New X5 guy

[FastEddie313]

Bought an 06 3.0 slushbox and it has 103k on it now, dark blue with a tan interior in pretty darn good shape.. I think I got a good deal on it and drove a long way to buy it as usual..

So far I've replaces the china MAF with a new siemens, put an intake boot on it, replaced the 2 rear tierod like control arms on it, the ones responsible for the rear toe, put rotella T6 in it, and have been driving it..

Runs darn good, impressive torque, shifts good.. I'm surprised how different it runs than the S50 in my M3..
I just drove the X to chicago and back and got about 20.5 MPG @ 85 MPH and about 25.5 MPG @ 65 MPH on the computer, no CEL the whole way but this morning it threw a CEL again so I'll have to go scan it again and see what it's crying about this time.. Runs perfect..

It was a mess as far as the computer when I got it until I put a new MAF on it and reset all the memory and adaptations so I'm definitely making progress..

It still has a bit of a vibration at highway speed but I'm chasing that stuff down aswell, I'm going to check all the bushings again the best I can, fix anything not right, and have it aligned..

Not quite perfect yet but close.. I can't imagine running one of these things not doing your own work though..

So hi everybody!!
Anyone want to trade me for a manual? This thing will be sorted out about perfect soon

In all reality I hope for this to be the family DD and put another 100k on it and a bunch of hard winters..
Hoping it will be reliable after I get tuned into it, I'll fix and maintain it and stuff but I'm going to drive it hard..

It feels like it has an LSD because when you turn the traction control off it scoots around similarly to my subaru, it likes to kick the tail out but throttle response is akin to a wet sponge..
Wondering how complicated it is to convert to a real throttle cable and also install heated seats.. It needs a remote start too and the auto lift trunk springs..

I am really just getting settled in with it, it's new to me still..

I'm hoping it is going to be fun enough to drive for me to fall in love with it, it needs to rip and be fun to drive hard especially in the winter..

The 4X4 is pretty darn good, nice and RWD biased for the feel and it'll crawl it's way through some snow even with all season tires on it.. Drove it through my yard a few times in atleast skidpan plowing deep snow and it did damn good.. Right now everything is ice due to a recent thaw and it does pretty good kicking all 4 wheels up to scoot in the right direction..

It's ride is really sportscar firm for what it is.. That's great for my normal everyday bombing around on winter backroads but it could be a bit softer on the highway. Chassis feels nice and stiff, no twisting on severely unlevel surfaces..

I hate ABS but the ABS in this X is one of the least terrible ones I've ever used for any amount of time, it also doesn't seem to be easily disabled and I think maybe it kindof can't be disabled due to it needing it for the 4x4 so IDK.. Need to look into it more..
It's not too terrible to live with to kill the entire vehicle experience but I'd jerk it in an instant if I could.. I admit it is pretty good ABS but their are definite benefits to being able to lock up where I drive IMO..

My MDX ABS was so bad it was outright dangerous, wouldn't let me stop for like 100 yards at 5MPH coming down a slight hill off an oilwell/seasonal road with about 8" of fresh snow on.. The X doesn't seem to do this..

Cargo, heh..
I burn a pellet stove in my house, took the X5 to get bags of pellets, I put 1/2 ton of pellets in the back of it and it still drove awesome.. Seems to do pretty good with that..

The stereo is pretty crap, sounds worse when it's not loud, it has CD DVD DSP stuff so that makes it complicated..
I've been looking at those android stereo replacements like on ebay but it doesn't seem they work with the DSP and amp so I'd probably have to amp it myself from the trunk and just send RCAs back there like I do the E36 but I'd like to use the stock speakers so I'd have to fool with a bunch of channels and Xovers and all that gets expensive fast not to mention a LOT of tedious work..
What do you guys do for your stereos? Any way to get an AV IN to it? God way to take a signal off of it to add a sub? What do you do for aftermarket head units?

What a rolling project this X is like every other car..