First post - Estoril Blue 4.6IS + ice driving

[Ekliptix]

Hi,

So, I was looking for a winter car that'd fit in my parkade (parking garage for you 'mericans). I also wanted something to tow my 2 snowmobiles with in my enclosed trailer. I landed on a V8 E53. In my browsing, I found silver ones, black ones, etc. I even found a red one 800 miles away. Then I stumbled across this blue one, except the seller had made the worst add for it. I think the mileage was entered wrong, the price was wrong. The ad basically caused most people to ignore the car. I ended up buying it for $11k Canadian after I paid for a mechanical inspection at BMW. 125,000km, or 77,000mi.


Wow, I loved driving it that first week. I'd never owned a European car. My past cars include 2x 5L mustangs, 2x Corvette Z06's, Fiesta ST, WRX STI, jeeps, and my prized 1972 C10 pick up (still have it). This BMW was so quiet inside, and the steering and ride was so nice. Plus these seats were the nicest thing I've sat in.

I immediately bought some Hakkapeliitta 8 winter tires, had them studded, and mounted on an extra set of factory IS rims I found for $600. This was now the ultimate winter daily driver, to me.




I installed a Curt hitch. Even after reading about all the people on here who don't like them for actual towing, I had success towing 3,000lb for over 3000 miles including icy logging roads to get into the back country for snowmobiling. My X5 didn't come with a trailer plug, so I installed a Curt setup from the tail lights, plus added a Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control which was a bit of a PITA, but it ended up working eventually for trailer brakes.


I also got a set of Thule tire chains which have been amazing and seem to give unlimited traction climbing ultra steep icy slopes.


A few other highlights include an ice driving school that started with specific obstacles to learn your car's behaviour in different skid situations, and ending with a 2 mile ice road course where you basically can act like a kid and hang it out. Among the 20 or so cars, my X5 with the help of the studded winter tires was by far the quickest on the ice. I nearly went through an entire tank of gas that day I was having so much fun.








I've also had the center muffler (resonator?), removed and replaced with an X pipe. The sound is better, but still a little tiny, not really deep and def not loud enough. More plans below for exhaust.


More recently, I found the shocks seemed to have given up, with the ride getting much less refined over bumps. I ordered 4 new sach's shocks from Rock Auto, installed them myself, but there was not much of an improvement, especially up front. More on that later.

I was getting board, so I decided to replace the valve cover gaskets. I'd had some slight oil leaks, and I determined it must be coming from there based on the research I did. Many hours later, I'd finished the job and replaced the spark plugs at the same time. Unfortunately, some of the valve cover bolts on the passenger side seemed to have stripped, so the gasket couldn't get well seated. I was still able to drive it, but it cost oil. When warm, I could see oil steam escaping from the passenger side valve cover gasket.

I needed a reliable car while I figured out the X5 situation, so I bought this weird Suzuki SX4 car, with a 2" lift and BFG KOs. It's kind of neat, but so goddamn slow.


After the X5 sat for a few months, I finally brought it into Sheni's Auto-Trend here in Calgary, based on the advice of my father in law plus some reviews.

I asked them to check out the front suspension too, as the new shocks I installed didn't seem to improve the front feel. I got the repair quote a few days later. Check it out:


This is:
Replace timing chain, rails,guides and upgraded oil separator. $5,700
Replace Steering Tie Rod Assemblies. $640
Replace Front Lower Wishbone Control Arms $480
Replace Front Sway Bar Links $240
Replace Rear Lower Ball Joints $565
Replace Rear Shock Absorber $900
Replace Front Driveshaft Universal Flex Disc $360
Misc

The fellow was nice and all on the phone. He basically said the pressure release valve/oil separator will often go bad, especially in cold weather, and cause the gaseous oil pressure to escape in places I don't want it to: Gaskets.

