Another good looking one... fixed!

[g60renshaw]

Mini Update:

Been crazy busy so not been on here much, but been using the car daily and I might be cursing myself here, but its running absolutely perfectly. Have scanned for faults a few times and always get nothing, which is a nice feeling. Sailed through its MOT last week with a comment from the tester of "you look after your cars don't you".
All I have had to do is the basics, like fluids and filters and fit new tyres all round when they were needed. Otherwise I have just driven it.

Following a chat with Lez about his "tool", I am planning on a weekend of rear subframe bush replacement as I am starting to get the tell tale signs of a subtle thud in the back that they are on the way out and I like to get this jobs done before they are needed.

Ticked over 85,000 last week and I genuinely can't see me getting rid of it for long time....

[g60renshaw]

Finally got round to replacing the rear subframe bushes today. Thanks to Lez and the hire of his awesome bush puller it was an incredibly easy job.
I replaced the bushes with OE ones as I managed to get some cheap and the difference it has made to the ride and handling is marked. My bushes were only just starting to fall apart compared to some I have seen, but it still really tightens things up and eliminated the slight dull thud I occasionally got.
Took about 3 hours to do so much shorter a job than I thought.

Next on the list is a brake system rejuvenation, just to keep ahead of things.... Discs, pads and fluid change, along with the replacement of the rear brake pipes which are known for corroding on the X5.

Jay

[lezmtaylor]

Pleased the tool was of use.
Lez

[AW8]

Well done.............wish I lived closer as would have liked to have been able to look on & assisted where able.

[g60renshaw]

Yeah thanks Lez, just realised I still need to PayPal you some cash.

I think I live in the wrong area of the country for X5 tinkering, everyone seems to be in the south/south west.
Would have been good to have another pair of hands

[g60renshaw]

So after a light front end bump when a DHL lorry reversed into the X, it has been written off Cat D.
The damage is virtually invisible, but it has bent the bonnet and also squashed the front bumper behind the bull bar.



So I bought it back off the insurance and managed to source an entire front end from a 4.6is in exactly the same colour, along with the arches and rear bumper to complete the upgrade at the same time as replacing any damaged parts.

So this weekend I set about swapping it all over

Front end off completely, replaced with all new bonnet, front and rear bumpers (4.6is), arches (4.6is), front panel and headlights.
While I was in there I replaced both auxiliary belts and also the two vanos solenoid seals which were leaking oil slightly down the front of each cylinder head

Is is how she looked partially dismantled, before the front panel was removed..



A pile of bits removed...



Standard arches off....



4.6is arches and rear bumper fitted.. Sorry it's filthy!



All back together and better than before...



Will post some proper pics when I have washed and polished it, but to say I am chuffed is an understatement. The car was so mint before and because all the damage was on bolt on bolt off panels I have managed to put it back to its former glory without any "bodywork" and even got the 4.6 spec upgrades into the bargain.
Going to treat it to a hualingan nav unit from part of the payout for the car too..

If anyone needs a rear bumper or the sport arches let me know as I am selling them now I have the 4.6is stuff fitted.

Jay

[Sanj]

Fantastic buddy! Looks brilliant and that feeling, boy that feeling is soooo good!

I gotta ask, how the hell did you source the 4.6is and how do I get that lucky!?!

[Cannondale]

Its looking very nice.

Get some pics up when she is finnished.


Rich...

[Raj]

Excellent work Jay. Great feeling having transformed it as well as repairing it. Hard to believe they wrote it off.

[X5Sport]

Very well done....looks fantastic. You must be well chuffed indeed...

[g60renshaw]

Cheers guys. I must admit I was shocked when they said it was written off, but to be honest it's worked out great that way.
I am travelling with work until the weekend, but when I get back I will give it a proper wash and take some pics

Jay

[g60renshaw]

So I finally managed to get some pictures over the weekend after I put the car back together.
The parts have all fitted perfectly and are an absolutely faultless match to the existing paint.
The addition of the 4.6is spec trim (bumpers and arches) has really finished the car off exterior wise for me and I think they just beef it up nicely. Drove the car to work and back today (50 mile trip) and it was faultless and threw up no codes. PDC all works perfectly now which always used to have random sensor problems, so thats another added bonus.
Ignore the condensation in the headlight, its gone now.
Anyway I will let the pics do the talking...

Jay

[X5Sport]

A quality job by the images. I think you may have another career coming up....

[dgm]

That looks brilliant. Good job.

[g60renshaw]

It sometimes feels like a second job the amount of work I do on my cars, but this one was a nice easy one to be honest

Jay