New Member: 4.8is Imola Red 43000KM

[Tahmid]

Hello. I am new here and this is my first post.

I also registered with xoutpost which is a wonderful site as well, however since my truck is a european model and I frequently travel to London for work, I want to get the best advice from this forum as well.

I was lurking around for a while reading up as much as I can to try and gain knowledge regarding the X5 4.8is LE56***, imola red, black interior with grey interior trims, clocked 43,000 km (not miles) that I recently purchased.

Even with the mileage the previous owner took absolutely no care of the vehicle. I intend to fix that gradually. Biggest constraints for me is importing and sourcing parts, as I am based in Bangladesh.

I have other vehicles and the X5 in particular will be a weekend ride only.

This forum has been of immense help and I am looking forward to all of your help, suggestions and guidance.

I made a list of things that needs attention and am working towards correcting them. This will be my phase 1.

1. Drive shaft, universal joint 26111229360 ( RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is Drive shaft, single components, 4-wheel)
WORK COMPLETE

2. Center mount, 26121229726 (RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is Drive shaft, single components, 4-wheel)
WORK COMPLETE

3. Climate control-quite a few buttons broken. (already purchased from ebay.co.uk, waiting for a few more parts so that they can be shipped together).

4. Center console cup holder complete unit. (already purchased from ebay.co.uk, waiting for a few more parts so that they can be shipped together).

5. Arnott Industries-front and rear air springs. Already shipped by Arnott.

6. Figure out a way to sell the Hamann style 22” wheels with Michelin tires 295 30 22. Don’t know why the owner bought these? He also gave me a SAF forged wheels 20” with Advan 275 front and 315 rear. The tires in both are in very good condition. I really prefer the 177 style OEM 20”.

7. Dynavin N6-E53. Can you please let me know of a shop name in London who has this in stock. I will require VAT, as such want to collect. Do online stores offer VAT refund?

8. Radiator-was wondering about aftermarket Behr? Are they any good, or should I look into some other companies? Which replacement radiator do you prefer in the UK?

9. I wish to put LED lights replacements in the interior and exterior where applicable. Are the ebay ones any good? Will look for error free.

10. Already ordered OE style black floor mats from Germany. (already purchased from ebay.co.uk, waiting for a few more parts so that they can be shipped together).

11. Planning to take off the interior grey trims all around and paint them. For painting is paint dip the best option or would regular body paint work?
WORK COMPLETE

12. Steering wheel center has a few white wear showing, wish to take that off and paint matte black. Struggling with what needs to be disconnected to be safe. The fuse alone or the battery terminal?
WORK COMPLETE

13. The panoramic roof does not work and is in my to do list, however first I need to identify the problem area. Motor or the rails/rubbers. I will look up the youtube video. However, if there is a write up somewhere kindly point me there. It would be of great help.
PLAN TO DO IT LAST

14.To take off the AT gear knob, should I simply pull it upwards? or do I need to pull it upwards pressing the parking release button on the knob?
WORK COMPLETE

15. Two of the rear center PDC sensor are missing. I have ordered them along with the inner and outer housing. (realoem was of great help in identifying the part numbers).Got them from ebay.co.uk.

16. I need the running board naps. Small black grommets a few are missing. Which is the best place to source some. $$ealer or somewhere else?

17. The rear window wiper arm axel was missing ordered that as well.

18. I want to order all the labels for the car. (realoem equipment parts- labels). Is there any online store who sells them? Tried looking without luck. Or is BMW dealership my only option? Requesting for your advise.

19. My keyless battery died. In the process of ordering LV2020. WIll look up youtube, however I also wish to order a new master key, what is the process for this? Any idea about the price of the new key?
DECIDED TO ORDER BRAND NEW KEY FROM BMW.

20. I have read about the dreaded valve stem seals and fingers crossed that I wouldn’t need to do that anytime soon. Will keep on researching that for future reference if needed.

21. A complete servicing of the fluids and necessities.
WORK COMPLETE

Anything else in particular that I should keep an eye out for?

With every work complete I will update this thread with a before and after photograph whenever possible.

Many thanks guys.

Best Regards

[Tahmid]

Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!

[briankerrys47]

[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]Richard will be on soon (still having a sleep) Raj/Sanji as well  ),Euro Parts for Battry/Hoses! BMW Cotswold Motors.

[CondorX5]

[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]


Hello Tahmid and welcome, I hope your 4.8is brings you lots of happy motoring.

Just a few points, though.....

1. It is not a "truck",  the term is quite derogatory and as a fellow 4.8is owner myself, mine is certainly not a "truck", and I hope yours turns out not to be one either.

2. Not all the forum users are male - there are quite a few female owners as well, I am one and another member called Violet also has an Imola Red 4.8.

Hope you get all your parts sourced and your X restored to good order.

[Tahmid]

[quote="briankerrys47"]
[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]Richard will be on soon (still having a sleep) Raj/Sanji as well  ),Euro Parts for Battry/Hoses! BMW Cotswold Motors.
[/quote]

Thank you so much. Will look up europarts.
Eagerly waiting for Raj and Sanji's advice.

