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Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 2:22 am
by Shah89
Hi all I have just taken the step to buying an x after selling my E46 M3 (am a cutter) after arrival of my little daughter. However it's not started great. Visited a dealer based in West Dayton and picked up a X5 with 116000 on the clock and 2 previous owners. The car was advertised as Immaculate but on my arrival home and a visit to my local Indy it seems that the Blower motor needs changing as no heat or A/C working and also there is no EML on startup which means it's been deleted in some way. I am thinking to take legal proceedings against the dealer as they have refused a refund even though a customer is legally entitled to one under the "Consumers Act 2015" which gives customers a 30day refund if the product is not fit for purpose or not as advertised. I know this can be a lengthy and expensive process (small claims court). Wondering how much I'm looking at if I was to tackle the problems and get a new blower motor and sort out missing EML. After running scan there were a few fault codes:
Chassis- Electronic Height Control
02 Right level sensor
VTG- Transfer Case
52D4 Incremental sensor/Faulty Signal/Intermittent
54C6 Oil deterioration/Signal too high/Permanent
EGS-Automatic Transmission
4E8701 Unknown fault
514208 Unknown fault
Climate Control
0A-- AUC Sensor/Short Circuit to positive/Permanent
32-- Parking/ extra heater/ open cicuit/ permanent
A0- unknown fault
Instrument cluster
BD-- Electronic braking force distribution
BF-- internal fault
00-- unknown fault code
DSC
5EB1-- power supply steering angle sensor
M57D30 DDE 5.0
4203 glowplug pre-operation
4501 MAF controlled EGR system, EGR flow too high
4242 glow plug cylinder 4 activation
4252 glow plug cylinder 5 activation
4262 glow plug cylinder 6 activation
4212 glow plug cylinder 1 activation
4222 glow plug cylinder 2 activation
4232 glow plug cylinder 3 activation
Central body STH
02 combustion air blower
30 unknown fault code
0D Flame interruption, gone out during heating operation, short circuit to ground.
I would really appreciate if anyone e could she'd some light on this as I'm really worried and my wife is really having a go
Also if anyone knows a good Indy for the X5. Thanks guys
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 7:43 am
by graemeX5
Hi and welcome. To the forum some of the should be able to help
A quick search on 546 says
54C6 requires the change of.. well.. the lifetime oil in your transfer case. The DIS service plan of reseting the adaptation values will have to be conducted after that, in order to clear the error.
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg10182
Your Indy should be able to give you a price on it
Hope that helps
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 7:54 am
by graemeX5
Hi
Looking at a couple of the other errors it could be worth check the battery condition or getting you Indy to do it as the cars are heavy on the electrics and if fairly old and from my experience over 7 years my one died
See link below
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg95066
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:28 pm
by R515
Hi and welcome,
Sorry to hear about your woes on a new purchase as these things can give sour taste as I know too well! However, as previously stated some of this could be down to the battery as the vehicle may have been sat for a while. This needs checking first and then all codes should be deleted and the vehicle checked again in a few days to see which codes return.
Based on personal experience I would ignore the Instrument Cluster Brake Force Distribution, plenty of cases on the net of not being able to clear the fault but nothing obviously wrong with the unit which is the case with mine.
Climate Control 32 and Central Body STH point to the Webasto Auxiliary heater having a fault, some have been able to repair them but if the PCB is faulty, the unit may be scrap. Bear in mind this is only used when the outside temp is below 5 deg C and the engine is cold.
Glow plugs are consumable and at this age and mileage, I reckon this code will return. All mine were open circuit and when changed I still had a problem on no. 5 and had to change the controller. If facing the same fault again, I’d change all plugs and the controller at the same time.
DSC, I had this fault the other week after pulling away at a right turn, cleared it and to date it hasn’t come back.
Good luck,
Mark
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:09 pm
by Shah89
Thanks for your feedback guys. It's good to know help is at hand. Xdrivers just as good as m3cutters I see!

anyone on the EML and EGR fault?
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:10 pm
by Shah89
[quote="R515"]
Hi and welcome,
Sorry to hear about your woes on a new purchase as these things can give sour taste as I know too well! However, as previously stated some of this could be down to the battery as the vehicle may have been sat for a while. This needs checking first and then all codes should be deleted and the vehicle checked again in a few days to see which codes return.
