BenFenner's 2004 Silver SUV

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by BenFenner

I have more updates coming of course, but I just wanted to point out that I have finally recorded at least 20 fuel tank fill-ups (22 actually) for city driving so I'm going to stop recording city fuel economy as I feel I have enough data now. I'm confident saying my vehicle gets ~13.5 MPG in city driving. I have mixed and highway economy figures to flesh out still.

Here is what things look like at the moment:

Not bad, you're on top of your car's (cars') performance, with accurate record-keeping, I see. In my case, not so much. I just see the gas mileage number on the dash display go down, as I either fiddle with the X in the driveway, or drive slowly/occasionally/seldomly to the Dr. or to local stores.

I wish I could

• 1) drive mine more, overall,
• 2) run it less time, at idle while testing, at home, and
• 3) drive it more often at highway speeds

to get a better picture of what my M54 is capable of achieving, mileage-wise.

I've only driven mine about 1600 miles in the almost 38 months I've owned it, and probably only filled the tank 4.5 times, per my calculations, based on the 15.1-15.4 mpg number (sometimes dropping to 14.9 after testing at home for hours), usually on the aforementioned display.

With 10% Ethanol gasoline (91 octane Top-Tier Premium from QuikTrip) sitting in the tank for months, I have to use "STA-BIL 360 Protection Ethanol Treatment & Fuel Stabilizer" and also "Liqui Moly 2007 Jectron Gasoline Fuel Injection Cleaner", just to keep it running. Someday, I'll get some Ethanol-Free 93-octane Premium gas, and go out on an extended road trip, someday....

[BenFenner]

workingonit, I know the feeling. I have two cars in the garage in various states of repair that haven't been driven much at all in a very long time. It is sad.

[BenFenner]

Determine correct wheel bolt key code | Album

The car came with wheel locks, but no key. I took pictures of the wheel locks, counted the points, then looked up pictures of locks and keys to count their points. Eventually I found that I had "Code 40" wheel locks, and was able to order the correct key. (Well, I actually ordered the 17mm version by accident when I should have ordered the 19mm version, but that doesn't really matter.)
I plan to buy four new wheel bolts to replace these silly locks with.


Tools:
$13.82 | BMW Code 40 wheel bolt key (17mm) | 36136762344 (17mm) | 36136752768 (19mm)


Pics:

[BenFenner]

Someone on Facebook asked where the factory tool [wrap] kit is on these cars, so I took them on a journey.

[BenFenner]

Perform first oil change | Album

It looks like I finally got around to the first oil change. For the record, the vehicle has 154,111 miles on it now (bought it with 152,336 miles) so I've only driven it 1,775 miles with unknown oil age.
One thing to note about these engines (M54) is that the oil filter kit does not seem to come with the small o-rings for the tip of the oil filter carrier. Seems nuts to me, but I picked one up to make sure I replaced that, not realizing I needed two. I'll get two next time.
Lastly, I found out that I'm missing a plastic push-rivet for the intake duct work. I'll order one of those soon.

Oh yah, the oil filter carrier is 36mm and gets torqued to 25 Nm. I'll get a 36mm socket for next time.
From the owner's manual, the engine oil capacity is 8.0 quarts (7.5 Liters).


Parts:
$7.51 | Mann oil filter kit for BMW E53 (M54 engine) | HU 925/4x (compare to BMW 11427512300)
$2.11 | OEM BMW oil filter carrier lower o-ring (7mm × 2.5mm) | 11427549573


Supplies:
$56.26 | Amsoil 5w40 Classic European Formula Engine Oil, 1 quart (×8) | EFMQT-CA


Pics:

[Fifty150hs]

If you use Viton o rings for the oil filter carrier you'll never have to change them again.

[BenFenner]

Interesting. Something I hadn't thought of, but I can see that.
Sounds like maybe OEM are Viton, which might explain why they aren't in the kit?
Either way I'd like to make sure I have some fresh ones and then maybe I'll let them go long intervals after that.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by BenFenner

Interesting. Something I hadn't thought of, but I can see that.
Sounds like maybe OEM are Viton, which might explain why they aren't in the kit?
Either way I'd like to make sure I have some fresh ones and then maybe I'll let them go long intervals after that.

From what I could tell, they're just regular rubber. They were very hard when I changed mine to Viton.

[BenFenner]

Understood.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by BenFenner

Perform first oil change | The engine oil capacity is ~6.5L.

More like 7.5L. The LiquiMoly kit I get from FCP is 1 5L jug and three 1L bottles. And an oil extractor is your friend, if you can find one big enough to drink it all. And oil that new filter cap o-ring! Oil it!!