Hi from Herts

[neilt]

Hi all,

I joined a few days ago after being directed here from another (general) BMW forum. In the past 7 years I have owned a number of private and Company BMW’s…..

2005 E90 320d M Sport
2006 E91 330d SE Touring
2008 E61 520d M Sport
2005 E91 320d SE Touring (sold last May with 200k miles on the clock)

I only sold my last E91 as I was offered my dad’s 2005 E53 3.0d Sport. He had ordered a new X5 40d M Sport, and I got his old one complete with 4x new tyres, newly (BMW Dealer) serviced, new CV boots and new Battery for the same as the dealer offered him Part-Ex (he then secured a £7k discount on his new one!). I’ve put 12k on the clock of this since, now just coming up to 100k.

Unlike his new X5, he didn’t tick too many options boxes on the E53 when he bought it new, so I make do with just Leather and a factory removable tow bar, which is handy as I also tow a race car or Caravan at times. I also have a set of 17” winter tyres which proved beyond doubt last month that they are worth their weight in gold when I went to visit family and friends all over Switzerland and Germany (where Winter tyres are law during the winter!).

I recently had to fit a new Starter motor as the old one has been getting very lazy, and a thermostat. I’m planning to get BWchiptuning to work some magic soon too.

Anyone else in the North Hertfordshire area?

[Raj]

Welcome aboard.

Look forward to the pics.

You'll find the E53 is pre-wired for nearly all options so if there are certain options you would like to add then it may be a possibility.

[neilt]

Thanks. One thing I do want to do is get the Webasto heater working again. The Electric water pump appears to not be working, so I guess it has blocked it. Still it just passed another MOT without an advisory which is nice.

[X5Sport]

Hello and  to the madhouse.

Richard

[Sanj]

Welcome to the forum Neil!

Pics my man - pics!

[neilt]

I only have this pic available at the moment... 

[Sanj]

Great colour!

Mine was exactly like that until the modding began....  ::)

[Don Coffey]

Hi and  Neil.  Love the colour of your X, my last E53 was also that colour.  Sounds like you're not afraid to get your hands dirty, so should be plenty of opportunity for you to add options with the help of the all knowing guys on the site. 

Don

[neilt]

Yours does look nice Sanj. I do love the 20” alloy option, but I believe you have to also do the arch extensions to make it look good (can’t see in your aviator pic).

I’d be interested in more details on fitting Folding mirrors, Reversing camera (I guess I need SatNav screen for that?), ‘is’ trim, and a speaker upgrade as the stereo is pants compared to the BMW HiFi upgrade in my E90. Whats in place of the deleted Ash tray?

[neilt]

Thanks Don. Yep, i'm ok with a spanner. I do get my car serviced at our local BMW garage as they have always been very good, and a good price, but I will do other stuff myself.
When I had the 320d I did the leaky fuel tank breather myself... never again!!! also, crank breathers, air filters, intermediate oil changes etc etc.
When my dad still owned this X5 (about 2 months before I bought it luckily) I fitted new discs and pads all round..... front need doing again since I warped them in Germany last month 

[Sanj]

[quote="neilt"]
Yours does look nice Sanj. I do love the 20” alloy option, but I believe you have to also do the arch extensions to make it look good (can’t see in your aviator pic).

I’d be interested in more details on fitting Folding mirrors, Reversing camera (I guess I need SatNav screen for that?), ‘is’ trim, and a speaker upgrade as the stereo is pants compared to the BMW HiFi upgrade in my E90. Whats in place of the deleted Ash tray?
[/quote]

Damn - a man who reads the signature! The alloys were from an old forum member on here. The arches are not essential but they finish the look for me (might still be available for £200 - I paid A LOT more). The folding mirrors are now stupid money - I paid less for 2 than what eBay people ask for 1! But the wiring is all there and you'll need the window switch too.

The camera has a thread here. But yes you will need a screen unit of some sort, not necessarily the OEM SatNav unit as that is a pig to retro-fit and may need coding. Speakers are easy to upgrade - you won't have tweeters behind those grilles in the corner of the front windows - component setup filling that void and replacing the mids in the doors will help. Add thissub for extra base, a handmadeunit and you have just got yourself some MUCH improved sound.

Ashtray was replaced with this.