Diesel E53, what are the no brainer things to do?

[Danstable]

Hi all,

With any luck I'll be picking up a manual E53 diesel with 65k on the clock.  I've already contacted Jason about a remap (that one certainly seems to be a no brainer), however I wonder what else I should be getting done?

I want to minimise the potential for big bills in the future, and also ensure that the oily bits are working as BMW intended (except for the remap!).

Many thanks,

Dan

[Horizon]

Hi and welcome to the forum

[the shreksta]

[quote="Danstable"]
Hi all,

With any luck I'll be picking up a manual E53 diesel with 65k on the clock.  I've already contacted Jason about a remap (that one certainly seems to be a no brainer), however I wonder what else I should be getting done?

I want to minimise the potential for big bills in the future, and also ensure that the oily bits are working as BMW intended (except for the remap!).

Many thanks,

Dan
[/quote]

i have had my 3.0d for a year now and i love it.

1st things i did was service-

oil and filter
front and rear diff oils
transfer box oil
air filter
newer type vortex breather

make sure all tyres are in decent condition/same make and bmw rated. i went with michelin diamaris from cam skill.

i had to get my rear brake pipes changed as mine failed (common problem) was around £275 all inclusive @ my local indy.

recently had my manifold changed as it had cracked (common problem) i went with an ebay kit for £90 inc gaskets and was around £200 labour to fit.

opinions on gearbox servicing differ-i went with the age old saying that if its not broke then dont fix it, mine has 113k on the clock and drives fine so im leaving well alone.

other than that and a cd player with a tantrum its been fantastic, deffo the best car ive had.

try and keep a spare credit card/£1500 in the bank for any unwanted bills.

get the 4 wheel tracking done by a hunter machine.

http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

mine hasnt used a drop of oil in a year/4500 miles nor has it used any coolant.

spare keys are £130 from a dealer.

i think people say that rear bushes can wear so check them out and fuel filters often get over-looked at service intervals so get it done as they can cause running issues @ higher rpm.

mine has a few glow plugs out at the minute so it smokes on initial start up but clears instantly,it starts on 1st key turn so im leaving them for the time being.

hope this helps 

[Danstable]

Thanks for the pointers gents.  It is a late 05 car so should hopefully have the vortex breather, does this mean I don't need to worry about it?

Tyres are all being replaced with new 'quality brand' by the dealer, don't know whether they will be BMW approved or not.  Thoughts?

I'm told it was last serviced 1k miles ago so will take a look at the paperwork from that before deciding what to tackle from the list you've provided.

Finally, I have an F11 535i with a manual gearbox, and it has some annoying valve thing that basically makes it appear that I don't have any clutch control.  Does the E53 have the same, and if so can it be removed without issue?

Thanks,

Dan

[jagr]

[quote="Danstable"]
Finally, I have an F11 535i with a manual gearbox, and it has some annoying valve thing that basically makes it appear that I don't have any clutch control.  Does the E53 have the same, and if so can it be removed without issue?
[/quote]

On my previous manual X3 I removed the clutch delay valve without any problems.

If it has swirl flaps get them removed.

[Smeeagain]

I'm fairly sure the E53 does NOT have swirl flaps. Others will confirm.

If you do not know the history then get a new battery as they last around six years and although they can last much longer a failing battery will cause no end of gremlins that will drive you up the wall. An 05 is 12 years old so even if the battery has been replaced then it needs redoing for the same reason. My personal recommendation (other will have a different view) is a Bosch S5 (the S5 has a 5 year warranty as long as you keep the receipt and they usually get replaced without question if needed).
X5Sport is the user to ask about the specific battery spec.

My the recommendation is to do what I did.make a cuppa , take an hour and read as many pages as you can on this forum ( i read about 60 pages of threads - you will soon know what the common issues are form starters and batteries, to door handle carriers and cracked manifolds (replace with the cast iron one of eBay) not to mention glow plugs, steering wobble and so on.

But get on top of these issues and you will love this car. Manual Diesel E53 is quite rare as I recall

I'm amused at others comments on the autobox when you stated clearly it was a manual - it makes you wonder what other pearls of wisdom that they offer are in fact relevant 9hence my comment about read all the threads that you can rather than trying to shortcut that process with a simple post here (no offence)

If you do any oil changes, or have them done on your behalf, research carefully the correct spec of oil. There have been a couple of tyre threads recently - you will see that tyre circumference can seriously bugger up your transfer box so again do the research and make your choices carefully

Oh and do the fuel filter - it is often missed on services.

Smee

[grumpywurzel]

If you need a decent battery I can recommend the Yuasa batteries.

Great find on a manual diesel tho, wish I had one! Deffo get it remapped, mine is pushing out circa 280 bhp.

Tyres? Hmm hot topic there, just get them all changed at the same time, which is what you're getting done.

Check the log book, see when a full service was done ref the air filter as that's a really crap job.

If your car starts with a little too much white ish smoke it might mean the glow plugs and or the controller is duff. Personal choice but mine has been like that for 3 yrs and still starts on the button. A scan of the fault codes will confirm that

Enjoy it, beast of a car. Drive it like you stole it, especially after the map!

[the shreksta]

[quote="Smeeagain"]


I'm amused at others comments on the autobox when you stated clearly it was a manual - it makes you wonder what other pearls of wisdom that they offer are in fact relevant

Smee
[/quote]

WOW........just wow.

I didn't realise until after I posted my advice about the manual box so I do apologise for upsetting you so much.........

As for my other advice which is non-relevant  I will now advise differently to the o.p.........

so o.p as per Smee's comment my advice is now this-

DO NOT SERVICE YOUR CAR

DO NOT CHECK YOUR REAR BUSHES/BRAKE PIPES

DO NOT FIT BMW APPROVED TIRES

DO NOT FIT A CAST MANIFOLD FROM EBAY

DO NOT GET YOUR 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE WITH THE CORRECT MACHINE

I hope that's all relevant now smee.

[gavp84]

Hi Danstable,

Well done on choice of car. You will love it, don't forget to take some pictures and put them up.

As you can see tensions are high at the moment with different views on things but be assured not everyone is as bitchy!

I hope you enjoy the forum and hopefully others haven't put you off!

I have a petrol 4.6is so don't have much knowledge on the D.

Looking forward to some pictures 

[dani_armo]

I have had mine about 6 months and what others above have said is pretty much what I have done or had done by an indy

oil change
air mass sensor (this was giving bad readings and black smoke)
new breather
air filter
glow plugs

and finally matching * rated tyres all round

mine is a low mileage too 60k and is like a new car to look at

[Smeeagain]

[/quote]

WOW........just wow.

I didn't realise until after I posted my advice about the manual box so I do apologise for upsetting you so much.........


[/quote]

Where do you get the fact I was 'upset' ? Far from it, I said I was amused 

Smee

[Danstable]

Crikey chaps, you Chelsea tractor drivers are a passionate bunch 

Trader had told me that on taking the car for it's new tyres it had a misfire, he's getting it looked in to...and fixed I hope. Offered me a refund of my deposit which I refused. I'll quiz him on what the cause was but should I be overly worried?

Cheers,

Dan

[grumpywurzel]

[quote="Danstable"]
Crikey chaps, you Chelsea tractor drivers are a passionate bunch 

Trader had told me that on taking the car for it's new tyres it had a misfire, he's getting it looked in to...and fixed I hope. Offered me a refund of my deposit which I refused. I'll quiz him on what the cause was but should I be overly worried?

Cheers,

Dan
[/quote]

Things breakdown mate, loads of sensors on these new fangled machines. Sure he will get the codes read and go from there.