The G05 BMW X5 is a good used buy if you treat one part as guilty until proven innocent: the engine starter. Of the 744 owner complaints NHTSA holds for 2019-2026 X5s (X5 M excluded), 86 describe a failed or overheating starter, and 82 of those are on 2019-2021 cars. BMW has recalled the starter twice, but only on 2019-2020 X5s. Twenty-five of those 86 complaints are on 2021 and 2022 cars that neither recall covers.
I'm Dana, Revnut's editor. Revnut doesn't road-test cars, so I won't pretend I've driven a G05. What I did do is read the complaints and recalls NHTSA holds for every US model year of this generation, BMW's own recall reports, service bulletins and settlement notices, and turn them into the checklist below.
The specs, by variant
Every US G05 is built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and every one uses an eight-speed automatic. BMW gave the range a facelift (the LCI) for the 2024 model year, with production starting in April 2023.
| Years (US) | Engine | Power / torque | EPA combined | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sDrive40i (RWD) / xDrive40i | 2019-2023 (sDrive from 2020) | 3.0 turbo six (B58) | 335 hp / 330 lb-ft | 22-23 mpg |
| xDrive50i | 2019-2020 | 4.4 twin-turbo V8 | 456 hp / 479 lb-ft | 19 mpg |
| M50i | 2020-2023 | 4.4 twin-turbo V8 | 523 hp / 553 lb-ft | 18 mpg |
| xDrive45e plug-in hybrid | 2021-2023 | 3.0 six + motor | 389 hp / 443 lb-ft combined | 20 mpg, 50 MPGe, 31 mi electric |
| sDrive40i / xDrive40i (LCI) | 2024-2026 | 3.0 six, 48V mild hybrid | 375 hp / 398 lb-ft | 25 mpg |
| xDrive50e plug-in hybrid (LCI) | 2024-2026 | 3.0 six + motor | 483 hp / 516 lb-ft combined | 22 mpg, 58 MPGe, 39 mi electric (2025) |
| M60i (LCI) | 2024-2026 | 4.4 V8, 48V mild hybrid | 523 hp / 553 lb-ft | 19 mpg |
Power figures are BMW USA's: the 2019 launch release (xDrive40i 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, xDrive50i 4.6), the 2020 M50i release, the 2021 xDrive45e release and the 2024 LCI release. Fuel economy is from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov; every variant is rated on premium. The EPA lists the xDrive50e from 2025, so its row uses the 2025 numbers.
The X5 M (F95) isn't in this guide. It shares the body but has its own engine, its own VIN prefix and its own problems, so I took its complaints out of every count below.
The failure that matters: the starter
This is the one that strands you, sometimes in traffic, and in a few cases it ends in smoke.
I sorted every complaint by what the owner described. A failed, overheating or smoking starter shows up in 86 of 744. By model year: 37 on 2019 cars, 24 on 2020, 21 on 2021, 4 on 2022, and none from 2023 on. 81 are six-cylinder 40i cars, three are 2021-2022 xDrive45e plug-in hybrids and two are V8 xDrive50is. Of the 37 owners who gave a mileage, the median was 50,000 miles.
The pattern in the narratives is a car that shuts off at a light under auto start/stop and won't restart, often with a "System Overheated" message and a countdown. A 2019 owner described it ending worse: "white smoke filled the cabin through the air vents. It smelled like burning plastic," and the dealer "confirmed an internal short circuit caused the starter to fail" (NHTSA complaint 11615676). A 2020 sDrive40i burned on the road and was declared a total loss; the owner says "the manufacturer indicated that the starter was the source of the fire," and that the car was "subject to a safety recall related to the starter with no remedy available" at the time (complaint 11722345). Another owner, stopped in the fast lane of a freeway, found that "since the engine would not start, there was no way to shift the car into Neutral gear" (complaint 11702459).
