[Addbuyer]

Guys, my car threw up a "crash avoidance system inoperative" message which shuts down the adaptive cruise and of course the crash avoidance etc.
Booked it in for inspection and whilst waiting for that date it came back on after approx. ten day. It then turned off and back on again a few times whilst waiting for the date at the stealers.
They claim the radar has moved and the bumper needs removing to get to the radar for readjustment, its pointing slightly down they claim. I have warranty but they claim it’s not covered because it’s been hit and knocked out of alignment (which of course it hasn’t) so they can’t claim it back from BMW.
Upon collecting the car I was told it will cost ME £325 to adjust it!! They have just called me to book it in (another long wait but that’s not an issue this time round) and upon questioning again why it’s not a warranty item as its not been in any accident, I’m told it’s a fixed bracket that must be bent and BMW would see that and so wouldn’t pay out. I said so is it a fixed bracket or is an adjustable bracket? They couldn’t answer that but went on to add that if it can’t be realigned then it could mean a whole new radar system
Anyone know what’s holding the radar or had this same issue? I think it stinks

[383vett]

Try a different dealer.

[spangle1980]

It looks fixed - I think they're taking the piss though - if you have not had any prangs then WTF? How old is it? This is the closest I could find off an X5 ...

https://www.b-parts.com/auto-parts/e...0-2018-7872348

[Addbuyer]

Defo no prang and looking at that bracket, it would take one hell of a hit to bend that. Only the front of the radar is visible, set into its own recessed housing. The plastic front of the radar would be crushed to bend that metal.

[spangle1980]

You read my mind - such a crash would for sure f**k up the plastic first :-|

[jikhead]

I think it would be on the dealership/BMW to proof it that it was an accident that caused it. If they can't proof it, then should be warranty covered.

[freshxdough]

I've seen this happen several times on 5 and 7 series. People who ride up onto the parking block, curb or even blasting a driveway and scraping the bottom.

The dealer is true on several parts, the bracket is fixed and if it's bent it needs to be replaced. There is an adjustment ONLY for adjusting the sensor with the test plan for calibrating the ACC system. The adjustment is not to adjust it from it being bent. If the bracket is bent, it needs to be replaced and then the ACC adjustment needs to be performed. Ask them for photos showing where the bracket is bent. Generally I see sensor bent upward as usually the customer bottoms out on a driveway or a parking block.

Please post exact fault codes and description

[Addbuyer]

The unit needs calibration, no way is the bracket bent even though the stealership say the unit is pointing downwards slightly, 100% it’s not been hit.
So as it’s calibration and I have warranty ( my car is 4 years old, purchased June this year with a two year BMW warranty ) surely a breakdown of a part like this should be warranty?

I’ve tried moving the radar ( can’t do any harm if I’m careful not to break it ) and it won’t move in the slightest.

[Keefy]

The bracket looks interchangeable and relatively inexpensive.