Spec X5 Overland Build

[Henn28]

Still avoiding the CV boot job, so I takled another, more cosmetic job today on the X5. My CSF oil cooler was mounted on a bracket a friend made for me, and screwed into the front bumper in two spots where the bumper cover bolts into the metal bumper. Not the strongest set-up, and no protection for the cooler. So I was happy to see that after 22 years, ECS Tuning is making some overland-oriented parts for the E53, including a light bar. So I grabbed one with the thought of using it for a better cooler mount, and a place to put some KC driving lights.

I elected to install it upside down as this position made for a better cooler mounting position, and offers some protection for the cooler. The CSF cooler is exceptionally heavy duty, and has survived one "gentle" rear-end accident, courtesy of my daughter, but I'd like a bit more. The bar simply bolts into the tow hook points and is 1" powder coated steel tubing. They make a tow hook that I've got on order which is longer and will engage the thread, and hold the bar on.



I cut some simple brackets from 3/16th steel and measured/drilled the hole to mount the brackets to the pre-drilled light attach brackets on the ECS Tuning bar, and mount the cooler to my home made brackets.


After that it was just a matter of bolting it up with some black stainless fasteners, cutting holes in the tow point covers and putting it all together.



Much more secure solution that I'm pretty happy with. I've got some light clamps to pop on and some 4" KC classic Halogen driving lights to install and wire up when then arrive. ECS is making a switch set-up for the ash tray which I will use, and modify two of the positions for the USB plugs I've got snaked into the ash tray from my Kenwood head unit currently.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by Henn28

...The CSF cooler is exceptionally heavy duty, and has survived one "gentle" rear-end accident, courtesy of my daughter, but I'd like a bit more....



Much more secure solution that I'm pretty happy with. ...

If I were you, I'd not feel secure with the radiator exposed, without a stone guard of some sort of mesh, at least to intercept and/or deflect at least some of the stones, aggregate, and smaller road debris that are on our roads. There are plenty of suppliers that make these for circle racing, and I've seen a few on street/strip drag cars that used a separate transmission cooler ( didn't need one on mine, as it was mounted behind a headlight bucket, after I replaced it with a dual hi/low lamp, but still used a light mesh screen to prevent a bug build-up).

While driving since 1965, I've had a billion stones damage my vehicles, a lower radiator hose and later, a radiator, pierced by road debris. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by workingonit

If I were you, I'd not feel secure with the radiator exposed, without a stone guard of some sort of mesh, at least to intercept and/or deflect at least some of the stones, aggregate, and smaller road debris that are on our roads. There are plenty of suppliers that make these for circle racing, and I've seen a few on street/strip drag cars that used a separate transmission cooler ( didn't need one on mine, as it was mounted behind a headlight bucket, after I replaced it with a dual hi/low lamp, but still used a light mesh screen to prevent a bug build-up).

While driving since 1965, I've had a billion stones damage my vehicles, a lower radiator hose and later, a radiator, pierced by road debris. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

I’ll see if CSF makes anything for it. Thanks for the tipper.