BMW's paperwork tells the same story in two steps. In August 2024 it filed recall 24V576 for 68,105 2019-2020 sDrive40i and xDrive40i X5s built from August 1, 2018 to May 31, 2020. The remedy was a software update to stop a damaged starter being overloaded by long cranking attempts (Part 573 report). Then in March 2025 BMW learned of X5s with thermal damage that had already had that update. That led to recall 25V644, which covers 82,153 2019-2020 X5s built from March 20, 2018 to July 29, 2020, and replaces the starter "with one involving a different design" (Part 573 report). BMW's owner letter is blunt: if you've had the first recall, "it now needs this new remedy" (owner letter). As of BMW's July 2026 quarterly report, 85,251 of the 145,102 vehicles in that recall (X5s plus other BMWs) had been remedied (quarterly report).
Here's the catch: the recalls stop at the 2020 model year, and the complaints don't. About a third of them (31 of 86) say they were told their VIN wasn't covered. A 2021 xDrive40i owner whose starter failed at "approximately 38,000 miles" was told "my vehicle's VIN is not included in the current recall list" (complaint 11705036). And the first fix didn't always hold: a 2020 owner's starter died "only three months after BMW applied a recall fix (software update)" (complaint 11643532).
What I'd do:
- On a 2019 or 2020: run the VIN for 25V644. You want it shown as completed, not just 24V576. A completed 25V644 means the car has the new-design starter.
- On a 2021 or 2022: there's no recall to lean on. Ask for an invoice showing a starter replacement, or price one into your offer. Owners in these complaints report paying from $1,100 to nearly $4,000 for a starter, sometimes with a battery.
- A slow or repeated crank on a test drive, or a "Repeat start attempt" message, is a reason to walk until someone has looked at it.
Six-cylinder, V8 or plug-in
Pick the six. The 40i makes up 509 of the 744 complaints because it's what most people bought, and it's the car the recalls, bulletins and parts supply are built around. It does carry the starter issue above, plus two more things to check.
Oil pump or software? 47 complaints, almost all on 2019-2020 40i cars, blame a plastic part in the oil pump. Nine of them are near-identical texts, so treat the count as inflated. The common symptom owners cite, the manual oil-level reading stalling at 15-30%, has a different explanation from BMW. Its July 2026 bulletin for 2019-2021 X5 40i and 45e models calls that a "DME software issue" and says oil pressure monitoring and the automatic oil-level check "still operates normally" (SIB 11 04 26). So a stalled reading alone is a software update. A red low-oil-pressure warning is not, and several owners report one.
The V8s. The M50i is the most powerful G05 you can buy short of an X5 M, and the one with the clearest weak point. 13 of its 32 complaints are front differential failures, from 31,000 miles up. One 2020 owner writes "I am on my third front differential" (complaint 11759094), and a 2021 owner was quoted $9,000 at 47,000 miles (complaint 11692077). The 2019-2020 V8s (xDrive50i and 2020 M50i) also have an engine thermostat that BMW now covers for 15 years or 150,000 miles.
The plug-ins. 49 of the 159 complaints on the xDrive45e and xDrive50e describe a "Drivetrain Malfunction" or high-voltage warning, often with a sudden loss of power. One 2026 xDrive50e owner at 70 mph says the car "went into neutral, lost all functionality" (complaint 11757606). Three of those were traced to the same 12V starter as the six-cylinder cars. BMW has a bulletin for 2024-on plug-in drivability faults that starts with the low-temperature coolant circuit, and a delivery stop for 2026 plug-ins built May 3 to August 18, 2025 over battery management electronics (SIB 61 09 26). That bulletin tells dealers not to deliver an affected new, certified or used car until it's repaired, so ask for proof it was done.
What else the complaints flag
- Integrated brake system: 89 complaints, 86 of them on 2024-2025 cars. 77 of them are owners waiting months for recall 24V104 parts; a minority describe a braking problem on the road. BMW has filed four integrated-brake recalls covering 2024-2025 X5s (24V104, 24V697, 24V739 and 26V422). Each should show as completed on the VIN, or as remedy-not-yet-available for the newest one.
