So, what happens when 47 year old kid falls in love with X5 2600 miles away?

[Jack2soniyal]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Gorilla tape will hold a window should a regulator snap very very unlikely.

I have a tire patch kit uses no tool to install a temporary plug. (they last long enough you can get home with it). I plugged one of my tires and since it's run on flat and also close to end of life I decided not to patch it and it's been most of 2020 and several thousand miles. Holding strong.

I would bring a portable air pump. VIAIR is the one I use.



This is the Gizmo that will plug a screw/nail hole in seconds.

I left it in as a long term test to see if they last more than just 50 miles.

2500 miles later the tire holds air like all the rest. I can get it patched for free but that tire is EOL so I'm just running it until I'm not comfortable with the red neck wear bars (where the tire is smooth in spots all the way around vs across).

If your tires lose air, you have two choices: Go to your local gas station or mechanic shop and fill them up with air, or invest in an inexpensive, useful air compressor.

[andrewwynn]

Drive the car down to Al least the low fuel light better if down to single digits miles right at the start to test the siphon jet pump. If that had failed you will starve of fuel at 1/4 tank or so.

You can actually monitor your hidden obd gas levels to confirm the siphon is working with no risk of starving the engine of fuel. Once you know the siphon is working you can use the full tank right down to 0.0 distance to empty. 3.0 can get over 500 miles range on a tank so 5 fill ups on the whole trip but if you can only use 3/4 of a tank you need 2-3 additional stops for gas.

The only thing that really causes wear on the fuel pump is time. They last 5000-6000 hours on average. The fuel filter is good for half a million miles but the FPR has an o-ring that will likely fail about 150-180,000 miles and give you very hard starts and loss of performance.

[bmw540san]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Drive the car down to Al least the low fuel light better if down to single digits miles right at the start to test the siphon jet pump. If that had failed you will starve of fuel at 1/4 tank or so.

You can actually monitor your hidden obd gas levels to confirm the siphon is working with no risk of starving the engine of fuel. Once you know the siphon is working you can use the full tank right down to 0.0 distance to empty. 3.0 can get over 500 miles range on a tank so 5 fill ups on the whole trip but if you can only use 3/4 of a tank you need 2-3 additional stops for gas.

The only thing that really causes wear on the fuel pump is time. They last 5000-6000 hours on average. The fuel filter is good for half a million miles but the FPR has an o-ring that will likely fail about 150-180,000 miles and give you very hard starts and loss of performance.

Interesting info about gas levels.
I'm well aware of hidden menu and do remember about one of the submenus showing the fuel info but never got into it.
I'll definitely remember your tip.
Yes, I'm hoping that at 105k miles and 14 years of age, the old girl should bring me home before I dive into it and make her into queen she ought to be.

[upallnight]

Hopefully that 47 old kid is not living in mom and dad's basement. LOL

[crystalworks]

Paper map is a good idea. I usually make my route and download offline maps on Google maps though to avoid dead zones. As long as the phone has battery, it works. Paper maps don't have that limitation.

[bmw540san]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Paper map is a good idea. I usually make my route and download offline maps on Google maps though to avoid dead zones. As long as the phone has battery, it works. Paper maps don't have that limitation.

Exactly!

[FellowsheepTech]

In November 2018 took the 2003 3.0 from MD to CA for my son that was stationed at NAS Lemoore. Turned 200k as we left Castle Rock, Co & visited the Grand Canyon along the way. Only issue was the battery failed in the cold night in Flagstaff, AZ. and glad I had remembered the jump pack! Drove out with wife & youngest daughter, then flew home on miles. A year latter he transferred to NAS Oceana while I was in Greece, so Mom flew out & drove back with him.

[bmw540san]

Originally Posted by FellowsheepTech

In November 2018 took the 2003 3.0 from MD to CA for my son that was stationed at NAS Lemoore. Turned 200k as we left Castle Rock, Co & visited the Grand Canyon along the way. Only issue was the battery failed in the cold night in Flagstaff, AZ. and glad I had remembered the jump pack! Drove out with wife & youngest daughter, then flew home on miles. A year latter he transferred to NAS Oceana while I was in Greece, so Mom flew out & drove back with him.

Glad to hear your saga ended well.
According to Carfax, the X5 got new battery in 2013 at dealer so I'm almost tempted to buy a good one at X5 location local part store (buy it online now and pickup it up on Friday and just put it in the car but not install it immediately.
I'll have my trusty compact Fluke digital multimeter with me and I'll check the battery and V before and after start (alternator output).

[andrewwynn]

Remember if you fly a jump pack cannot go in luggage.

Paper map not terrible but use Google maps and pre-load the map for the next day of the trip while you have internet. Do it on a couple phones if you have more than one with. It will be able to find anything in the map area as well as recalculate route .

Roadside is included with my car insurance, but it's a whole lot faster to jump start myself or refill a flat tire after patching in 30 seconds..

One time my valve stem popped. Split wide open. The sound sounded like I picked up some brush in a spoke. I drove a few blocks until I could find a good place to check it out.

Tire looked a little q so I got out the pump to add some air start looking for a screw etc.

Pump gauge looked weird then it hit me gauge wasn't reading wrong it was accurately reading zero!

Run on flat tire looked like 15 psi when zero!

Most critical thing to figure out is if the fuel siphon pump is working. When it fails and it will, you only have access to 5/8 to 3/4 of your fuel.

Learn how to read test six from the hidden menu and watch the right tank values. It should stay at about 1.4L while the left tank goes all the way to zero.

If the right tank drops to zero pull over for gas immediately or sooner. Actually if it starts dropping at all get gas. You will be safe to drive any distance with faulty siphon but you’d have to stop for gas more often and it’s way better to know if the fuel system is working than assume it’s not and have to stop 70-150 miles early at each fill up.

[bmw540san]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Remember if you fly a jump pack cannot go in luggage.

Paper map not terrible but use Google maps and pre-load the map for the next day of the trip while you have internet. Do it on a couple phones if you have more than one with. It will be able to find anything in the map area as well as recalculate route .

Roadside is included with my car insurance, but it's a whole lot faster to jump start myself or refill a flat tire after patching in 30 seconds..

One time my valve stem popped. Split wide open. The sound sounded like I picked up some brush in a spoke. I drove a few blocks until I could find a good place to check it out.

Tire looked a little q so I got out the pump to add some air start looking for a screw etc.

Pump gauge looked weird then it hit me gauge wasn't reading wrong it was accurately reading zero!

Run on flat tire looked like 15 psi when zero!

Most critical thing to figure out is if the fuel siphon pump is working. When it fails and it will, you only have access to 5/8 to 3/4 of your fuel.

Learn how to read test six from the hidden menu and watch the right tank values. It should stay at about 1.4L while the left tank goes all the way to zero.

If the right tank drops to zero pull over for gas immediately or sooner. Actually if it starts dropping at all get gas. You will be safe to drive any distance with faulty siphon but you’d have to stop for gas more often and it’s way better to know if the fuel system is working than assume it’s not and have to stop 70-150 miles early at each fill up.

I have separate compact jump starter and compact air inflator. They are both quite small. I'm flying with alaskan Air and their website shows no restrictions either for carry on.
I'll have to look into it fuel siphon thing. Fuel pump is original on 17 year old / 133k miles X5 and I've never had any issues.
While I avoid running it low on gas, I've done it here and there with no problems.