Hello from Portugal! (E53 X5)

[Dbp]

Hi everyone!

My name is Diogo, I'm from Portugal and live in Lisbon. I just bought my first X5 (E53 3.0D 2004). It's currently with 135K kms (around 84K miles). It has the facelift 218hp 3.0 diesel and has the sport package which looks perfect. We also have an E30 318i with us currently in tip top shape.

I'm currently gathering information on what I need to look into maintenance wise on the X5. After looking at everything I could, I found what seems like a big leak on the engine shield (around the front most hatch on it).

I'm not sure the transmission fluid was ever changed, and I'm still considering if I should do it or not. Currently the transmission has no strange noises and behaves perfectly.

So far, I gathered that I need to change the following as preventive maintenance (let me know if you have any input on this):

- Engine Oil and Filter
- Front and Rear Diff Oil
- Transfer Case Oil
- Engine Breather
- Engine Air Filter

I may look into changing the water pump and TS later in time, as currently they seem to be in good shape. I might do a coolant flush to make sure it has the proper fluid in there though.

Other then this, I still haven't found much to be done, and I'm already worrying about that big oil spill on the engine shield  .

Here is a quick snap of him


And the now dreaded under tray, that doesn't look good at all...


I'll post some better photos of the X as soon as possible. Thank you all for letting me onboard and I hope to learn a fair share about my new baby around here.

[lezmtaylor]

Welcome, nice car.
Hopefully the oil may be an over keen engine fill,where they have spilt some oil on refill.
Give it a good clean and check for leaks.

Lez

[Dbp]

Hi Lez!

Thanks! Other than leaks it looks like a brand new(ish) car, loving it. A bit scared about ownership since I’ve read about so many problems on them.

I gave a good clean with a powerwasher and cleaned it with a rag aswell. I’ll be taking it to a mechanic asap so I can check it on a lift. The shield and the foam on the latch make it hard to see oil dripping, I hope it’s nothing major like the diff or the axle.

I’ll try to post some new photos tonight of the whole car

[graemeX5]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The car looks good and its worth investing the oil leak as it could be quite a few things.

As as Lez said I would go with the easy to eliminate like a leaky oil filter or spillage when it was replaced and it wasn't t wiped dry.

Graeme