He also suggested if I sold the X5 in it's current state, I'd get $1-3k for it. So, I've decided to pull the biggest maintenance/repair bill of my life and go ahead. This was after considering:
a) If I sell it as is, I'll still have to spend $10k+ to get an equivalent car.
b) If I pay for these repairs, the X5 should be bullet proof for many years and miles to follow, providing me with a reliable vehicle that I can hopefully still sell for ~$9k later even with higher miles. Current milage is 175,000km or approx 110,000mi. And
c) I still like this car. If I need to spend $10k on a boring new car vs fixing this and enjoying it, I'll pick the second option.

I did notice the shop was charging WAY too much for parts. I ended up ordering all the suspension parts and flex disk online for 50% of their quoted price, saving me $1000 in parts. By paying their high price for the engine/etc parts, i get a 2 year/30,000mi warranty. I don't want to pay for their labour again, on the, engine so I'm paying their high prices for parts in that area.

What's next:
a) pay a massive bill to get everything done above.
b) exhaust. I've listened to dozens of clips of modified X5 exhaust. The straight pipe sound is not a quality sound, to me. The best I've come across is this. 4.8, replaced the rear mufflers with some short resonators. https://youtu.be/xx3kq3vRxgQ. I'm either going to do the same, or possibly get these even quieter resonators. https://www.youtube.com/redirect?red...YMZ8sBLxRbr5on
c) drive drive drive and enjoy.

I since bought a 2000 GMC 3/4 ton and I can fit 2x sleds on the back, so the X5 does not need to tow.

Car wash video: https://youtu.be/sGrK8azQ138

Pardon the M badges. The previous owner was a bit of a ricer, although he had a lambo.

My other cars, plus obligatory sledding photo in BC.

[SlickGT1]

Wtf. Your mechanic is owning you. Generally buying an old BMW, you should be prepared to wrench a bit yourself. Mechanics will charge you $240 to swap out sway bar links, where all that shit is off the car anyway if you doing a front end overhaul anyway. I would negotiate a day work if you absolutely cannot do it yourself.

Do not joke around with timing chain guides. 77k is fairly virgin. I say you have some miles to go before doing them.

Wtf is a pressure release valve on the V8? No such worries on the N62, and I haven’t really heard people complain with your m62.

Fix the leaks. Fix suspension and it will be like a new car. Drive the shit out of it and pay attention to engine clatter. Those would be the guides telling you it’s time.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Wtf. Your mechanic is owning you. Generally buying an old BMW, you should be prepared to wrench a bit yourself. Mechanics will charge you $240 to swap out sway bar links, where all that shit is off the car anyway if you doing a front end overhaul anyway. I would negotiate a day work if you absolutely cannot do it yourself.

I second this. If you can not, or don't want to do the work (because of ability or lack of time), then definitely try to negotiate that price down. LOL @ "He also suggested if I sold the X5 in it's current state, I'd get $1-3k for it." Typical indy thing to pitch out there. Laying the ground work for purchasing the vehicle off you or to get you to do the work. $130 labor for rear bulbs?

Very nice truck BTW. Looks like it's a blast in the snow. Thought I was looking at pictures from a BMW add from 2003 promoting the 4.6.

[SlickGT1]

Oh and the snow pics are awsome. Looks sick.

[CleanIsFast]

Welcome, nice 4.6iS!
Join the registry in my sig

[CleanIsFast]

Could've been $10k CAD not USD, which would be roughly $7,5 USD

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Could've been $10k CAD not USD, which would be roughly $7,5 USD

True, totally overlooked the currency calculation. $7.5k is getting much more in the "reasonable" realm. "Ignorant American, party of one."

[bcredliner]

Always get at least two quotes.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Always get at least two quotes.

I second this and HUGELY recommend Vitek's Autowerks (39th Ave and 2st NE) All ex BMW dealership guys. And NOT schysters like Shenni is.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Ekliptix]

The fellow at the shop had a 4.6 too. He did all this same work to his, himself, then someone offered him $9k for it at 160,000mi, so he sold it.

My current mileage is 110,000mi on the car. By the time all this work is done, it'll be approx $6,700US, with the exchange rate and money I'm saving ordering some of the parts myself. Here's the breakdown, in CAD, before my part-discount from purchasing parts myself.

