XSeries-forum

My mrs was having problems starting her 2005 3.0d and was getting a slight smell of fumes in the cabin so I decided to get all the bits from eBay and get someone to fit them.

It now starts and drives spot on so if anyone wants to save over half of what the main dealers quoted me I can link the parts.

I also got the amp repaired by that bloke (can't remember his name) and its excellent value for money.

*Edit. The manifold was a cast one and the battery was from Halfords which was a better spec than oem.

I've also bought the side steps and arches to fit but I'm not looking forward to tackling that.

Baris?

Oh and

Hi The arches and side steps are a doddle to fit....
be sure to shore up the vehicle securely.... the jack in the back is NOT a safe way to do this...

also, get a trim lever tool from the local motor store, it will pop the plastic rivets off easily without busting them.

======================================================
The jacking issue is SERIOUS...
These machines weigh in at 2.5 tonnes, and will kill you if you're under them & they fall.
Get safe - get some decent axle stands rated at 2 tonnes+ each if you're going under the vehicle.
======================================================

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Hi The arches and side steps are a doddle to fit....
be sure to shore up the vehicle securely.... the jack in the back is NOT a safe way to do this...

also, get a trim lever tool from the local motor store, it will pop the plastic rivets off easily without busting them.

======================================================
The jacking issue is SERIOUS...
These machines weigh in at 2.5 tonnes, and will kill you if you're under them & they fall.
Get safe - get some decent axle stands rated at 2 tonnes+ each if you're going under the vehicle.
======================================================
[/quote]

No need to jack the car up to remove and fit steps ill post some pics in a mo , you cannot reuse the plastic rivets I tried and there a one use item just like a ordinary pop rivet but plastic.

Tim

If you knock all the old plastic rivets out and use the ones in the picture I bought them from motosave.

Nice one, thanks for the tips and pics.

I've actually been on the forum for over 7 years I think from when I had my 4.4 facelift but I have no idea of any of my login details.

Yeah Baris

Well Dal.a 
The perfect pics & destructions for you....
It doesn't get much clearer than that 

And the pictures will be useful to me too.
Thanks Tim.

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Well Dal.a 
The perfect pics & destructions for you....
It doesn't get much clearer than that 

And the pictures will be useful to me too.
Thanks Tim.
[/quote]

Your welcome,  I thought that the original rivets could be reused but they can't so I got the ones in the picture from motosave or you can buy plastic snap rivets which you have to remove the rear wheels to allow enough room to get the rivet gun in ,  hope this helps.

Tim

The BMW instructions for this task are easily available online.  I'm in a rush at the moment but if you can't find them let me know and I'll post a link.  It's also best to get the correct rivets (two types) which are not expensive and to use a rivet gun.

I'm a bit unsure about using the plastic rivets, Tim do they do the same job and do they stick out more than the snap off rivets, I don't know where they are used until I actually do the job.

I found the instructions thanks Dan, what are your thoughts on the rivets ?

[quote="dal.a"]
I'm a bit unsure about using the plastic rivets, Tim do they do the same job and do they stick out more than the snap off rivets, I don't know where they are used until I actually do the job.

I found the instructions thanks Dan, what are your thoughts on the rivets ?
[/quote]

The rivets which I used are absolutely fine looking at them when fitted you wouldn't know any difference and hold everything in place perfectly and believe me I'm a fussy tw@t when it comes to little things like that , I'll post a picture.

Tim

Excellent thanks for taking the time to take the pic Tim. One more thing, how many roughly do I need ?

These are the parts I ordered from bmminiparts though check the quantities.  As they don't cost a lot and I was a little confused over which are which I ordered more than required and have some over (I ordered 12 of one type).  Bear in mind I was only doing one side though as I was replacing the plastic arch and trim under the step due to a scrape (and me being fussy).  I can't really help more as I didn't end up doing the job myself due to time constraints.


Quantity: 10
Description: Price Finder Special Order Part: 51 71 7002953 - Blind rivet Price Each Excl VAT: 0.53 Total Excl VAT: 5.30 Total VAT: 1.06 Total Inc VAT: 6.36

Quantity: 10
Description: 51 11 1944537 - Expanding rivet, L=15MM SCHWARZ Price Each Excl VAT: 0.14 Total Excl VAT: 1.40 Total VAT: 0.28 Total Inc VAT: 1.68