Based on personal experience I would ignore the Instrument Cluster Brake Force Distribution, plenty of cases on the net of not being able to clear the fault but nothing obviously wrong with the unit which is the case with mine.
Climate Control 32 and Central Body STH point to the Webasto Auxiliary heater having a fault, some have been able to repair them but if the PCB is faulty, the unit may be scrap. Bear in mind this is only used when the outside temp is below 5 deg C and the engine is cold.
Glow plugs are consumable and at this age and mileage, I reckon this code will return. All mine were open circuit and when changed I still had a problem on no. 5 and had to change the controller. If facing the same fault again, I’d change all plugs and the controller at the same time.
DSC, I had this fault the other week after pulling away at a right turn, cleared it and to date it hasn’t come back.
Good luck,
Mark
[/quote]
Thanks Mark and yes it can really leave a sour taste. When I bought my M3 I hardly knew anything other than the usual knowledge but know feel like a expert. Guess I'll be a pro at the X5 soon too.lol cheers bud
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:24 pm
by X5-D-Sport
A lot of these issues will sound horrific to a new owner...
But in truth, most are relatively minor..
My thoughts are - all of these may well raise their heads at some point, but sorting them will give you a degree of engineering expertise with these machines... and once solved, are all reliably put away.
Concur with our knowledgeable friend - get a decent battery installed 1st, and many issues will vanish.
Disconnect the old battery leave disconnected for 30/40 mins before fitting the new one... AND short the battery leads together during this 30 mins to totally lose save memorised fault codes for many issues.
The battery change will likely solve many issues.
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:24 pm
by Steamyrotter
[quote="Shah89"]
Guess I'll be a pro at the X5 soon too.lol cheers bud
[/quote]
Put a few gearbox gremlins in there then you can claim to be a pro..
>:D
You have already found the best resource for your issues, signing up here.
If it can happen then someone here has probably come across it, or read it somewhere and will be able to help.
Dont forget to use the search facility too.
As suggested I would reset the codes and see what comes back first, as a lot can be battery level derived and will just go away.
Glow plugs are not too much of an issue unless you are in a REALLY cold climate.
All gone usualy points to the controller, but these are easy to check, but sometimes can be a problem to change if you are unlucky.
Level sensors do fail, but thought that would be covered under the standard warranty if not made aware of it..
Bear with it as when (if) they work they are probably the best vehicle out there.
Mine still gives me the grin factor even with all the issues I have had to deal with......
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:29 pm
by RenoHuskerDu
Mine also posted a plethora of pithy errors once the battery ran low. Almost all of them went away with a new battery. I'd say start there!
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:33 pm
by X5-D-Sport
Steamy Rotter quote:
Bear with it as when (if) they work they are probably the best vehicle out there.
Mine still gives me the grin factor even with all the issues I have had to deal with......
I would agree totally with this quote..... these machines are soooooo worth the effort.
Mine is a total beast with the mods I've done to it in a year..
I'd never sell it - far to much fun to be had... >:D
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:59 pm
by AW8
Some really good constructive helpful replies if sorting the issues is the aim, however, I stand by my post in that I would reject the car or want issues sorted by the trader who sold it rather than pay to sort this myself.
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 6:43 am
by Shah89
[quote="AW8"]
Some really good constructive helpful replies if sorting the issues is the aim, however, I stand by my post in that I would reject the car or want issues sorted by the trader who sold it rather than pay to sort this myself.
[/quote]
Yes I totally agree with you which is the reason why I've threatened to take them to court if I don't get my money back. They've offered "some" of the money back but I have spoken to trading standards and have been told that I am entitled to full money. Man how I miss my trouble-free M3!
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:50 am
by Reusch
How did you pay for the vehicle deposit and balance ?
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:29 pm
by Shah89
[quote="Reusch"]
How did you pay for the vehicle deposit and balance ?
[/quote]
Cash from a dealer. Have an invoice.
Re: Newbie Just bought e53 2004 3.0d PLEASE HELP
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:14 pm
by Reusch
Even deposit ? In future always pay deposit by credit card then you can get them on your side I speak from personal experience they don't mess about.