BMW M62 - Replace timing chain, rails,guides and upgraded oil separator
Removed valve covers and timing covers. Removed intake manifold. Replaced all timing chains, guides, rails and tensioners. Also
replaced oil seporater and replaced lower oil pan gasket.
Labor 25 Hour $130.00 / Hour $3,250.00 *G
11 31 1 741 746 - Main TIming Chain 1 Unit $190.00 / Unit $190.00 G
11 31 1 747 437 - Timing chain 2 Unit $79.95 / Unit $159.90 G
11 31 1 741 777 - Timing Guide Rail (Center) 1 Unit $180.07 / Unit $180.07 G
11 31 1 745 406 - Timing Guide Rail (Left Lower) 1 Unit $61.30 / Unit $61.30 G
11 31 1 741 236 - Timing Guide Rail (Right Lower) 1 Unit $214.35 / Unit $214.35 G
11 31 1 435 028 - Upper tensioner guides 4 Unit $9.45 / Unit $37.80 G
11 31 7 531 813 - Timing Chain Tensioner (Lower) 1 Unit $129.95 / Unit $129.95 G
11 15 1 705 272 - Oil seperator - 443 1 Unit $74.95 / Unit $74.95 G
Page 1 of 3
3/4/2019 2:04 PM Work Order #32515
11 13 7 500 261 - Lower Oil pan gasket 1 Unit $26.00 / Unit $26.00 G
11 15 1 705 301 - Vent pipe 1 Unit $59.95 / Unit $59.95 G
11 14 1 741 533 - Upper timing cover gasket Right 1 Unit $15.50 / Unit $15.50 G
11 14 1 741 532 - Upper timing cover gasket Left 1 Unit $15.50 / Unit $15.50 G
11 14 1 436 978 - Lower timing cover gasket set 1 Unit $49.95 / Unit $49.95 G
11 61 1 729 727 - Front profile gasket 1 Unit $15.33 / Unit $15.33 G
11 61 1 729 728 - Rear Profile Gasket 1 Unit $11.00 / Unit $11.00 G
11 61 7 501 563 - Rear manifold cover 1 Unit $110.50 / Unit $110.50 G
12 31 7 507 996 - Alternator seal 1 Unit $19.95 / Unit $19.95 G
11 14 1 275 466 - Crankshaft seal 1 Unit $39.95 / Unit $39.95 G
11 51 1 731 372 - Water pump gasket 1 Unit $12.95 / Unit $12.95 G
07 11 9 904 524 - Bolt 1 Unit $1.70 / Unit $1.70 G
11 12 0 034 104 - Valve cover gasket right 1 Unit $64.13 / Unit $64.13 G
11 12 0 034 105 - Valve cover gasket left 1 Unit $63.20 / Unit $63.20 G
11 12 1 437 395 - Valve cover sealing washers E36 E46
E83 E85
14 Unit $1.75 / Unit $24.50 G
11 12 1 437 395 - Valve cover sealing washers 2 Unit $1.75 / Unit $3.50 G
11 12 1 721 879 - Sealing washer 6 Unit $1.95 / Unit $11.70 G
11 14 1 435 023 - Solenoid valve gasket 2 Unit $16.00 / Unit $32.00 G
11 61 1 433 328 - Intake manifold gasket 4 Unit $26.00 / Unit $104.00 G
11 53 1 710 055 - Water Pipe "O" small 2 Unit $3.95 / Unit $7.90 G
11 53 1 710 048 - Water pipe "O" ring Large 2 Unit $4.95 / Unit $9.90 G
11 13 1 273 093 - Drain plug B-0009
E36,E46,E39,E38,E60,E66
1 Unit $4.95 / Unit $4.95 GH
11 42 7 510 717 - Oil filter for E34, E39, E38, X5 w/ M60,
M62 (B-0413)
1 Unit $23.84 / Unit $23.84 G
E224D - Total Quartz 5W30 Synthetic Oil - Bulk 8 Liter $10.75 / Unit $86.00 GH
82 14 1 467 704 - Coolant BMW/BENZ blue 5 Unit $7.86 / Unit $39.30 GH
11 14 1 742 042 - Valley Pan 1 Unit $165.00 / Unit $165.00 G
11 14 1 736 106 - Valley Pan Cover 1 Unit $96.25 / Unit $96.25 G
11 53 1 439 123 - Coolant Vent Pipe 1 Unit $42.00 / Unit $42.00 G
13 62 1 433 077 - Aux Fan Switch 1 Unit $49.95 / Unit $49.95 G
11 53 7 500 750 - Lower Radiator Hose 1 Unit $84.00 / Unit $84.00 G
17 10 7 559 966 - A/T Cooler Thermostat 1 Unit $125.00 / Unit $125.00 G
17 10 1 439 140 - A/T Cooler O-ring 2 Unit $11.26 / Unit $22.52 G
539.16.25 - Zebra clamp, 16-27 1 Unit $3.95 / Unit $3.95 G
539.12.20 - Zebra clamp, 12-22 1 Unit $3.95 / Unit $3.95 G
Sub $5,744.14

