all have been mentioned though.

1) Radio volume control is now on the right rather than left side of the steering wheel. I could deal if the scroll switch and +/- buttons were configurable. I'd rather have the scroll button adjust volume and the +/- button change the stations or songs in a playlist. But, it was just so natural to have the volume buttons on the left.
2) Related to #1, I don't need the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel.
3) Someone mentioned the driver's door grab handle missing. Exactly, why?? Now it's a two-finger shot glass to close the door, dumb.
4) I wish the HUD color was configurable like the welcome lights. Orange is more visible than white in some instances during the day.
5) I totally understand all the eco stuff with respect to the environment. I also read several articles on how much gas you can save with the auto on/off feature, but despite what I know is the right thing to do when it comes to this I'm a late adopter. The auto on/off seems to default to on despite what key you use and how you program your settings. Grrr... Of course, my wife loves this feature as well as the Eco drive settings. My key is programmed to Sport, lol. Don't ask, we get along fine.

On another note, this X drives much better than my '12 X5d. It's pretty remarkable how BMW keeps making a better vehicle. Interior is so much more luxurious and the iDrive screen is, well, a lot better. Although I'm not a fan of the floating screen. Voice commands for calls and Nav are just light years ahead of what I had. I do miss the torque off the line from the diesel, but overall very happy with what we have now.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by ydchoe

One thing I find annoying is how windshield defroster works for my X5. When I turn it on (and it seems to be more often than my other cars since it fogs up more), it blows too hard in maximum strength by default and I always have to turn it down; usually to just one bar which is sufficient, in hurry because it is just blowing too hard and makes a lot of noise. I do not have "Auto" setting on and I would think there should be a way to just start the defroster in minimum mode. Anyone have any trick on this?

Why do you feel the need to use the windshield defroster? Just leave it in auto (with the air conditioner on). That's what I do and I've never had the need to put it in defroster mode. Actually, I never have the need to do anything with it, which is kind of the whole point of a climate control system in automatic mode. In the winter I just set the temp for 65* and put the vent wheels to warm. In the summer I set it to 70* and the vent wheels to cool. The fan setting is set to second bar. In auto mode, I never have to mess with it other than that.

[hyde]

Did we mention the lack of on-dash indicator if the heated steering wheel is on or not...

[Dash52]

Spotify? What is the reason it is so flakey in BMW 's ?

[tnikolov]

I've had mine for only a couple of days, but there are already things that irritate me. Such as:

1) how in the world can't you make a good music integration with apple in 21st century? Playing songs on Spotify via Bt seems to not change the song title on iDrive for example.

2) the buttons of the radio are now below the buttons of the AC, which IMHO makes it all more difficult.

3) no electrical 3rd raw seats, only manual. Come on, BMW! My wife's 6 year old Hyundai has that.

4) although I love the 6WB, I kind of miss the old dash too. Wish there was a way or mode to just return to standard dash.

All in all though, the most fantastic car I've ever owned

[42pilot]

Here's a few more from me:

1. Agreed - hold the start button for a second to shut EVERYTHING off.
2. the volume control from 0 to the first "click" is too loud to have a normal conversation with quiet music playing in the background. I can't have nice satellite music on in the background with a client in the car.
3. The HUD will always default to some gremlin's position, off-center to the right. I constantly have to change it back.

[cherubino]

Another terrible thing is the absense of lecture lighting in the back seats. I cannot turn on a single light to check out a map. This is with the panoramic roof.

You will have to ask the driver to turn on the light for you

[kip1]

The side support makes a farting type of noise in the electric comfort seats when you turn the engine on. Embarrassing.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by NPickles

I think you'll find that there are times when the car doesn't shut off at all unless you press the button multiple times, up to 4 presses in my case.

Seems to be a software issue as the start is never a problem, just waiting for an update from BMW.

Was their a software solution to your issue? My build-date is about one month ago and if I only press start/stop two times there is enough power to keep radar detectors going for 30 minutes. I lock the car away from home, but at home I want it unlocked in the garage.

In terms of other posts, I too wish I did not have to manually select the sports drive at start-up.

Like the OP, I wish things like auto high-beam would be remembered.

[NPickles]

Originally Posted by Xeno

Was their a software solution to your issue? My build-date is about one month ago and if I only press start/stop two times there is enough power to keep radar detectors going for 30 minutes. I lock the car away from home, but at home I want it unlocked in the garage.

Yes, the update seems to have fixed by not turning off problem. Since the update I haven't had a single repeat of it.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by NPickles

Yes, the update seems to have fixed by not turning off problem. Since the update I haven't had a single repeat of it.

Thanks. I will need to ask about this because the radar detectors stay on (30 minutes?) even after two pushes of the start/stop button but also when I locked the X5 and if I just open the door while it is unlocked in the garage.