Spec X5 Overland Build

[Henn28]

I think my belt problems have run their course finally. It took a new alternator pulley, two more belts which still had problems staying on the pulleys, and finally a retorque of the nut holding the pulleys on the tensioner to get this problem fixed. The nut had backed off and the entire pulley/tensioner was wobbling a bit. On the plus side I finally broke down and bought a pulley holder and fan wrench after years of messing around with a huge adjustable wrench and swearing a lot.

A few pics of the pulley and resulting belt damage, and the car in OK with my pups.

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[Henn28]

My E53 overland build has been hit and miss over the past few months since the swap. Much more hit than miss thankfully though, and the couple misses have been self-induced by the average mechanic who did the work. The latest issue was the poorly routed hose from the rear manifold to the aux pump...the one with the metal hardline swedged into it. I didn't catch this hose in the many photos I took during disassembly so I wasn't quite sure how to route it when I put the car back together again. RealOEM wasn't too clear either.

At any rate, the steering shaft eventually wore a hole in it after it broke the zip tie holding it to the frame rail and out dumped $50 of zerex. No worry though, as I should have replaced that hose anyway (didn't want to spend $150, and it loooked fine) and I did have a new double joint to put in as my steering was making a nice clunk every 45 degrees or so. Making expensive lemonade out of X5 parts. Flash forward a few weeks and she's running fine, staying cool in the Louisiana heat, and with smooth steering. I have to admit I took it to a local indy again for this work as my normal job has been all consuming this summer.

I did order 4 meters of very nice looking anthracite Uberkaro fabric for the pending front seat rehab from Graham at BMW Fabric (AKA BimmerBreaker on the forums). I'll yank the seats this fall when it cools down (AC is long gone in my 1993 grand cherokee bomber) and have the centers done in the Uberkaro and the tan/sand leather outers recovered, and the bottom and back bolsters redone.

I spent some quality time rejiggering my oil cooler bracket a bit, which allowed me to really think about how I might attach an unobtrusive brush/bull bar. It hit me that the holes where the tow hooks screw into the front bumper/frame would be an ideal place. In fact I could hold the brush bar on with two tow hooks maybe. Now I've just got to sketch something out and take it to my friend who can fabricate it. Definitely a work in progress with more to follow.

[Henn28]

Some progress on the interior finally. After picking up two very nice comfort seats from 5s0NG and shipping them to New Orleans last week, I spent the morning stripping them of plastic bits, controllers, etc. and dropped them off at the upholstery shop along with the uberkaro fabric for the inserts and the new seat bottom foam pieces.

I ended up doing the right (non lazy) thing and swapping the drivers seat in to my car just to make sure it would work. 5s0NG’s car is a 2006 3.0 sport and cold wx package car. Interestingly, while they seem to be “comfort” seats, the backs of his seats are several inches taller and they have heat, lumbar and adjustable head rests. Sport package maybe?

Hapiliy I can say that it all works great when plugged into my 2002 harness, which is a relief. The only thing I couldn’t test was the heat, but I’m hopeful that will work too as soon as the eBay console switch with heat buttons shows up and I sort out what relay and/or fuse(s) is are needed. I think there is a rear fuse block relay for heated back seats, according to the inter web, and I can see wires going up into the relay plug, but no relay is installed. I’m not finding a relay for front seat heat, but may be overlooking something or the fronts use the same relay as the rear seat.

[kspark]

Interesting about the difference in seats. I don't think BMW changed anything across the E53's, at least the sport versions should be identical up to '06. Post some pics when you get the inserts done!

Good to hear the new motor is running well. I'm looking forward to some more trail miles this season myself.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by kspark

Interesting about the difference in seats. I don't think BMW changed anything across the E53's, at least the sport versions should be identical up to '06. Post some pics when you get the inserts done!

Good to hear the new motor is running well. I'm looking forward to some more trail miles this season myself.

Willdo. Hopefully they will be done in time for a drive to Iowa to chase birds in several weeks. Your X is looks great…I envy the paint condition. Blue cars never seem to hold up, or maybe it’s just my 3 blue cars I’ve owned over the years!

I wonder if the sport seats used the basic comfort seat as a jumping off point, and added a higher back portion along with the lumbar and outer additional adjustment points?

[kspark]

You may have gotten lucky with 4.6is comfort seats. To my knowledge the regular comfort and sport seats use the same base with different foam bolster sizes.

BMW paint holds up incredibly well, always rewarding after a good cut and polish and with ceramic coatings pretty easy to keep it looking decent.

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by kspark

You may have gotten lucky with 4.6is comfort seats. To my knowledge the regular comfort and sport seats use the same base with different foam bolster sizes.

BMW paint holds up incredibly well, always rewarding after a good cut and polish and with ceramic coatings pretty easy to keep it looking decent.

I agree, definitely the most durable paint of any vehicle I've ever had (and mine is blue).

[Happy]

Originally Posted by kspark

BMW paint holds up incredibly well, always rewarding after a good cut and polish and with ceramic coatings pretty easy to keep it looking decent.

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I agree, definitely the most durable paint of any vehicle I've ever had (and mine is blue).

+1

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[Henn28]

I will say that my X5 wasn't garaged for significant portions of its existence. The clear coat has failed, hence the repaint of the hood and the roof, where it looked the worst.

Regarding seats, the pic below is of 5s0NG's driver side seat temporarily swapped into my X5 to test that the functions would work. The taller backrest on the 2006 comfort seat clearly shows when compared to the OE 2002 passenger comfort seat. The headrest too is of a different design. Its mechanically adjustable, while my OE seats didn't have that function.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by kspark

BMW paint holds up incredibly well...

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I agree, definitely the most durable paint of any vehicle I've ever had (and mine is blue).

Originally Posted by Henn28

I will say that my X5 wasn't garaged for significant portions of its existence. The clear coat has failed, hence the repaint of the hood and the roof, where it looked the worst....

According to the previous owner, who talked to the original owner, my X5 was never garaged, and spent most its' life in sunny West Texas (traveling to oil sites...the engine compartment and underside still show traces of desert alkali). And the clear coat just started peeling (hood & roof) last summer, after two months of excessive, over 100F temps. Mine is blue. And, at the same time, the clearcoat on red paint on our '98 GMC did the same; it's also never been garaged.

If BMW paint is regarded as long-lived, that's no surprise, but General Motors clearcoat has never been so highly regarded (examples: '68 Pontiac Bonneville in Nightshade Green faded/peeled after 4 years, '86 Chevy S-10 in Charcoal Grey clearcoat after 7 years...garaged for 2). I guess GM's paint quality has improved over the years, so I expect owners of newer BMW's should have longer-lasting paint, too.