[Tahmid]

[quote="CondorX5"]

[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]


Hello Tahmid and welcome, I hope your 4.8is brings you lots of happy motoring.

Just a few points, though.....

1. It is not a "truck",  the term is quite derogatory and as a fellow 4.8is owner myself, mine is certainly not a "truck", and I hope yours turns out not to be one either.

2. Not all the forum users are male - there are quite a few female owners as well, I am one and another member called Violet also has an Imola Red 4.8.

Hope you get all your parts sourced and your X restored to good order.
[/quote]

Apologizes ma'am.

I am new to this and going over a few forums most were referring to the vehicle as a 'truck'. Didn't quite understand till now.

Thank you and I will do my best to restore with all of your help.

[CondorX5]

Best of luck with your 4.8 they are great vehicles.  I guess the US tend to use the slang "truck" for an SUV but its not generally something in use in the UK - an SUV isn't a "truck" in my ownership, each to their own! 

[Tahmid]

[quote="CondorX5"]
Best of luck with your 4.8 they are great vehicles.  I guess the US tend to use the slang "truck" for an SUV but its not generally something in use in the UK - an SUV isn't a "truck" in my ownership, each to their own!
[/quote]

Thanks Condor. Thats exactly where I went wrong. Lesson learnt and I love the 4.8is.

So far I have fixed the following:
1. Restored the steering wheel trim
2. Restored the AT shift know grey bit
3. Restored door handle trim
4. Fixed the universal joint
5. Fixed the bearing mount
6. Fixed the CD changer for the typical "no disc/loading" issue.
7. Put on correct wheels to OEM specifications ( I really like the 177 style 20"-future plan).

I just emailed Cotswold. Waiting for their reply. Thank you.

[AW8]

Just a thought on all the pdc codes - I would consider getting the pdc control module checked. It may be wise to try swapping yours with another briefly though I have no idea if coding required.

If all those pdc sensors  listed have genuinely failed I would be asking myself what caused this as excessive water ingress is usually the cause (pressure washer damage or cooking into contact with deep water maybe).

It is unusual for members to include the last 8 of their vin in their forum name. Bear in mind someone could use this info to clone your car though I appreciate the number is also visible when looking at windscreen unless the numbers are covered.

[Tahmid]

[quote="AW8"]
Just a thought on all the pdc codes - I would consider getting the pdc control module checked. It may be wise to try swapping yours with another briefly though I have no idea if coding required.

If all those pdc sensors  listed have genuinely failed I would be asking myself what caused this as excessive water ingress is usually the cause (pressure washer damage or cooking into contact with deep water maybe).

It is unusual for members to include the last 8 of their vin in their forum name. Bear in mind someone could use this info to clone your car though I appreciate the number is also visible when looking at windscreen unless the numbers are covered.
[/quote]

Hi many thanks for the vin heads up. I will remove that.

Someone actually cut off and took both the rear center PDC sensors. They are missing in my vehicle, as a result all the codes.

[Raj]

[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]

Welcome aboard. Nice motor.

Reference to truck is because xoutpost is predominantly US and that's the terminology they use for sure.

1. NGK Iridium is what is recommend tbh and the ones I've used on mine.
2. Dealer really for me
3. I use an OE one but I'd say go with a Bosch S5

Hope that helps.

Raj.

[AW8]

Vin references sorted for you. Got that re the pdc sensors - that would explain it

Cotswold BMW are excellent and will ship anything from the parts catalogue right down to an individual oil filter I ring !

I don't know if they ship overseas but I really hope they will agree to help you. Be sure to ask for a forum discount too -  they give a discount if you tell them you are on "b m w l a n d"

[Tahmid]

[quote="Raj"]
[quote="Tahmid"]
Gents,

I need your help with the following as well.

1. What spark plugs do you use in your 4.8is?
2. Where is the best place to source the radiator hoses?
3. What battery do you run in the truck, in the UK?

Many thanks!
[/quote]

Welcome aboard. Nice motor.

Reference to truck is because xoutpost is predominantly US and that's the terminology they use for sure.

1. NGK Iridium is what is recommend tbh and the ones I've used on mine.
2. Dealer really for me
3. I use an OE one but I'd say go with a Bosch S5

Hope that helps.

Raj.
[/quote]


Hi Raj thank you so much for your reply.

I will be visiting London during the last week and need to get quite a few parts. Mostly sourcing from ebay, however there are a few I need a good dealer contact who can either post or is based around London (tube distance).

Attached are the diagrams, parts I need are circled in red. Except the radiator diagram where I need the lower hose.

Can you please advise the best route to take.

If you don't mind me asking, how much does the OE battery cost?

[Tahmid]

[quote="AW8"]
Vin references sorted for you. Got that re the pdc sensors - that would explain it
[/quote]

Many thanks!

[535dboy]

It is a truck, no other way to describe it

I don't like red cars as a rule but have to say it does seem to work as 4.8 although those wheels would have looked gash