Replace Steering Tie Rod Assemblies
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify
repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable.
Labor 1.5 Hour $130.00 / Hour $195.00 *G
32 21 6 751 277 - Steering Tie Rod 2 Unit $190.00 / Unit $380.00 G
32 13 6 756 011 - Boot Clamp 2 Unit $15.53 / Unit $31.06 G
32 13 6 751 292 - Boot Clamp 2 Unit $15.38 / Unit $30.76 G
Sub $636.82

Alignment, Four Wheel
Inspect steering and suspension system components. Connect alignment equipment to verify and adjust front and rear wheel
alignment settings for caster, camber, and toe in/out settings, thrust angle where applicable and center steering wheel. Some
vehicles may require installation of alignment shims at additional charges. Adjust to meet manufacturers’ specifications. Perform final
road test where applicable.
Labor 1 Hour $159.95 / Hour $159.95 *G
Sub $159.95

Replace Front Lower Wishbone Control Arms
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify
repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable.
Labor 1 Hour $130.00 / Hour $130.00 *G
31 12 6 760 275 - Left Front Wishbone 1 Unit $175.00 / Unit $175.00 G
Page 2 of 3
3/4/2019 2:04 PM Work Order #32515
31 12 6 760 276 - Right Front Wishbone 1 Unit $175.00 / Unit $175.00 G
Sub $480.00

Replace Front Sway Bar Links
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify
repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable.
Labor 0.8 Hour $130.00 / Hour $104.00 *G
31 35 6 750 703 - Left Front Sway Bar Link 1 Unit $69.95 / Unit $69.95 G
31 35 6 750 704 - Right Front Sway Bar Link 1 Unit $69.95 / Unit $69.95 G
Sub $243.90

Replace Rear Lower Ball Joints
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify
repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable.
Labor 3 Hour $130.00 / Hour $390.00 *G
33 32 6 767 748 - Rear Lower Ball Joint 2 Unit $87.50 / Unit $175.00 G
Sub $565.00

Replace Rear Shock Absorber
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify
repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable.
Labor 1.8 Hour $130.00 / Hour $234.00 *G
33 52 6 750 361 - Shock Absorber, Rear 2 Unit $331.03 / Unit $662.06 G
Sub $896.06

Replace Front Driveshaft Universal Flex Disc
Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service, adjustments as
required. Additional fluids may be required to complete this service. Retest and verify repair as required. Perform final road test where
applicable.
Labor 1 Hour $130.00 / Hour $130.00 *G
26 11 7 503 159 - Driveshaft Flex Disc 1 Unit $227.94 / Unit $227.94 G
Sub $357.94

C&R on Exterior Lights
Inspect right tail light bulb and both license plate lights not working.
Labor 1 Hour $130.00 / Hour $130.00 *G
Sub $130.00

Engine bay shampoo + Dye
Labor 0.5 Hour $130.00 / Hour $65.00 *G
UVWB483206 - Engine oil dye 1 Unit $7.99 / Unit $7.99 G
Sub $72.99