I'm Baaaacccckkkkkkk!!

[BimmerM3inGA]

I used to be fairly active on X Outpost, but it's been a minute since I've been around. Part of the reason was because my last E53 experience left me a broken man:
https://xoutpost.com/classifieds/bmw...alcantara.html
And part of the reason was simply life changes that seriously reduced the time I have for hobbies and needy toys.

Anyway, I guess I don't learn from my mistakes and just picked up a new-to-me X5. This one is an Estoril over black 2005 3.0i with the Sport Package. That's my second favorite color after Imola. 145K miles and a fairly long list of needs:

1. Replace Passenger Door Trim
2. Replace Front Bumper Grille Inserts
3. Replace Driver Side Exhaust Pipe Trim
4. MID Pixel Repair
5. Replace Rear Parking Sensor
6. Sunroof Rattle/Repair
7. Instrument Cluster Backlight
8. Oil Change
9. Hood Struts
10. Replace Air Intake Tube
11. HVAC Button Missing
12. Add Aux Input

I've already repaired the broken exterior passenger door handle. There isn't actually much on this list that concerns me, except for the sunroof. It has the awful panoramic sunroof and of course it's broken, and of course it rattles like crazy. I'm perfectly happy to just pull the fuse and never use it, but I have to do something about the rattle. I tried putting a strip of velcro under the edge of the rear panel, but it didn't make a difference - and that's how I discovered that the mechanism is broken. So I'm not sure what to do about that. I did some searching, but didn't really find anything about fixing the rattle that looks like it would work. Does anyone here have a suggestion?

[andrewwynn]

My instant cure for rattle is a shim of wood under the roof rack crossbar. The official cure I believe involves the felt side of Velcro tape installed in the right places.

[BimmerM3inGA]

Could you elaborate on the wood shim method? I tried the velcro tape and it made no difference. Maybe I did it wrong?

[andrewwynn]

I haven't done the tape but there is an exact process did you find the BMW directions or just "wing it"?

My roof rack crossbar goes right over my Glass. I cut a piece of wood just the right thickness to push down on the glass and pulled the fuse. Zero rattle.

I just realized what I thought was crossbar was just part of a roof per such in the background of your photo.

Somebody to cure a leaking roof used some quality tape to seal it, that might also work for the Rattle.

[BimmerM3inGA]

Ah, I understand what you mean now. Mine doesn't have the cross bars, so that's what was confusing me. I found the BMW service bulletin for the rattle fix. I think my problem is that something in the mechanism is actually broken (bits of plastic fell out when I tried to close it). So the velcro fix doesn't help.

[crystalworks]

Welcome back! Nice looking X.

Edit: Still wish I was in the market when you were selling your imola...

[RocketyMan]

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

I used to be fairly active on X Outpost, but it's been a minute since I've been around. Part of the reason was because my last E53 experience left me a broken man:
https://xoutpost.com/classifieds/bmw...alcantara.html
And part of the reason was simply life changes that seriously reduced the time I have for hobbies and needy toys.

Anyway, I guess I don't learn from my mistakes and just picked up a new-to-me X5. This one is an Estoril over black 2005 3.0i with the Sport Package. That's my second favorite color after Imola. 145K miles and a fairly long list of needs:

1. Replace Passenger Door Trim
2. Replace Front Bumper Grille Inserts
3. Replace Driver Side Exhaust Pipe Trim
4. MID Pixel Repair
5. Replace Rear Parking Sensor
6. Sunroof Rattle/Repair
7. Instrument Cluster Backlight
8. Oil Change
9. Hood Struts
10. Replace Air Intake Tube
11. HVAC Button Missing
12. Add Aux Input

I've already repaired the broken exterior passenger door handle. There isn't actually much on this list that concerns me, except for the sunroof. It has the awful panoramic sunroof and of course it's broken, and of course it rattles like crazy. I'm perfectly happy to just pull the fuse and never use it, but I have to do something about the rattle. I tried putting a strip of velcro under the edge of the rear panel, but it didn't make a difference - and that's how I discovered that the mechanism is broken. So I'm not sure what to do about that. I did some searching, but didn't really find anything about fixing the rattle that looks like it would work. Does anyone here have a suggestion?

Cool!

So are you going to update your signature to reflect this car now??

[zener]

Very easy repair list, but wait there's more... List won't end there.


Anyways nicely colored X5.

[Overboost]

Welcome back BimmerM3inGA! Mine is also the LCI M54 ZSP. No air ride suspension to ever fail.

Car looks great!

[X5chemist]

Welcome back. It's been almost 1 year since I bought mine. I've done a lot of repairs. Still have a lot to do on it too. Your knowledge will others continue the X5 passion.