Holy cow is the DIY for this easy!!!

THIS IS FOR THE 4.8 E70 X5 WITH MECHANICAL WATER PUMP!!!

Different than the V6 electronic pump.

Took 15 minutes and no DIY is required, it's that easy.

Just remove the 2 intake plastic ducts and the thermostat is staring you right in the face.

Then remove the water hose clip, electrical connector and (3) 10MM bolts. That's it. Obvious replace in reverse.

$62 Thermostat (from dealer), $2 for distilled water and $28 in coolant(from dealer). $92 Total and less than 30 minutes of work.

Here is the procedure I used to bleed the system:

First, there is no bleeder screw on 2007 BMW x5 4.8! The hole in the expansion tank that looks like where a bleeder screw should go was an overflow hole which was the explanation for coolant now dripping out from expansion tank.

Second, to bleed the system you do not have to perform the electric pump procedure to bleed the system which requires turning the ignition on but not starting the car, turning on the lowest setting of the heater blower and setting temp to its highest and finally depressing the gas pedal for 10-12 seconds, BECAUSE there ISN'T an electric water pump on a 2007 BMW X5 4.8!

So essentially all you have to do is take the expansion cap off, start the engine and run the engine to bleed the system. After about 15 mins or so you'd of seen air bubbles and possibly a little coolant spill into the overflow hole. Turn the car off and put cap back on.