Cool "Hidden" features of the E53 X5

[BMWLOVER]

Originally Posted by Weasel

I think he meant the kick down "click down" at the bottom of pedal travel, not using the shifter. I almost never use the manual shift, just sport.

That's what I meant.

[2006BMWx5]

Originally Posted by BMWLOVER

That's what I meant.

That is what I do as well. When I am coming to a stop I like to manually down shift, or if I feel like down shifting before a turn I might down shift a gear. So then from that point you either shift the gears manually or get it back to sport by moving the gear shifter to the right and back to sport. Just did not know if there was another way. Thanks.

[GNP]

Originally Posted by dok47

if your X5 cant start or dies after few seconds check fuel. Gauge might be showing wrong LOL it sounds stupid but i had lots of checking and computer diagnostics with different error codes untill I opened tank to check pumo and found that is dry. never had this issue before and i was sure it must be at least 20 liters little bit off topic but just wanna say never trust gauges it can make u look stupid like i did
Have a nice day

dok47,

My 2001 X5 4.4i has a saddle bag gas tank and there is an extra fuel pump to pump the fuel from one saddle bag to the other.

If that extra pump fails, one of the saddle bags will run dry, while the gas gauge still shows 20 liters, since there is still fuel in the other saddle bag where the gauge is.

So actually, you only have 10 liters left, since the 20 liters is all on one side and the other side is dry. If the 20 liters was half pumped over to the other side, the guage would only show 10 liters left.

Howvere, the primary fuel pump is located in the saddlebag that is dry and thus you can't start the engine, even though you have fuel in the tank on the other side.

As long as you always keep at least a 1/4 tank of gas, you should not have to replace the broken pump, since a 1/4 tank is high enough to spill over the top or the hump in the saddle bags.

I had to replace the fuel filter at the same time that I replaced my broken secondary fuel pump. However, the fuel filter on my 2001 X5 4.4i was not made to be replaced.

So the secret here is that if you run out of gas and the gauge still shows 20 liters or so, just put more fuel it it and you'll be good to go, no need for a tow. However, you still would have to get the gas delivered to your vehicle.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by bgsquad

if the sunroof is in ven position, you can't fully close the shade. I think so that you don't forget it

This is mostly so that the shade does not get sucked out thru the roof!

In vent position, when travelling at high speed, there is considerable extraction vacumn out thru the sunroof, and if you could close the shade it would put undue stress on the construction of the relatively flimsy shade.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by 2006BMWx5

Ok so when I go to sport mode and I down shift is there a way without going back to drive and back to sport to get it out of manuel? My Benz you could hold to the right for a couple of secs and it would go back to sport. Not a big deal but I have tried holding it but it just stays at 5 but won't go back to sport?

I'd like to know if this is possible also. I have a hardwired radar detector mounted just to the left of my rearview mirror, and since I drive in Sport 90% of the time, I like using the gears to slow me down suddenly when the radar detector goes off....keeps the cops from eyeballing the first guy who hits the breaks when he shoots radar, therefore not giving it away that I know he's shooting at me. I've had countless friends get busted w/ "radar detector in use" tickets in VA because the 1st person to hit the brakes when the cop shot radar is the guy w/ a detector....dead giveaway.

[dok47]

Originally Posted by GNP

dok47,

My 2001 X5 4.4i has a saddle bag gas tank and there is an extra fuel pump to pump the fuel from one saddle bag to the other.

If that extra pump fails, one of the saddle bags will run dry, while the gas gauge still shows 20 liters, since there is still fuel in the other saddle bag where the gauge is.

So actually, you only have 10 liters left, since the 20 liters is all on one side and the other side is dry. If the 20 liters was half pumped over to the other side, the guage would only show 10 liters left.

Howvere, the primary fuel pump is located in the saddlebag that is dry and thus you can't start the engine, even though you have fuel in the tank on the other side.

As long as you always keep at least a 1/4 tank of gas, you should not have to replace the broken pump, since a 1/4 tank is high enough to spill over the top or the hump in the saddle bags.

I had to replace the fuel filter at the same time that I replaced my broken secondary fuel pump. However, the fuel filter on my 2001 X5 4.4i was not made to be replaced.

