After a 5 year hiatus, looking to get back into an E53

[DiscoStu]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

I must be experiencing the first part because every other week seems like something needs attention. I'm hoping to get over that hump soon where I can rely on this vehicle year-in and year-out with just normal maintenance. For now, i'll keep pounding sand

This was my exact dilemma with our first X5, although the weekly attention seemed to last for years! I was convinced at the time it was due to either it being an early model (MY02) or a lemon. I'm hoping everything was sorted by 2006, which is the year I'm targeting. I'm also hoping a PPI can help identify anything that needs resolved, and of course to make sure nothing major is wrong with the car.

[CleanIsFast]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

It gets better for OCD owners like us - my first year to year and a half were brutal on the wallet - the last 2 years besides my alternator taking a dump have been just oil changes and normal maintenance and some preventative things -

Yea I am getting hosed right now through the first 2-3 months. Hoping it slows down because I really do like the 4.6

Originally Posted by DiscoStu

This was my exact dilemma with our first X5, although the weekly attention seemed to last for years! I was convinced at the time it was due to either it being an early model (MY02) or a lemon. I'm hoping everything was sorted by 2006, which is the year I'm targeting. I'm also hoping a PPI can help identify anything that needs resolved, and of course to make sure nothing major is wrong with the car.

Best of luck, would be nice to add another E53 to the NoVa area

[DiscoStu]

Thanks for the replies all. It seems like most are happy with their 3.0 E53s with little to complain about other than the typical BMW "stuff".

While on the subject of getting back into an E53, I have a question about navigation and bluetooth on the later models. I've noticed on a few I've looked at they have these large masses of dead pixels on the nav screen, almost as if someone poked it too hard thinking it was a touchscreen. Are the nav screens known to be delicate or wear-out? Also, it is my understanding that bluetooth phone support only comes with the BMW assist option? Where models sold with bluetooth but without the navigation?

[CleanIsFast]

Originally Posted by DiscoStu

Thanks for the replies all. It seems like most are happy with their 3.0 E53s with little to complain about other than the typical BMW "stuff".

While on the subject of getting back into an E53, I have a question about navigation and bluetooth on the later models. I've noticed on a few I've looked at they have these large masses of dead pixels on the nav screen, almost as if someone poked it too hard thinking it was a touchscreen. Are the nav screens known to be delicate or wear-out? Also, it is my understanding that bluetooth phone support only comes with the BMW assist option? Where models sold with bluetooth but without the navigation?

I cant speak to the bluetooth option because I never use it on mine but about the Navigation dead pixels. The way it's oriented (slightly facing upwards), it is subjected to a lot of sun light via the windshield and sunroof. I believe this causes premature dead pixels. I could be wrong

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

I cant speak to the bluetooth option because I never use it on mine but about the Navigation dead pixels. The way it's oriented (slightly facing upwards), it is subjected to a lot of sun light via the windshield and sunroof. I believe this causes premature dead pixels. I could be wrong

It's a design flaw: they used a ribbon cable that has about 100 connectors that is most likely screen printed silver traces. They either corrode or disintegrate.

You can buy the cable for I think $20-30 and buy a send in service for about $100-120 to have somebody else replace it.

I'm betting some trace repair paint (similar to that used to fix broken back window defrost) would fix it in-place.

If it's corrosion not disintegration than more than likely wiping deoxit pro gold into the contacts would solve the problem.

It's on my to do list. I expect in the next month or two I will have time to repair mine and hopefully wife's.

With any luck I can use continuity test on each wire and fix just the 4-5 defective traces even if I solder in a jumper. I will most certainly post the process once I do it.

[ylwjacket]

My prior E53 was an '05. It had a Bluetooth unit in the trunk, and did not have NAV. It was prewired for CD changer, and there were a couple of plugs in the driver side storage area in the trunk. It was just plug and play.

The unit I had did not play music off your phone - it was phone calls only.

Originally Posted by DiscoStu

Thanks for the replies all. It seems like most are happy with their 3.0 E53s with little to complain about other than the typical BMW "stuff".

While on the subject of getting back into an E53, I have a question about navigation and bluetooth on the later models. I've noticed on a few I've looked at they have these large masses of dead pixels on the nav screen, almost as if someone poked it too hard thinking it was a touchscreen. Are the nav screens known to be delicate or wear-out? Also, it is my understanding that bluetooth phone support only comes with the BMW assist option? Where models sold with bluetooth but without the navigation?

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Yea I am getting hosed right now through the first 2-3 months. Hoping it slows down because I really do like the 4.6



Best of luck, would be nice to add another E53 to the NoVa area

Isn't it amazing how an BMW E39 M5 is more reliable than the V8 X5?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Isn't it amazing how an BMW E39 M5 is more reliable than the V8 X5?

That can be attributed to the following:

E39 M5 made in Germany

E53 X5 made in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

[dannyzabolotny]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Isn't it amazing how an BMW E39 M5 is more reliable than the V8 X5?

That's because the S62 is a very overengineered version of the M62tu since it was built for more intense usage. The BMW Motorsport engineers took the M62tu and fixed a lot of its flaws when building the S62— they installed a dual-row timing chain which solved the chain guide issues, they installed a better cooling system, they installed a lower temperature thermostat that prolongs the life of the cooling system, and they reinforced a lot of the engine internals.

I think that the S62 is what the M62tu would have been if the bean counters hadn't stepped in. All of the technologies in the S62 were already available when the M62tu was created (double-Vanos was on the Euro S50 M3 engines, dual-row timing chain in the previous M60 engine).

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by dannyzabolotny

That's because the S62 is a very overengineered version of the M62tu since it was built for more intense usage. The BMW Motorsport engineers took the M62tu and fixed a lot of its flaws when building the S62— they installed a dual-row timing chain which solved the chain guide issues, they installed a better cooling system, they installed a lower temperature thermostat that prolongs the life of the cooling system, and they reinforced a lot of the engine internals.

I think that the S62 is what the M62tu would have been if the bean counters hadn't stepped in. All of the technologies in the S62 were already available when the M62tu was created (double-Vanos was on the Euro S50 M3 engines, dual-row timing chain in the previous M60 engine).

True I love the double row timing chain. My 1995 540i 6 speed (M60B40) engine had the dual row timing chain. I had the alusil block in mine and it was a stout motor.