BMW X5 Reduced Power Issues, IAT Sensor Culprit?

Hey there! I've had some experience working on BMWs. I actually faced something very similar with my 2014 BMW X3 last year. Initially thought it was something major, but turned out to be a faulty intake air temp sensor just like you're suspecting. Had the same symptoms, reduced power and that annoying check engine light. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they confirmed it with their diagnostic tool. The sensor replacement plus labor came to about 155 Euro, which wasn't too bad considering it could've been something worse. Car's been running perfectly since then. Before I share more specific details, could you tell me what engine variant your X5 has? Also, are you getting any specific error codes? This would help me give you more relevant advice based on my experience. Quick fix though, just make sure you get a proper diagnosis done. These symptoms could sometimes point to other issues in the intake system.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I have the gasoline model and yeah, those symptoms sound exactly like what I'm experiencing. My ride has 123752 KM on the clock and just had its service last month, so this issue caught me off guard. The diagnostic system shows error code P0113, which apparently relates to the intake air temp sensor circuit. It's good to hear your repair was relatively affordable. I'll probably take it to my mechanic this week to get it properly checked out. Would you mind sharing which brand of sensor your workshop used for the replacement?

Hey again! Glad I could help earlier. Since you mentioned the P0113 code, that's exactly what I got with my X3 too! My workshop used a Bosch sensor for the replacement, they said it's pretty much identical to the OEM part but costs less. Been working perfectly for over a year now, so no complaints there. That P0113 code hasn't shown up since. Just a heads up, when they replaced mine, they also cleaned out the MAF sensor and the surrounding area while they were at it. Didn't cost much extra but helped ensure everything in that area was working properly. Might be worth asking your mechanic to do the same. With your mileage being similar to what mine was when this happened (mine was around 115000 km), it's pretty much standard wear and tear. These sensors typically start acting up around this mileage, so don't worry too much about it. Let me know how it goes after you get it checked out. Always curious to hear if others have the same fix work for them!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! Really appreciate the tip about the Bosch sensor, that's super helpful. I'll definitely ask my mechanic about using that and getting the MAF sensor cleaned while they're working on it. Makes total sense to do both at once. It's actually quite reassuring to hear this is just normal wear and tear at this mileage. I was worried it might be something more serious. I've got the appointment scheduled for Thursday, so I'll update the thread once it's fixed to help anyone else who might run into the same issue. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation. Sometimes these check engine lights can really make you worry, but knowing someone else solved the same problem without major drama is really comforting!