Saying hello - newbie owner

[mattmanX6]

Been trying to find a decent owners forum for the X6. It doesn’t seem to get much love on Pistonheads and most forums seem fairly quiet before I found a link to here.

Just purchased a 2014 40d from the original owner with 60k and full BMW SH. Got it for what I think was a good price as it does need 2 front tyres, oil service and an MOT at the end of May.

https://i.imgur.com/Da76YET.jpg

[mattmanX6]

Right, figured out how to attach pictures

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[mattmanX6]

Have a couple of questions to ask the experts

Folding mirrors? I have the button on the arm rest but is there anyway to set them up to automatically fold when locking the car? Couldn’t see anything obvious in the i-drive

Any recommendations on tyres? Had considered putting non-runflats on the front to replace the Dunlop SportMaxx but from everything I have read this isn’t recommended so will replace with runflats. Kwik-fit have a decent price on some Bridgestones at present so will probably go with them.

Replacing the centre caps? Is there anyway to remove the centre caps without removing the wheels? The current ones are bubbling on the edges so was looking to replace, but if I need to take the wheels off I may need to purchase a proper trolley Jack as I’m not sure a scissor Jack will take the weight

[IanP]

The mirrors should be able to be coded to fold automatically. The centre caps should come out if you lever them gently with a plastic lever.
As for the tyres, plenty of threads on here about tyre type, star marking etc. I have only replaced like for like on my x6 which is an expensive pastime, but so is a damaged transfer box....

[Alan Gunn]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Be very careful changing just 2 tyres as over a certain tread depth difference will wind up the transfer box and cost you a lot of money.
Do some homework on this please.

[sapphireblack]

Tyres can be critical so as said do your homework .

If the wheel centre badges are scrap anyway, punch an old flat blade screwdriver right thru them, twist and they will pull out without damaging the surrounding finish.

[StuBeeDoo]

As others have noted, take care in your choice of tyres. Don't be sucked-in to the "new tyres have 8mm tread depth" myth, they rarely do and can be +/- by quite a bit. On a car like yours I would fit a full set of * marked tyres.

Re the mirrors, have you tried holding the lock button on the remote down for a few seconds when you lock the car?

[mattmanX6]

Thanks for the tips guys.
The rears were replaced within the last 1000 miles or so, but the fronts are getting close to the wear markers so was planning to replace ahead of the MOT. Will be replacing with run flats though.

Mirrors work fine on the button inside, just not on the key fob, I guess it needs to go back to the main dealer to code to fold on lock/unlock

Good idea about putting a screwdriver through the centre caps! I have a set of plastic trim tools, so will try that first, if not will go with the ‘subtle’ approach

Have just learnt not to add an emoji - otherwise you get a massive icon on the post!!!

[X5Sport]

Hello and

Tyre tread depth is critical - it must not be more than 1.5mm difference between axles or individual tyres. As you are going to change the other pair pretty quick after the first you should be fine. A single worn tyre going bad could necessitate a complete set change (as I found to my cost in 2019).

The X6 (as with the X5M, X6M) has a very clever rear active torque distribution axle and you don’t want to break it or the transfer box! The rear diff is very very expensive. Only use the right tyres, whether run flat or not. Don’t mix brands.

[Leslie]

Hi and welcome I was going to suggest putting a self tapper screw though the centre cap to pull them out if they are being changed, levering will result in some damage no doubt no matter how careful and a lot easier than taking 4 wheels off.

[X5Sport]

Forgot to add, when looking for new centre caps don’t buy E70 ones, they don’t fit due to the wheel centre bores being different (because of the clever rear axle). The same applies to the alloys.

You may find the mirrors will auto-fold if you hold the lock button for a few seconds, otherwise it is a coding change. It’s ‘comfort open/close’ and will open all the windows if you keep the unlock button pressed too.. You can do it yourself if you buy an appropriate tool such as Bimmercode or Carly..

[sapphireblack]

Good idea about putting a screwdriver through the centre caps! I have a set of plastic trim tools, so will try that first, if not will go with the ‘subtle’ approach

IME this is a brute force exercise. Plastic tools will still marr the paint and probably not lift them anyway. Enjoy punching them as described