[quote="shadrack"] id just stick allow to get a £2500 ish bill at any point and carry on, lots report failure just after so if theres no problem to fix, just leave it, many on high miles are fine, as you say its roulette with no apparent milage/ pattern other than some go, some dont [/quot...

My X5 has now done more than 135,000 miles and the gearbox is operating faultlessly (tempting fate I know) and changes gear smoother than greased weasel shit. However I know this sunny day scenario cannot last forever and will one day turn round and bite me in the arse as "sealed for life"...

Thanks guys I will check the battery voltages first thing in the morning and failing that take a trip to Halfwits for a bucket load of bulbs and swap out the lot. I've recently managed to get hold of a Dimwhits trade card so will be interested to see what sort of discount I will get (if any).

The dashboard display on my 2003 3.0D is constantly telling me to check tail lights and check brake lights and the passenger side indicators occasionally flash really fast. I have checked all of my lights and they are all working fine. I have done a search on this forum and I have removed the rear l...

For anyone that owns a decent Android smart phone I can highly recommend an App called Autoguard. It turns your phone into a dash cam and records video with a Google Maps overlay location and if you so wish your speed as well. I have mine set to record 6 minute chunks to an allocated 8Gb storage loc...

[quote="X5Sport"] OP:  Perhaps the DSC also detects the van isn't moving so cuts the power?  I'm thinking more and more this is a trailer not tractor issue? Richard [/quote] My feelings as well. I have the PF Jones OEM wiring kit installed and think the X is being smart about what it has c...

[quote="TimX5"]
Get your self to the lawns at Cottingham for a new caravan on the 6th and 7th of September you won't regret it 
[/quote]
Hmm what is this caravan extravaganza of which you speak?

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think the common thought here points to the caravan brakes and the reverse mechanism. I am not going to pull my hair out over this as the caravan has had its last journey and will be replaced as soon as a suitable twin axle is found. Hopefully a new caravan with f...

Jeez, I've just noticed you own a 4.0D X6. Cease your worrying immediately 

Thanks Richard our next caravan will be around that weight as well. We have always had big twin axle vans and the next will be no exception. When towing normally the X deals with the van without any fuss, it's effortless and you wouldn't know you had anything attached if it wasn't for the rear view ...

It's an auto Richard and due to torrential rain and unexpected visitors I was not able to hitch up and try the caravan with the brakes firmly applied. The caravan is an old beast of 1993 vintage so nothing new and fancy when it comes to the braking system. In fact old , worn and problematical is mor...

Some interesting thoughts and observations there Richard and food for thought. The X never has a problem when there is nothing hitched up only when my caravan is attached. The caravan does have override brakes but even if there was a problem with them locking up I cant see that would be a problem fo...

[quote="Steamyrotter"] Cant remember if you tried it with the electrics unplugged?? Did you have a bash?? [/quote] Hi Steamy I did try with the electrics unplugged but I couldn't travel far so it was inconclusive so in the end I fitted the OEM wiring kit from PF Jones. I towed all the way ...

[quote="X5Sport"]
Not certain that the scanner can read the gearbox fault codes.  Try a Bosch Autocentre which has an Autologic system.  That should be able to read any gearbox codes that may have been stored.

Richard
[/quote]
Thanks Richard, I'll give that a try.

I posted a while back that I had problems with my X5 when I towed for the first time. Basically if trying to pull away the car would refuse to move. The engine bogs down and plumes of black smoke appear from the exhaust. This has happened in forward and reverse and the car doesn't move an inch. The ...