It's been ~6 months since the last update, makes sense as my son is now 6 months old. lol Everything checks out!
With the addition of my son our family has officially outgrown the X5. I'm 6'8" and my wife is on the taller side so the legroom or lack thereof in the X5 is forcing me into a larger vehicle.
I'm very sad to say I'll be selling the X5 in the Spring. Yes, it's true. I planned and cared for this X5 like I was going to have it forever but along comes a kid and messes everything up! lol #DadLife
Nonetheless I am still enjoying the X5 while I have it and this eventual sale has been a nice spur in my side to complete some projects I've had on the docket for YEARS. The main one was resolving an exhaust leak I've had ever since I installed the hybrid turbo. I used a 335D LP turbo for my Tim's hybrid build since it doesn't have the EGR port in it and consequently the turbo wouldn't have the "bend straw" woo woo noise under load. But I never got to enjoy the pure M57 turbo noises since from low RPMS up until the turbo cross over at ~3,000rpm I had a *eeeeeeeee* squeal which sounded like a balloon deflating when you pull the rubber flat and make it whistle. Sooooooo annoying.
Anyway, there is a lot to cover, let's get into it...
After putting the 612M on I ended up dropping the KWs to max low. I just had to see what it would look like. I love proper fitment but the whole time I've had the KWs I ran them at max high or right in the middle. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the ride quality was much better lowered. Seems a bit counter intuitive and yes, there is limited travel in the low setting so on BIG compressions you may find the bump stop but for 99% of the road conditions I drive the suspension is much more supple, I attribute this to the reduced preload on the spring. I love the aesthetics and love the improved ride quality. This is how I've been running it ever since.
Rear rotors had a lip developing on the perimeter so I checked life/thickness. Stamping on the rotors states min wear is 22.4mm and I was at 23.8mm so decent life left.
Lazy man, FCP Euro, oil change
This was THE trip when I realized the X5 wasn't going to cut it space-wise as a Dad-mobile.
Some maintenance. New MAF, rear level sensor, crankcase position sensor, and glowplug module. Added some Hot Shots Diesel Extreme too.
Rear taillight tint was aged, becoming hazy and even blistered in some spots. In retrospect I left it on too long and I paid the price with needing to clean up residue/adhesive off the lenses.
BEFORE
DURING
BEFORE/AFTER
I intentionally left the all season Pirellis on this winter to see how they would do for local/urban driving. Turns out I forgot to flash X-Delete back to AWD from RWD so this trip to Costco with RWD and AS tires was entertaining.
A few days later, gotta love Colorado
Might seem like another garage photo but this one is significant since it's the first time I've had the X5 in the 3rd bay of the garage work wrenching. This space is usually occupied by the non-operational E39 project wagon but for this wave of maintenance I pushed it over to the 2 bay area and the X5 got the main spot, as it was intended with the engine bay right up to where the work benches, tools, TV, and mini-split! The garage remodel was a 2 year on-and-off project I did myself so wrenching on the X5 in the 3rd bay got all the farm fuzzies flowing.
Wife and son were out of town for the weekend to I took advantage and tried to knock out as much as possible.
The main objective: a refinished Cerkoted OEM manifold, new gaskets all around.
New coolant pipe (which was weeping) and gaskets for the intake manifold, thanks FCP!
I prepped the garage with a 240v 30a outlet in the ceiling for a 2 post lift but for the time being I'm keeping it OG with the jackstand life.
Coolant flange
New DP gasket too
Good Boi Oliver
Made good progress on Day 1, I hit the exhaust manifold bolts with some PB before bed in prep for Day 2
We lost a couple studs in the removal of the exhaust nuts.
I had intentions to replace all studs but with the very real reality of potentially snapping studs off in the block, I wasn't brave enough to proceed and merely replaced the missing studs.
Fresh gaskets, fresh mani, fresh nuts.
Found my exhaust leak. Notice the split in the gasket at the 12 o'clock position and the carbon on the turbo housing. It's hard to tell but their might have been some exhaust gases mixing between the ports.
Getting everything cleaned up and ready for install
I replaced the F subframe too since I with a bonehead move I damaged the front cross member where the transmission cooler mounts. Having the subframe out did make the turbo removal/install much easier. New subframe cleaned and ready for install.
Couple random pics
The bolts for the wastegate sheared off in the old manifold and the the old banjo bolt for the exhaust manifold was in rough shape so I had some fresh parts overnighted from FCP. New sway bar end links too as one boot was weeping and one torx stud was rounded out.
After the above parts were installed I buttoned everything up, filled the engine up with oul and coolant, and found an unexpected coolant leak which was coming from the main/large upper radiator hose where it connects to the coolant pipe I just replaced. Frustrating to say the least. My coolant pipe was original and the pipe I just replaced was Meyle HD so I chaulked this leak up to a mismatch in fitting between the parts or cimply a worn coolant pipe. I ordered another pipe but this time I went with BMW and ordered a new coolant hose as well which WILL resolve the coolant leak.
In the meantime as I wait for parts to arrive I flashed the transfer case back to AWD and used an intercooler tool to correct some PS fins which were bent from my cold air intake. The tool worked very well.