- Transfer case shudder: 21 complaints of jerking in slow, tight turns. BMW's 2020 bulletin blames "unevenly worn or incorrect fitment tires" or factory transfer case oil that "does not meet BMW specifications," and the fix is new oil (SIB 27 02 20).
- Shark-fin antenna leaks: 34 complaints, 24 on 2019 cars. Water gets past the roof antenna and kills the emergency-call module; one owner was quoted "$2000.00" (complaint 11601639). A class action settled in August 2026 extends coverage for the repair to 10 years or 120,000 miles on X5s built November 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020 (BMW notice).
- Airbag light after a spill: 29 complaints about restraint-system faults, many tied to liquid through the front cupholders. A settlement covers that repair for 7 years or 75,000 miles on 2019-2022 X5s (SIB 01 13 23).
- Panoramic roof glass shattering: 22 complaints spread across most model years, mostly at highway speed. There's no recall for the glass.
- Water pump and coolant: 18 complaints, 9 on 2021 cars. BMW ran a service action to replace the coolant pump on G05s built September 2020 to May 24, 2021, because its pulley can crack (SIB 11 05 21).
Modified cars: what you're actually buying
Fewer X5s get tuned than hot hatches, but the B58 six responds to software, and tuners sell for it.
- Plug-in "piggyback" tuners. Dinan's DINANTRONICS X lists 2019-2022 G05 X5 40i among its applications. Dinan sells it as "Plug and play installation" and "Unaffected by dealer factory updates" (Dinan). Dinan says it adds up to 60 hp at the crank on one B58 version and tells buyers to check per-vehicle pages for their car. The buyer's point: a box like this can come out before a sale and leave no trace in the engine software. Look for an extra module wired in under the bonnet, and ask.
- ECU flash tunes. These rewrite the engine software instead. Ask which company, which stage, and whether the stock file comes with the car.
- Exhaust and emissions. EPA's tampering policy says the Clean Air Act's prohibitions "apply for the entire life of vehicles, engines, and equipment," "regardless of whether the regulatory 'useful life' or warranty period has ended" (EPA). A car with emissions parts removed can fail inspection at any age.
- Wheels and tyres. Mismatched or unevenly worn tyres matter more here than on most cars: BMW's transfer case bulletin lists them as a cause of driveline shudder. All four should match the sizes on the door-pillar placard.
Reading the listing
Before you drive anywhere, the VIN does most of the work.
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup. What to look for depends on the year:
| Model year | Recalls to see completed |
|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 25V644 (starter replacement; 24V576 alone isn't enough), 20V434 (steering column) |
| 2019-2021 | 21V062 (integrated brake) |
| 2020 | 19V631 (steering rack), 20V465 (starter bolt), 20V678 (front axle weld) |
| 2021 | 20V761 (48V battery connection), 21V031 (steering column joint); xDrive45e: 20V490 and 20V601 (hybrid battery) |
| 2019-2022 | 22V267 (roof control unit) |
| 2023 | 22V820 (windshield seal), 22V942 (seat bolt), 23V821 (transmission control unit) |
| 2024-2025 | 24V104, 24V697, 24V739, 26V422 (integrated brake); 2024: 23V471/23V622 (knee airbag), 24V138 (instrument panel); 2025: 24V345 (seat belt) |
| 2026 | 25V556 (windshield seal), 25V837 (instrument panel) |
- Warranty left, if any. BMW's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles. A BMW Certified Pre-Owned car adds one year with unlimited miles after that, and BMW lists the high-voltage battery at 8 years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date (BMW CPO). Most 2019-2021 cars are now past both, which is why the settlement and extended coverage above matter.
- A title history from an approved NMVTIS provider. NMVTIS is the only US vehicle history database that all states, insurers and junk and salvage yards are required by federal law to report to (NMVTIS).
- The trim name in the ad. "X5 M50i," "X5 M" and "M Sport" are three different things. The X5 M has a VIN starting 5YM; every other G05 starts 5UX.
