New to the X5

[270_BMW]

Hello Everyone!

Just joined outpost, looking to expand my knowledge in the realm of X5, I came into owning a 2002 3.0i X5 a few months ago, after a long time friend of mine bought it new and drove it on the highway, garage kept and baby'd every mile along the way -- so as it changed hands over to me the mileage read 240,010.

It has to be the smoothest car I've ever driven -- coming from an Acura TL and Ford Fusion as hobby cars... I think I have a winner with this X5.

If you have any tips and suggestions for a totally stock unit. Feel free to share!

Thank you.

[Anhelenuk]

I hope uncan do work yourself. Otherwise it will be very expensive

[srmmmm]

On a regular basis:

> Rotate tires, inspect pads & Rotors, CV boots, general look over every 5000 miles
> Oil / Filter change every 8000 miles
> Brake fluid flush every 30,000 miles
> Replace belts and clean CCV every 100,000 miles
> Replace differential and transfer case fluid every 100,000 miles
> Replace spark plugs every 120,000 miles
> Replace expansion tank, coolant and hoses every 150,000 miles
> Replace brake pads every 163,000 miles (Akebono ceramics)
> Replace rotors??? (259,000 miles on current Brembos)

My unplanned repairs have included:

> Front axles at 60,000 miles (Prior owner didn't maintain CV boots)
> FSR at 78,000 miles
> Two spark plug coils and accessory belt tensioner at 124,000 miles
> Alternator at 126,000 miles
> Front driveshaft at 136,000 (used a salvage transfer case for cost savings)
> FSR (again) at 159,000 miles
> Thermostat and OFHG at 176,000 miles
> Rear differential seal at 200,000 miles
> Secondary air pump at 224,000 miles
> Rear suspension bushings and upper control arms at 242,000 miles
> Thermostat (again) at 245,000 miles - at least it was warranty this time
> Steering column double U-Joint shaft at 245,000 miles
> Valve cover gasket at 245,000 miles
> Both fuel tank sending units, fuel pump and canister at 245,000 miles
> Aux fan when the harness got chewed up in the mechanical fan and shorted out at 259,000 miles
> Pre-cat O2 sensors at 260,400 miles
> Water pump at 262,800 miles
> DISA Valve and MAF at 263,800 miles
> Thermostat (again) at 299,000 miles (don’t know what’s going on with these)
> Driver door handle carrier replaced a second time at 310,600 miles (thought they had these fixed finally)
> Intermediate accessory belt pulley at 310,600 miles
> Valve cover (not just the gasket) and OFHG at 317,000 miles



The "Expected" replacements have been:

> All four window regulators
> Driver door handle carrier
> Front axle outer CV boots (each side one time)
> Front tension struts

All in all, except for the front driveshaft job that cost $4200, I have really been happy with the vehicle. It doesn't get babied, but I do monitor and maintain it. I think a lot of my good fortune is due to four things: I live in Texas with short winters so I don't have a lot of the CCV condensation problems, my daily commute is 60 miles so the engine oil always reaches full operating temperature, I run the "M" series viscosity engine oil from May through September when I my driving includes 3000 miles of towing a 1400 pound Waverunner and trailer, and I stick with Shell gasoline.

Additionally, I don't change the transmission fluid! I'm a firm believer in leaving it alone and simply installing a full re-manufactured transmission if it ever becomes necessary.

With that, I'm off towards 500,000 miles!


2002 X5 3.0 327,500 miles
2014 428i 29,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

[Skeletor]

Srmmmm's list looks pretty accurate. Our X5's tend to chew up suspension parts a lot and that's about it besides the usual planned maintenance (oil change, door handle carrier and window regulators). I replaced the plastic clips on the window regulators with some stainless hardware and haven't had any issues yet. The fuel pump sounds like a common thing to go (went out between 170-210 for us). CV axles are another one to go bad when the boot rips. I've never had any problems with the thermostat in any of my 3 X5's, but I've heard that they're a problem. The valve cover gaskets go bad after 200k+ miles and leak oil onto the coil packs. We've had the front differential seals go bad during the higher mileage (Right about now for you) so you might want to check them.

The only expensive unplanned maintenance item for us so far has been the DISA pin failure (2XX K miles), ruining the engine in out silver automatic. But if you replace the DISA valve ever 100-150K miles you shouldn't have any catastrophic engine problems.

Other than what's on Srmmmm's list there's nothing else really to go wrong. If you're a big DIYer then you shouldn't have any problems with this machine. Keep it going strong!

[ChiefRider]

Does anyone have a link to the DISA valve replacement/pin failure thread(s)? I find this forum a bit ponderous to search for these things.

Thanks!

[mrbmwx5]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-jstMRxTes

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fekVrNeShWs

You can do that during your smoke break .

[ChiefRider]

Excellent, thank you!

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by ChiefRider

Does anyone have a link to the DISA valve replacement/pin failure thread(s)? I find this forum a bit ponderous to search for these things.

Thanks!

Google can be used to search the site too.

Enter the search term like this - DISA pin failure site:xoutpost.com

e.g. https://www.google.co.nz/search?num=....0.6IqbeDV0vbs

[Skeletor]

I can show you my first hand experience at what it does to the valves. The pin got sucked into cylinder number 3 and bounced around until it burnt one of the valves.

[270_BMW]

Thank you very much for the information! I am a Network Engineer by day and a Grease-Monkey by night... so I'll be able to do most of these myself... the rest I lucked out and my father has an automotive shop with a rack I can use... This actually substantially less maintenance than my 2007 Acura TL that I'm about to put up for sale.