So the secret here is that if you run out of gas and the gauge still shows 20 liters or so, just put more fuel it it and you'll be good to go, no need for a tow. However, you still would have to get the gas delivered to your vehicle.

Thanks for your help. In my case I took out pump on right side where level sensor is located too. Tank was dry completely. On other side i have only another floating switch. I measure ohms on both of them and they are measuring exactly same ohms. i checked gauges and tested them they move from emlty to full position esily so they are not stuck. Engine off gauge on zero also. Whenn filling tank with around 60 liters gauges are already on max. when i runb out of fuel is shows around 20liters. it looks to me like instrument gauges unit need to be flashed with new software.?!?!

And now i will tell how it happened which is strange.
I had 2009 DVD navigation bootleg in my MK4 while driving from eastern europe to Austria. As soon as I entered Austria and TMC option was enabled on navi to receive updates about road blocks etc... it went crazy it was rebooting and after that showing empty maps and shuting down all the time. I pulled fuses for navi and BC but still same. I put 2008 bootleg navi DVD same [problem. Then I put 2006 OEM DVD Navi and it was all ok. In that moment i had 20liters in my tank. From that moment it looks like gauge has been recalibrated that o liters is at 20 liters gauge position. When i got back to eastern europe bootleg DVD Navigation 2009 was working fine. Could it be some bug that they send if you use bootleg or something. I did not have time to flesh my unit but i will let you know if that will fix the problem.
Thanks

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by Cole

This is mostly so that the shade does not get sucked out thru the roof!

In vent position, when travelling at high speed, there is considerable extraction vacumn out thru the sunroof, and if you could close the shade it would put undue stress on the construction of the relatively flimsy shade.

I think this is the reason too. when in vent mode, most sunroof shades either have vent holes (audi/vw) or they don't close all the way. with the air velocity fast on top of the sunroof, this area has lower pressure than the inside cabin, which has no/little air velocity.

[bgsquad]

Originally Posted by Cole

This is mostly so that the shade does not get sucked out thru the roof!

In vent position, when travelling at high speed, there is considerable extraction vacumn out thru the sunroof, and if you could close the shade it would put undue stress on the construction of the relatively flimsy shade.

mmmm, maybe you're right, but i'm not that conviced. the shade is not air tight, and air can be sucked from around the mechanism...

as for vent holes in other cars, this is to keep the ventillation without having the sun getting inside... but why BMW did not do that? obviousely they were thinking of something more than venting without sun or releasing pressure (if what you suggest is right) that's why i thought that they were thinking about forgetting it in vent position when rain starts to pour. if this third reason is not right, they would have done the holes like other cars....

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by bgsquad

mmmm, maybe you're right, but i'm not that conviced. the shade is not air tight, and air can be sucked from around the mechanism...

as for vent holes in other cars, this is to keep the ventillation without having the sun getting inside... but why BMW did not do that? obviousely they were thinking of something more than venting without sun or releasing pressure (if what you suggest is right) that's why i thought that they were thinking about forgetting it in vent position when rain starts to pour. if this third reason is not right, they would have done the holes like other cars....

even though it's not air tight, it doesn't mean there's no forces involved. based off your logic, the only way a house vacuum would work is if the opening is completely plugged. were also talking about a very thin layer of fabric for the shade. it won't take much force to break it.

BMW does have the holes when you have the sunroof vented - it opens up between the front and rear sections of the shade. I always found the Audi/VW shades annoying, because you always get some light through them, even if the sunroof is completely closed.

the venting for rain should not be an issue. when driving in rain, water travelling backwards through the vent should not be a big concern (unless you drive in reverse). the X5 has the rain catches under the vent openings.

[bgsquad]

What would the force be? 2-3 Newtons? it can't break the shade... actually we can try it, let's put it in vent position, block the opening of the shade, and go 80mph for example...

Nice info tip about the catches, i did not know that. those are a must, cause you might stop on a light under the rain, and the water might start dripping inside...

sometimes BMW engineering is not that straight forward

another riddle for example, and maybe many don't know of, is why wouldn't the window open/close automatically if the door is open? I want to open my door and close the window as i get out of the car, who said i can't??? when it's hot and the window is opened, I either have to close the window while inside and suffocate for few seconds, or open the door and keep my finger on the switch for few seconds... not logical!