Battery??

[stiubhartach]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

That's a great line. I'll remember that. The problem with search is that more often than not it's very difficult to find the right search phrase, and a newbie is always a newbie doesn't matter if they bought x5 2020 or 2010. Many many people really did zero maintenance on their own car because they had a virtually zero maintenance car or one that was not cost prohibitive to bring to a shop so buying used X5 they are quickly getting up to speed on the necessity of DIY.

Since the day I bought mine, I tell oeoe that I budget $100/mo for upkeep and do all the maintenance myself to keep under budget. It's not a car for somebody that can't DIY.

This is Truth. I have 3 years of receipts from the PO totaling $30k to the dealer for maintenance. Who can afford $10k per year in maintenance? And why would you, even if you could?

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by stiubhartach

This is Truth. I have 3 years of receipts from the PO totaling $30k to the dealer for maintenance. Who can afford $10k per year in maintenance? And why would you, even if you could?

I bought a 2002 330ci convertible last year. The previous owner had all the records for the 10 years he had it. 14k worth service in that time and nothing major was replaced. The mechanic was an independent shop that specialized in European vehicles and they upsold and charged this guy every single thing you can imagine.

He goes in for a complete brake job, drops and grand in parts and labor and they charged him to top up his fluids

There's quite a few things they charged for that I think is sort of hitting below the belt. Along the lines of going in for a bad bearing and the mechanic charging $75 for a diagnostic fee which I'm pretty sure would consist of wiggling the tire.

I bet that mechanic will be sorry buddy sold the car.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by stiubhartach

This is Truth. I have 3 years of receipts from the PO totaling $30k to the dealer for maintenance. Who can afford $10k per year in maintenance? And why would you, even if you could?

Especially on a vehicle that isn't worth that amount. Not even close. Money to burn I guess.

[StephenVA]

I agree, we need more of a insert/check off problems = here are your posting related to your issue(s). Solution in a box type of format. But unfortunately, the lack of postings and readers leave us with a few die hards and newbies as the content makers.

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

I agree, we need more of a insert/check off problems = here are your posting related to your issue(s). Solution in a box type of format. But unfortunately, the lack of postings and readers leave us with a few die hards and newbies as the content makers.

I looked around a few forums before I settled here because it seems to be the most active by far.

On a regular day I notice there is well over a 100 people browsing the e53 forum. Usually closer to 200.

Seems like there's a lot of more interest here than the newer Xs

[andrewwynn]

That's a great idea a sticky thread with a list for newbies and links to the corresponding thread with the topic covered

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

That's a great idea a sticky thread with a list for newbies and links to the corresponding thread with the topic covered

I agree with the stickies

On many of the forums that I frequent they'll have several stickies starting with an FAQ.

I don't know why there isn't any of that here, seems like there's been plenty of time.

Maybe if someone is friendly with the moderators we can spruce the place up a bit?

[StephenVA]

Look up top on the forum and see and clink on ARTICLES. They have never been updated to my knowledge in the past years so there are more hidden away in postings all over the board. It would however make for a good Data content deep dive for the admins.

[c-bass]

Man that reminds me of the Friendly Giant

look up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up!

In all my years of lurking in forums I have never seen anything placed there.

Maybe it's just me but that's definitely not where I would even consider looking. I would expect it to be at the top of the subforum I'm currently in like...

[StephenVA]

The great news is that the X5 E53 shares the same engine, engine management, body part complexity as the E39 so what works on one works on all. So hit up the other forums for testing, repair solutions etc.