Originally Posted by workingonit

from my post on 12/10/25, outlining my planned steps to get my X5 on the road again (undriven since late October...

Well, my cold has passed, but my shoulder has grown worse (it's been bad since May or June), so I really don't feel up to resuming the work on my X, yet. So, I've been attending to my health, and acquiring tools, parts, and going to Drs (slowly, since our finances suffer until March, usually, not to mention my healthcare expenses).

First, I got the Valet key, and all I need to fix the OEM key, so steps 1-4 above are almost done. All I need to do is cut open the key and fix whatever I find there.

Second, I'm preparing to completely clean my fuel system, by siphoning all gas from the tank, and replacing the possibly-clogged filter & FPR with a new assembly, and maybe reverse-clean the injectors, etc, with an in-home kit. I've got a siphon, and will strain the old gas before re-use (I may have broken my cardinal rule of car repair/improvement...don't make more than one alteration at a time...when I used Cataclean the day before the fuel pump died).

Since then, I suspect, the extra-strong solvents may have loosened gunk and debris in the fuel tank (where I've been using Jectron regularly, already), and the now-freed gunk plugged my OEM fuel pump, causing its' death. And after I replaced the pump, the same gunk started to plug up the filter/FPR,and further downline, maybe the injectors, too, since my X has gone from smooth steady running (though always slightly lean), to a truck then has suddenly started stumbling on hard corners and turns, and now has set rich codes, for the first time. Coincidence? I doubt it.

I've got a cheap, new fuel pump to use after I siphon and replace the fuel, and a new filter/FPR to use, after I've eliminated the "contaminated" (if it is) fuel. I even bought a cheap electric ratchet to use under the X, since my good arm isn't good anymore. And a mat to lay on, out in the driveway workspace (plywood over sand and gravel).

But, back to my health: I got my first new glasses in 11-14 years, so maybe I can see the circuit board on the OEM key, and yesterday went to an Orthopedic surgeon for diagnosis and X-rays of my bad shoulder, followed by an MRI later in the afternoon (arthitic damage to my rotator cuff & collar bone, and the MRI was to better see the torn cuff muscle and the obviously torn/pulled bicep tendon, or whatever he spotted). I see surgery upcoming, which will definitely put a dent in my repairs schedule, and in my healthcare budget.

My new goal is to be able to resume the work in March, even if I have to get my wife under the X.

P.S. I had to drive my HHR Panel to the MRI center, and I was the last patient seen, so I drove home in the dark, for the first time in pure dark conditions in many years (I've been retired for 10, so I see no reason to drive at night). It was astonishing how little the HHR's standard Halogen bulbs lit up, compared to all the blinding oncoming lights I faced. And, like an idiot, I kept my eyes open in the very bright confines of the MRI tunnel, so my 75 y.o. eyes had trouble adjusting after 30 minutes in the tube.

So, as another project to come, I'm going to upgrade the weak Halogen bulbs (Hi/Lo combos) to brighter Halogens, though I'd like LEDs, but the advertisements say they're for off-road (who'll know the difference). If I can use the LEDs on my '09 HHR, then maybe the X5 (and my old '98 and '04 pickups, could benefit from them, too).

Anyone with an early E53 (or other early vehicle) convert to LEDs, and what does the law say (especially in Texas)? I'm not going to drive at night again, before I upgrade lights on at least one of my cars/trucks (the wife's '14 Lexus has better lighting, but I'm not allowed to drive it).