BMW X5 Emergency Mode: Oil Temp Sensor Issue?

Hi there! I have some experience working on BMWs. I actually had a similar issue with my 2021 BMW X3 last summer. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. My car also went into emergency mode, and it turned out to be a faulty connection in the wiring harness to the oil temp sensor. The workshop found a loose plug connection that was causing intermittent readings. The fix was pretty straightforward, they replaced the wiring and connector, which cost me around 95 Euro. Before you head to the shop, could you share: How many miles/kilometers on your X5? Does it happen more frequently when the engine is cold or warm? Are you getting any specific error codes? This info would help me give you more targeted advice based on my experience.

Thanks for the detailed response! Thought I'd share that my X5 has 181,064 KM on the clock. Just had it serviced last month. The emergency mode typically kicks in when the engine is already warm, usually about 15-20 minutes into my drive. Haven't pulled the error codes yet, but planning to get that done tomorrow at the shop. Your experience with the wiring harness issue is really helpful, I'll definitely have them check that specifically. Did your car also have any performance issues before going into emergency mode?

Hey again! Yes, absolutely, before my X3 went into emergency mode, I did notice some slight performance issues. The engine would occasionally hesitate when accelerating, especially after the car was properly warmed up. Nothing major at first, but it gradually got more noticeable. Since you mentioned yours acts up after 15-20 minutes of driving, that's exactly what happened with mine too. The timing really does sound similar to what I experienced. Speaking from my case, before the complete fix, I also tried cleaning the sensor connections first (back when I thought it might be just dirt or corrosion), but that only helped temporarily. The fact that yours has 181,064 KM is actually quite relevant, mine had around 165,000 KM when this happened. These sensors and their wiring can start showing age-related issues around this mileage. Once you get those error codes, let me know what they are. If they're anything like what I got, I can share some more specific advice about what worked for my X3. Just hoping you don't have to go through all the trial and error I did before finding the actual issue! By the way, did you notice any changes in your oil pressure readings before this started happening? That might help confirm if we're dealing with the same problem.

Thanks again for all this helpful information! Your situation does sound remarkably similar to mine. Now that you mention it, I have noticed some slight hesitation during acceleration over the past few weeks, but I initially brushed it off. And yes, I've actually been keeping an eye on the oil pressure readings, they've been fluctuating a bit more than usual lately, especially during those warm-up periods. I really appreciate the tip about checking the sensor connections first. That's definitely something I can discuss with my mechanic tomorrow when I go in for the diagnostic. The fact that both our cars started showing these symptoms around the same mileage point is quite telling. I'll make sure to get those error codes and update you on what they find. Here's hoping it's just the wiring harness issue like yours, seems like a relatively straightforward fix compared to what I was initially worried about! Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's really helped put my mind at ease about this whole situation.