what maintenance items while core support/radiator are out?

[StephenVA]

My error so +1 on the above. CLEAN surfaces is the way to go for no leaks in the future....

None if this is really DIY hard, just time consuming. In a DIY world it is only parts, parts and more parts!.

[petebert]

Can anyone tell me how much is cross compatible from the 02 to 05? Primarily thinking core support, bumper assembly, hood, radiator/condenser assembly and headlights.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Attacking Mid

A lot of people replace them - they're not expensive. I replaced one once, but it still weeped. Yours looks like th accumulation of many years of having no one ever wash it or wipe it down. Most any time I'm under the hood, I'll wipe off the little bit of weepage, so it never gets anything like yours.

If that was mine, I'd hit it with the power washer at the car wash, then wipe it off with a rag and see how it does going forward. You may want to do a few drain/fills to (mostly) change out the PS fluid anyway.

AM.

I was getting weepage on mine. Then I checked the o ring on the cap. Hard as a rock. Changed it out. No more weeping.

[StephenVA]

On the interchange question
Try RealOEM.com as that is the largest model year change, Pre and post face lift.

[petebert]

I checked car-part.com to see what years came up.

It appears that hood and bumper are 04-06 only but core support, radiator/condenser may be 01-06.

Also have a question on these front bumpers. Looking at car-part some appear to be a black on grey while mine appears to be a black on black. Is there a color difference or is just a sun fading or possibly difference in cameras?

Would you consider these to be a match? I'm not concerned about it having parking assist or not, mine does not.

[petebert]

[QUOTE=StephenVA;1157411]On the Power Steering
Replace both hoses (they provided their full life by now). Replace the reservoir with a ZF branded one. You will need three new clamps as well (two at the reservoir and one down by the pump) Flush out all the old fluid and add in new. Fluid color tells you what you need. Green or red stuff! Red= ATF+4 for example. I personally use Valvoline Syn ATF+4 from Auto Zone. When your new reservoir gets a few years on it, you can just replace the seal on the lid.

Like what has been posted before, this reservoir has a "weep hole" in the spin on lid and vents the mist on the side. A quick wipe every time your under the hood solves the issue. Your vehicle looks like it operated under a closed hood policy, "What happen there is not important". Kinda like a coffin...once in closed forever. Typical lack of maintenance and interest by a previous owner. Normal.


QUOTE]

I'm going with Pentosin 11S for PS fluid. My Audis are super picky on what fluids you put in them and ECS listed the 11S for the X5 so I went with that. I also wasn't sure which PS lines I'd need to get so I'll just get the ones you listed. I ordered the complete belt kit which includes a/c tensioner with pulley, other belt tensioner with pulley and the idler. Ordered the water pump with metal impeller and the BMW coolant.

I run LiquiMoly Leichtlauf in 5w40, haven't figured out what I want to run in 5w30 yet so I just ordered the oil kit from ECS that has the OEM labeled oil.

[Attacking Mid]

Originally Posted by petebert

I'm going with Pentosin 11S for PS fluid. My Audis are super picky on what fluids you put in them and ECS listed the 11S for the X5 so I went with that.

Careful... look at what your cap says. My X5 uses ATF, but my X3 uses 11S. They are not interchangeable AFAIK. I know on the X3's, some came with 11S and some with ATF and the only way to know was to look at the cap.

AM.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by petebert

I checked car-part.com to see what years came up.

It appears that hood and bumper are 04-06 only but core support, radiator/condenser may be 01-06.

Also have a question on these front bumpers. Looking at car-part some appear to be a black on grey while mine appears to be a black on black. Is there a color difference or is just a sun fading or possibly difference in cameras?

Would you consider these to be a match? I'm not concerned about it having parking assist or not, mine does not.

Pretty sure they are a match - it's just the lighting that makes the bumper look grey. And bit of UV. Nothing a splash of 303 won't fix...

[petebert]

Checked and my cap does simply say ATF. Weird that ECS even includes 11S in their PS refresh kit. I'll have to research that more.


Here's some more pics of the grime, hopefully all power steering fluid. Also, what are these air ducts behind the bumper? The passenger side one appears to go to the wheel well liner and have a blockage plate. The driver side one looks like it may actually feed air somewhere. I haven't gotten underneath yet to see where it goes.

[Fifty150hs]

"Also, what are these air ducts behind the bumper?"

The duct on the driver's side feeds air to the alternator. The other side is there as a standard part for the 4.8is, I think. ON those the the ducts provide cooling to the brakes. I think.