Hi all - Newbie with a facelift E53 3.0i Sport

[RossC]

Hi all

Just picked up my first X5, and to say I'm delighted is an understatement.  It's a bit of a departure for me, as this is my first 'soft roader' (Am I allowed to say that? :-[)  All my previous 4x4's have generally been chosen by off road prowess and towing capacity.  Think Range Rover, Landcruiser, Shogun, Grand Cherokee, etc...

As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm delighted with the smooth useable power, and finally, some decent road holding.

Anyway, I have plenty of questions for you all, so please bear with me as I learn the ropes, but for now, here's a couple of pics.





Cheers, Ross.

[kenniff]

Welcome, looks very tidy.

[Glen]

It looks brand new 

[Horizon]

Very tidy looking motor. Welcome to the forum

[RossC]

Thanks all. I'm really pleased with the condition. I viewed quite a few 'bins' before I found this one.

Interior is equally in lovely nick, but there's a few areas I'd like to tidy up.  A couple of little marks on the leather could do with a conditioner or similar, maybe the interior door grab handles finish could be improved, and the sun has made the driver/passenger door wood trim hazed, where the tints have left the rear doors trim completely as new.

Will need to work out whether the trim is the dark poplar, or smoke grey poplar - I find it hard to tell visually, so may have to pop it off for the part number.

[X5Sport]

If you check the last 7 characters of your vin here: 

https://www.bmwvin.com

It should give you the build spec.....

Oh and  

[AW8]

Hello Ross & welcome 

Car appears tidy. The reality is most newly acquired used E53's will have some tired cosmetics. Even if paint is relatively tidy, the interiors can need some tlc.

The interior door handles as with many cars are plastic with a rubberised type coating that can over time deteriorate....Rings worn by those grabbing the handles do not help. Your options are to replace,  maybe wrap or if brave partially or fully remove scratched rubber.....this will leave a shiny black plastic but be mindful the areas more exposed to  sun or hand contact are not easy to strip without making things worse.

From the exterior of your car looks great.

Engine wise probably the most reliable E53 built...

Any more info....Spec, options, manual or auto etc ???

[graemeX5]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Congrats on your new X5 and nice choice of colour.

Graeme.

[RossC]

[quote="X5Sport"]
If you check the last 7 characters of your vin here: 

https://www.bmwvin.com

It should give you the build spec...[/quote]

Thanks - I've had a look and the info given is 'S435 Fine Wood Trim'. I remain none the wiser as to whether this is the Dark Poplar or Smoke Grey Poplar ???

[quote="AW8"]
The interior door handles as with many cars are plastic with a rubberised type coating that can over time deteriorate....Rings worn by those grabbing the handles do not help. Your options are to replace,  maybe wrap or if brave partially or fully remove scratched rubber.....this will leave a shiny black plastic but be mindful the areas more exposed to  sun or hand contact are not easy to strip without making things worse.

From the exterior of your car looks great.

Engine wise probably the most reliable E53 built...

Any more info....Spec, options, manual or auto etc ???
[/quote]

That's great information on the grab handles, and good suggestions.  I think I'll try wrapping first, I see there are leather texture vinyl adhesives that might do the trick nicely.  The titan silver half remains in good condition, it is as you say, the previous owners rings that have done the rubberised finish damage.

I'd like to thank you personally for your buyers guide.  A really helpful post that swayed me to the 3.0i and I have no regrets, even though my heart still fancied the 320bhp of the V8.  Reliability is something I've really lacked for the past few years, and while I don't expect the E53 to be faultless, I wanted to give myself the best chance of all the E53's.

While I'll do the lazy thing of copying and pasting from bmwvin below, it is an auto and has just enough options for me to be happy. I would have liked power fold mirrors, and sadly I'm lacking Bluetooth, but other than that, I can't think of anything further I'd want.  Strangely, I'm delighted this doesn't have a sunroof - I'll be using the roof rails often so the panoramic wouldn't have been the best choice.

Vehicle options
S1CA Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S205 Automatic transmission
S220 Self-levelling suspension
S226 Sports suspension settings
S230 Extra package, EU-specific
S249 Multifunction f steering wheel
S255 Sports leather steering wheel
S2CC BMW LA wheel, star spoke 132
S302 Alarm system
S321 Exterior parts in vehicle color
S328 Footplate, aluminum
P330 Sports package
S386 Roof railing
S428 Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431 Interior mirror with automatic-dip

Vehicle options
S435 Fine wood trim
S441 Smoker package
S442 Cup holder
S459 Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S473 Armrest front
S481 Sports seat
S494 Seat heating driver/passenger
S502 Headlight cleaning system
S508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
S521 Rain sensor
S534 Automatic air conditioning
S650 CD player
S692 Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S761 Individual sunshade glazing
S775 Headlining anthracite

Vehicle options
L812 National version England / Ireland
S818 Battery master switch
S840 High speed synchronisation
S863 Retailer Directory Europe
S877 Delete cross-pattern operation
S880 On-board vehicle literature English
S8SM Car ident. number visible from outside
S8SP Control unit COP
S925 Dummy-SALAPA
S926 Spare wheel
S945 Dummy-SALAPA

Vehicle options
S413 Trunk room net
S555 On-board computer V with remote control
S661 Radio BMW Business (C43)
S785 White direction indicator lights
S853 Language version English

[AW8]

Thanks for sharing the spec info.

Thanks also for your kind comments re the buyers guide. I am glad to see it was of use.

Spec will be fine. The folding mirrors are nice but more grief than good plus expensive to fix/replace.

As for reliability the engine is a wise choice in that regard. As with most larger SUV/SAV choices these cars can consume brakes and suspension more than on lighter vehicles. Based on my ownership....Thrust bushes, rear subframe bushes & front outer CV boots typically live for 70-80k. One of my rear suspension sensors failed around 140k. As with any vehicle....wear & tear can sometimes be extended by gentler driving. Ideally you will find the balance between caring for it & enjoying it.

I owned my last X5 between 60k & near 150k miles so I am probably better able than many to share ownership experiences based on living with an E53 for some time & mileage.

[X5Sport]

I had Dark Poplar and that has a code S438.

Realoem has S435 as Poplarwood Smoke Grey

[RossC]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Realoem has S435 as Poplarwood Smoke Grey
[/quote]

Thanks for that, that's a great help

Of course, smoke grey being the hard one to find on eBay

Looking at realoem guide pricing, it's likely pointless asking the dealer £££

[X5Sport]

[quote="RossC"]
Looking at realoem guide pricing, it's likely pointless asking the dealer £££
[/quote]

Good Morning sir, you'll be looking for our mortgage department, this is Parts......