Hello at last

[coops]

Hi all, I’ve been on here for some time but never officially said Hi

I bought an e53 4.8iS off someone here around 2 years. I still have it but between the garage who were fixing it going bust, moving house and having our second child, it was put on hold.

I subsequently bought a Range Rover L322 (4.4 tdv8 with the 8 speed - fantastic car) but sold that recently.

I’ve always wanted a green X5 and found one. 180k miles, next to no service history, questionable handling, few marks.

The jobs list:
- blower fan (probably FSR). Update: not the FSR. It was the blower fan. Swapped it when changing the dash.
- battery drain. Done - aftermarket DVD player and fm transmitter bodge removed. 30/12/22
- crank case vent (vortex one). Done 06/12
- fix the bodged EGR delete. Done 06/12
- pierberg MAF from a merc
- edit: polish out the hazy headlights
- bushes / ball joints
- alignment
- wheels /tyres (maybe my 4.8iS ones inc arch extensions)
- door key spins and doesn’t unlock. Done 30/12/21


Here it is. Oxford Green II, 3.0d Manual!

Thanks for the help so far - going to need more of it I’m sure

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[X5Sport]

Hello and (officially)

…..even if you have been here for more than 4 years now.

Manuals are really rare - mainly down to Dealers wanting massive deposits when ordering in case you pulled out and they couldn’t then sell the order. I wanted a manual but the deposit required was £10k in 2004! An auto one had a £1k deposit. My auto box killed itself less than 4 years later!

[coops]

10k deposit! This first owner must have been keen. They spec’d it well though - love Oxford green.

The other job I have is sorting the headlights - properly opaque

[Leslie]

The only time a manual was offered just no demand for one glad you have got the one you wanted even if it needs a bit of work oh and welcome

[coops]

Cheers

[coops]

Well the crank case vent was overdue a change. A 20k serviceable item apparently - doesn’t look like it’s been done any time recently.

FSR didn’t fix the heater. Next step is to check the control unit and feed to the blower

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[X5Sport]

Given that the ‘bog roll’ PCV separator went out of use back when I had my E53, that means yours has most likely never been done. I found our M57 powered E46 still had its original PCV separator and air filter despite always being serviced by BMW until it was about 6 years old (now 16). The air filter was absolutely black and I’m amazed the engine was getting enough air! Been done twice since, even though the car has only done 73k miles since new.

[coops]

I’ve seen that before with BMW.

Changed that and fitted the blanking plate (where someone had done the value end but bent the pipe up that half way along). Cleaned up the area which was covered in soot - hopefully that’s 1 problem sorted. Certainly seemed way more eager on the short drive today whereas before it was feeling sluggish. Longer drive tomorrow for a better test

Edit: here is the bodged pipe in situ:

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[coops]

Set myself the challenge of swapping the interiors of my X5s today. Started around 930, finished around 530.

Pulled the Dash out of both cars, installed a new blower in my green one, swapped the carpets, swapped the seats (mine now has heated front and rear seats). Got almost all of it done apart from the door cards and boot area. I had to complete it in order to drive home.

Before:

[attachmenta=0]1FE252B0-E645-485C-99BE-CA1E549A71C8.jpeg[/attachment]

Half way at about 2 this afternoon:

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5pm:

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[X5Sport]

Looks like someone’s been busy.

[coops]

3 more jobs completed:

- Interior swap mostly done (all the boot trim and door cards). Just a few bits of trim to do
- fixed the drivers door lock as the key was spinning. £7 Amazon fix
- fix the battery drain. Someone had wired in a DVD player and fm transmitter in behind the sat nav unit. Took it all out and sorted - left for a week and started fine whereas it was draining entirely within 24 hours before

[X5Sport]

Really? Should wire those sort of things in via a switched live for exactly that reason. Car ain’t much use with a dead battery!

[Leslie]

Good work will have a well sorted motor soon

[coops]

Did the headlights. Not perfect but a million times better - I can actually see now

Before:

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After:

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Also gave the car a polish today. Lots of oxidisation and general wear on the paint. Jet wash, snow foam, clay bar, medium cutting paste and a DA polisher:

Before:

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After:

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[X5Sport]

Vast improvement. You must be pleased with how well it’s scrubbed up?

Which DA Polisher are you using?