Cool "Hidden" features of the E53 X5

[Qsilver7]

Great. And you don't have to unlock the OBC or do any of the TESTs to put your scale back to gallons instead of liters. You can do that right on your MID.

Press the BC button on your MID (located on the lower right button)...and you should see a prompt on the far right to change the scale. In the image below you can see the L/KM (liters/kilometers) prompt (next to the SET button). Yours should say something else (like gal/miles) since you have liters/kilometers selected. If you press that button, it should revert back to gallons/miles. \

The display for your OBC is the MID (not the display in the instrument cluster). To control/set/reset/start/stop any OBC functions, you do this with the buttons on the MID. The BC button on the turn signal stalk only allows you to program OBC features to appear in the instrument cluster...so you can call them up (as a fringe benefit). You can't control any of the OBC features with the turn signal stalk...because the display in the cluster has first priority to the Check Control system. That's why any Priority 1 or 2 warnings from the Check Control system will wipe other info from the display. If you leave your lights on and shut down the engine, or leave your keys in the igntion and open the door etc...or you have any warning/prompts from the Check Control System...they take over the display in the cluster to let you know what's going on. And only after clearing them can you go back to displaying other info there.

Hope this makes sense.

[pezho405]

So much to read here. some of what i know:

Many coding possibilites as well the roll up windows with key.

If you very quickly press pedal down and hit the kickdown button and lift off again it will dowshift to its lowest possible gear at the moment, it wont change up for the next few seconds unless you apply more throttle.

Flick the highbeams with the key out before leaving and locking, will keep the car lit up for like 15-45 seconds so you can see where you are going. As well as if you put on a turn signal, that side will stay on.

YOU CAN Heel toe rev match when downshifting, you just gotta find the exact spot between when you downshift and the gear engages. Ive gotten a good sense of when to do it and do it out of habit now. (is it bad?)
Usually its like .7-1 seconds after you hit the gear lever.
It reduces any jerking and is a smooth transition.

Dont know if this is bad but under hard acceleration if i lift off as gear changes i feel like it changes abit quicker and gets on the power right away.

If you click lock once again after locking it the first time, i think during while the mirror light is flasing fast, it will disable the interior motion sensor.

if you pop off the gear shift boot and cover, its a great place to hide things

Well i knew a bunch before i started tyuping this but as i remember ill add them

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Hope this makes sense.

Yeah it does. Thanks. I'll try it out in a few minutes. You rock!!!

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by Essam Khafagi

They turn on with the lights ... u will find one in each door handle, two fronts near the mirror and two in the back near the interior lighting.. put ur hand when it is dark u will easily notice them.

Actually all BMWs have them!

Door handles?

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by 1stE53

I was referring to some complainer a few posts before mine. I have an 03 X5 and an 03 E320. Both of which are regularly confused as new cars. There is only one weak point in the X. The trunk. I fix the rattles about once a year on that, but aside from that, both are still solid as rocks and 0 wear on the plastics!!!

What do you usually check for those rattles? Mine has one but I can't tell if its the tailgate or the hatchback.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by 1stE53

Any news on the UP feature being programmed on US models? Love the feature on hot days to let out the heat before strapping baby in the car seat.

Hope you found the answer on these pages but if not it is programmed. I did mine with BMW Scanner 1.4.0. Pretty simple to program many many many options on your car. Speed when all doors lock, seatbelt gong on/off, headlight gong on/off, various convenience features, custom lighting options, reset service reminders, reset airbag lights, and yes the all windows up AND down controlled with the remote. I love having the control to customize my car just how I want it. There are lots and lots of features available to us.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by B-Boy

I selected all options under "Selective Central Locking" since I didn't know which key I was using. Only "Mechanical Lock" was selected. "Mechanical Lock" means you can insert your key in the driver door lock, turn it right and hold. It will lock the vehicle, the windows, and sunroof.

Also select all options under Convenient opening/locking.

I will post a screenprint of my coding when I get home.

The youtube link should be working.

I use 1.4.0 also. In the middle column I believe mine has all the keys check marked but I only have two keys to my car. Can I uncheck them? Or will that lock me out or maybe worse? I want to have only my two keys setup for the car and in the programming. Not sure I'm explaining myself very well tho.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by B-Boy

Just found a very cool feature programming. I have always hated the turning signal light turning on when xenon and angel lights are on. I just found that they can be programmed to never come on and only be used as signal lights. They never go on unless you are using your signal lights.

Now the X looks awesome!!!!

Do you mean the lights next to the headlights or the ones on the fenders?
And you programmed them to only light up when the turn signal is blinking correct?

[MacProo]

Heres a fun one i found.
If you take the traction control off, you still have a very hard time trying to slide the car. so to over come this i found this trick.

1) Remove the rear seat, simply lift it up.
2) there will be 2 connector cables on connected to X drive, LEFT seat. If you remove the two cables and start up the car, ABS, Stability and 4x4 will be turned off.

Once you start driving you will hear a difference in the engine noise, sounds more aggressive. From standstill you can easily do a burn out (4.4L version). when you accelerate in a turn your back end will slide out.
On dirt i did 360s and you can see that most if not all of the power goes directly to the back wheels.
so what essentially happens is that you turn off X-Drive.
it feels like an entirely new car in my opinion, must more rear power.

I've done this on multiple occasions and i've had no issues with it. the car has 250,000 km on it.

Let me know what you guys think! If you have any questions I can prove you guys with photos or anything else


I also ordered an AUX cable for the e53 off of ebay (~$20). Im plan on doing the installation once it arrives. If anyone is curious as to how to do it let me know and I will post some instructions.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by MacProo

Here's a fun one I found.
If you take the traction control off, you still have a very hard time trying to slide the car.

That's probably because you can't take traction control off, just dynamic stability control. Unless you unplug something.