What's a reasonable number for the 4.8is? (see Post

[panchosouth]

Sooo the grille kit doesn't fit. ECS is changing it on the website (fits your ...etc.)

Any suggestions as to where I can find similar matte finish aftermarket?

[panchosouth]

also!

[Happy]

Originally Posted by panchosouth

Speaking of grunty beasts! How many hay eaters is that pushing??

About 460 at the fly. The 4.10 diff’s with the manual gearbox have that E53 zippin right along.


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[CapeX5]

Originally Posted by panchosouth

also!

Details on that head unit??? Inquiring minds would like to know. Did you install or shop? Degree of difficulty?

[panchosouth]

Originally Posted by Happy

About 460 at the fly. The 4.10 diff’s with the manual gearbox have that E53 zippin right along.


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

Manual gearbox?? Do tell!

[panchosouth]

Originally Posted by CapeX5

Details on that head unit??? Inquiring minds would like to know. Did you install or shop? Degree of difficulty?

CapeX5 - XTRONS Android 11 / On Amazon.

Having it installed by service team at BMW Cincinnati North. Also has the back-up-camera added to the package. I think it cost me 450.00 and change from Amazon. As for the install cost, it's supposed to be pretty easy...DIY's might be able to chime in on that part.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by panchosouth

Manual gearbox?? Do tell!

There were a few thousand 5 speed and 6 speed SAV’s manufactured. I believe Porsche had a manual version as well.

I have the last of the original build 5 speed E53’s. The transfer case I was told would support the high horsepower output better than the newer x-drive setup. So that ruled out the 6 speed builds. A member here on the forum also suggested from his experience, that the 5 speed is a very durable gearbox. I am not sure about the 6.

I have upgraded the flywheel to an ultra light weight 8lb UUC type, with an 8 puck Kevlar clutch. The clutch pedal feels super light, with great grab! It makes shifting a breeze. The shift linkage has been modified as well with their DSSR, so it’s super tight like an E46 M3.

Fun fact: The DSSR is a prototype, and only one was produced, and only fits the original build E53.


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[panchosouth]

Has anyone ever converted the 4.8is to a manual? Your E53 sounds like a big bag of hoot and holler!

Porsche built the GTS from 2009-10 with a 6spd. Haven't had the pleasure, but I imagine it's a bag of fun as well.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by panchosouth

Has anyone ever converted the 4.8is to a manual? Your E53 sounds like a big bag of hoot and holler!

All models of the E53 can be converted regardless of their engine size. For instance the engineer that designed, developed, and built my E53 first suggested a 4.9 S62 swap. He then wanted to supercharge that with his S62 kit, which would have produced a power output of between 800 to 900 horsepower depending on how hard you want to push. Either way that is a higher power output than the 700hp 6.0 P75 powered E53.

However, I would have had to sacrifice my AWD. I did not want to do that.

BMW Motorsport retained AWD on their 6.0LM. (Must be nice to have an unlimited budget LoL..) The 6.0LM does have a 6 speed manual gearbox, but uses the same transfer case, drivelines, and diffs as the original build first generation E53’s that came in 5 speed. So, essentially it is a 6 speed first generation E53, powered by a 6.0. That is why I did not want to alter my last month built, first gen E53. The sound of 800 ponies was verrry tempting though!

With the stock exhaust manifolds, gasoline, and methanol injection my build delivers S62 power. The power of an E39 M5 in a manual E53 sounded great to me. Now, with headers, ethanol, and ethanol injection (fuel galore ) more power has been extracted. I basically wanted to build a X5LM replica. There is indeed a bit of hoot and holler LoL.. And, to your conversion question, yes. Engine size doesn’t really matter, they exist from 3.0, all the way to 6.0, it’s all about preference. But boy I wouldn’t mind that 6.0 parked in my garage!

Originally Posted by panchosouth

Porsche built the GTS from 2009-10 with a 6spd. Haven't had the pleasure, but I imagine it's a bag of fun as well.

Funny situation, I was originally going to purchase a 2009. It was sold in ‘08, and this was in 2010. It was 2 years old. While doing my research, I discovered that they have plastic pipes that had some issue if I can recall. So I thought, there goes that idea (man it was a nice ride)! So when I stumbled across my E53 I said, “a BMW suv with a stick, I’ll take it”. Haha.. Just to find out it has plastic pipes as well. Boy how uneducated I was with Europeans back then.

Fun fact: My supercharger kit was the prototype, and was the only one ever built. The engineer’s cad files, and fuel mapping files years later were lost due to a computer failure. She is truly one of a kind.


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[Themoog]

Just jumped on this thread.. Interesting. I did ponder making my 01 4.4 rear wheel drive only but maybe not. I saw a YouTube video where someone had done just that and thought it would be simple but it’s a bit more involved. I’m not a manual gear change fan by the way but that’s just me.
Anyway, the chat about the transmissions made me recall when my 5 speed auto was rebuilt last year. The owner of the company that did it told me some surprising nuggets of information. He said that the ZF tranny in the early X5’s and many other vehicles is a very good strong trans. The problems arise ,however when the fluid is not replaced every circa 40k miles (which is rarely the case). Mine had jumping issues when I bought it at 140k and a fluid change allowed it to carry for another 30k miles until it gave in.
Anyone who knows about these trans certainly knows about the misleading green sticker on the sump pan which gives the impression that you don’t have to service them.