'01 X5 3.0i engine replacement project

[Eric Giles]

At around 4pm today, we officially finished the engine swap. I spent the day reinstalling the passenger drive axle (it gave me fits, so we wound up removing the shaft from the hub and it popped right in), then changing the transmission filter and added new Valvoline synthetic fluid. I had just one oops moment...during the final fill of the transmission, one of the lines popped loose from the transmission heat exchanger. After a few minutes of messing with it, we got it to properly seat and it hasn't come loose since.

The X5 is now running perfectly...I got very lucky with the motor, as it runs super smooth with no issues. I've got one SES code popping up, and it is the evap purge valve. No big deal, as I have a few good spares lying around. I will change it in the next few days. At least it isn't something like a vacuum leak, which can be difficult to diagnose.

Sorry but I don't have any pictures today...there really isn't much to show now that everything is back together. I have a few other items to address soon, as it now needs an alignment and new tires. There are other plans for it in the coming year, but they will have to wait as time and the budget allow.

So far, I have a total for $3200 in the purchase, a replacement 107k mile motor with all new cooling system and other new maintenance parts. Not too bad for a pretty clean '01 X5. But what really matters is the wife is happy with her new ride!