- Service invoices. You want the starter (2021-2022), transfer case oil on a car with shudder history, and the front differential on an M50i.
The first inspection
Arrange to see the car cold, and ask the seller not to start it before you arrive.
- Cold start. Listen to the crank. A long, labouring crank or a second attempt points at the starter.
- Let auto start/stop work. Stop several times in a test drive and let the engine restart itself. That's where owners say it fails.
- Slow, tight turns. Full lock in a car park, gently on the throttle, both directions. Shudder or jerking is the transfer case (or, on an M50i, a grinding front end is the differential).
- Warning lights and a scan. No drivetrain, airbag or emergency-call messages. On a plug-in, no high-voltage warnings, and charge it if you can.
- Roof and cabin. Check the headliner around the rear antenna for staining, check that the emergency-call system works, and look up at the panoramic glass for chips.
- An independent inspection. Even the Department of Justice's NMVTIS leaflet tells used-car buyers to "consider an independent inspection before purchasing." Book one with a BMW specialist and name the starter and transfer case.
After you buy: the first jobs
Assume nothing was done unless there's an invoice for it.
- Recalls. Any BMW dealer does open recall work free, including 25V644 on a 2019-2020.
- Settlement and extended coverage. Check whether your car falls inside the shark-fin (10 years/120,000 miles), cupholder (7 years/75,000 miles), front grille active air flap (15 years/150,000 miles) or EVAP purge valve (15 years/150,000 miles, 2019-2023 40i) coverage before paying for those repairs yourself.
- Software. On a 2019-2021 40i or 45e with a stalled oil-level reading, ask for the SIB 11 04 26 update before anyone quotes an oil pump.
- Coolant. BMW's own bulletin for early B58 cars specifies only its approved HT-12 coolant in the low-temperature circuit.
- Starter money, on a 2021-2022. If there's no replacement invoice, set aside what owners report paying.
- If it's tuned and you'd rather it wasn't: a piggyback unplugs; a flash needs the tuner or the stock file.
Which one I'd buy
A 2022 or 2023 xDrive40i. The starter complaints fall to 4 in 2022 and none in 2023, the oil pump complaints are nearly all on earlier cars, and it's the plainest version of the most-supported engine. Check the transfer case on the drive.
A 2019-2020 xDrive40i only with 25V644 completed. That car has the new-design starter and may still sit inside the shark-fin coverage. It's also the cheapest way into a G05, and cheap for a reason.
A 2024-on car if the budget stretches and every integrated-brake recall is closed.
One honest limit on all of this: complaint counts aren't failure rates. They're self-reported, US-only, and not divided by how many cars were sold. The newest years have fewer complaints partly because they're newer. The starter pattern is still too clear to ignore: 82 of 86 complaints on 2019-2021 cars, with two recalls that only reach as far as 2020.
Who should skip it
If you're shopping a 2021 or 2022 with no starter invoice and no budget for one, skip that car. If you want an M50i without a front differential repair on record, skip it. And if you can't charge at home, skip the plug-ins: drivetrain and high-voltage warnings are the most common complaint on those cars, and without charging you're carrying the battery for nothing.
Where it sits on Revnut
On Revnut the G05 sits at #191 of 378 generations by REVs (snapshot 12 October 2026), level with the original E53 X5 and ahead of the E70 and F15 that came between them. Enthusiasts haven't picked a favourite X5 yet. If this is yours, REV it on its page.
How this was made
Written by Dana Miles, Revnut's editor, from the sources below. The complaint figures come from NHTSA's public complaint database for US model year 2019-2026 BMW X5s, pulled on 12 October 2026. NHTSA files the X5 M under the same model name, so I separated the two by VIN prefix (5UX for the X5, 5YM for the X5 M) and removed 9 X5 M complaints. The 2019 model year contains no outgoing F15 X5s by VIN. I matched keywords in each owner's narrative, so one complaint can count toward more than one problem. Every starter match was read in full, and 21 that only mentioned the starter recall were dropped.