Finally got one

[Frankie..]

Morning all!!!
Back into work today after spending the past week enjoying my first x5.
E53 2005 112000 silver, had it one week now. Carried out a full service ( mechanic 20 years in trade!! Helps with running costs

[Don Coffey]

Hi and welcome,

Enjoy your new ride and feel free to post a few pictures.

Don

[X5Sport]

Hello &

[Mars]

Hi Frankie
Welcome aboard!
Mars

[Colin]

Hi Frankie , welcome to X Drivers , lets know how the gearbox service goes , im undecided about mine , will i wont i , ive same year same miles , cheers ..

[Frankie..]

Evening guys wondering if you could shed any light on a couple of little upgrades I would like to get done if possible and beneficial..
My x5 has the standard rubber/plastic trim around the arches and bottom of the doors I would like to add the sidebar/sidestep instead is this just a further piece of trim fastened onto the standard pastic skirt or do you have to change the whole trim and fit actual side bars??????.
Also I have heard there is a updated breather/oil separator under the air filter, are these only available from bmw or is there an after market alternative??????
Really have never been enthusiastic about cars I have owned in the past but I've well and truly got the x5 bug!!!!

[Frankie..]

Hi Colin sorry I was writing my essay while you had posted..
Luckily we have a good working relationship with The local auto gearbox specialists they are a really good professional outfit!!
They have just rebuilt one for us in a 53 plate x5 with 95000 on the clock came to just under £2400 including vat..
Thats for the 5 speed auto box.. Mine has the six speed so if yours is the same year then it'll be the same I think!!
Same costs as the five to recondition but unfortunately more expensive to service...
They strongly recommend a service at 80.000... I'll let you know how it goes..

[Colin]

Thanks Frankie , yes keep me posted about service , the filter on mine  when i checked was the updated one so all good there , i see them on ebay , and not handy got at ..

[X5Sport]

Oil separator is around £40 and only needs doing once.  Genuine is the way to go given the parts are not too costly.  It may have already been done.  It's not located under the air filter but below the engine sound cover.  Easy DIY once you've got the top cover off the engine - which is fiddly on the facelift.  How to guide on here somewhere.

The side steps are a full retrofit kit.  Again OEM is best as you know it will fit properly.  It is also a DIY for anyone competent with a screwdriver, ratchet and hammer...

[Frankie..]

Thanks very much for that x5 sport much appreciated..

[Reusch]

As X5 says side steps are very easy to do and only buy genuine try e bay.

[Smeeagain]

[quote="Frankie.."]
Hi Colin sorry I was writing my essay while you had posted..
Luckily we have a good working relationship with The local auto gearbox specialists they are a really good professional outfit!!
They have just rebuilt one for us in a 53 plate x5 with 95000 on the clock came to just under £2400 including vat..
Thats for the 5 speed auto box.. Mine has the six speed so if yours is the same year then it'll be the same I think!!
Same costs as the five to recondition but unfortunately more expensive to service...
They strongly recommend a service at 80.000... I'll let you know how it goes..
[/quote]

So who do you use ?
Smee

[Frankie..]

Gloucester automatic transmission specialists they are spot on!!!
We do most other work in house but they deal with of our auto transmission work..

[andym3]

Hello and welcome, hope you enjoy your X5 ownership! 

Another cheap little upgrade is the E70 X5 rear wiper blade, its popular on here at the moment and worth doing! 

[Frankie..]

Collected the car today... notice a little difference going up through the box it was decent before but it does feel a little smoother the big difference is with the down shift though very smooth slowing up to the lights and junctions....
Bluetooth connection is the next thing I need to get sorted then everything else cosmetic.. High gloss window surrounds and bringing the trim up to scratch(very faded..) and that's it....