2001 - 115,000 miles... Problems beginning

[X5Dawg]

Welcome to my world - I have spent about $9K in the past year on maintenace/ repairs, the last being a new tranny.

But once again I am loving my X!!! Even gave it a bath last night after getting home from the repair shop!!!

[mrbmwx5]

dawg. so how is she now ? run good again? and how much it turn out on new or rebuild that TRANNY?

[acitydweller]

To be honest, none of this should sound insurmountable to a mechanic. I see these kind of repairs at my friend's garage each weekend.

I suggest you find a trusted and knowledgeable mechanic who is familiar with this kind of work on an x5 and get a quote using factory parts. You can go with aftermarket to save a few dollars but personally i would compromise only on certain types of parts.

Best of luck

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

dawg. so how is she now ? run good again? and how much it turn out on new or rebuild that TRANNY?

$4200 which included replacing some flexible rubber thingies (can't remember what they were called), but he said now was the time to do while the tranny was going in - didn't have to pay labor on those. Got a free oil change too!!

Tranny is real tight - crisp shifts. I think it is still in learning mode. I still have the infamous clunk between 2-3 gears, but not near what it was before. Mechanic said before repair if it was still there, he would do the software reflash. Figured I would drive it a little while and get it broken in. And just to let everyone know, he definitely recommended doing a service on the tranny every 40-50K miles.

Looking forward to another 100K+ miles!!!

[X5driver214]

the thermostat just needs replacing. You should replace your water pump at the same time. Your car is perfect. Do the 1st 3 by urself or with a good mechanic the last ask them to it I guess.

[lo_jack]

3 - probably should have been done 20-30k miles ago, so you are lucky. Change the Tstat. You can do it yourself. I would do the water pump at the same time as someone else mentioned. The part is around $30USD. new housing and tstat all in one.

4. If your valve cover is leaking, that points to your 'cyclone' or crankcase vent valve. You can do that yourself, and if it hasn't been done that you know, I would do it now. Replacing the valve cover without a good new vent valve is just going to blow the gasket again.

These things are both common problems in early year 3.0s. I am surprised either made it this far without failing, but consider yourself lucky to have eeked out 30k more miles than most people and replace them.

Search this forum, there is help for the tstat, water pump and crankcase vent valve ,and the valve cover gasket here to get you through all three operations yourself with parts and minimal tools.

The bushings need grease. Get some water resistant lube and slather the bushings with it. Problem solved.

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by lo_jack

3 - probably should have been done 20-30k miles ago, so you are lucky. Change the Tstat. You can do it yourself. I would do the water pump at the same time as someone else mentioned. The part is around $30USD. new housing and tstat all in one.

Is this true for the X5 tstat ($30)?? When I had mine replaced the shop told me the tstat was actually more expensive than the water pump. If so, I am going to go tear someone a new one!!!

[The Cleaner]

Very easy work except the boot.

R/F outer CV boot is torn - replace
300.00
L/F lower control arm has play - should replace
75.00
Thermmastat stuck open
150.00
Valve cover gaskets seeping
150.00
Lube sway bar bushings
5.00


Thats what the labor should look like if the shop is being fair and charging 100.00 an hour

[Quicksilver]

This is a must have.

Originally Posted by Werewolf

1)I would use a BMW indepedent shop.

[mrbmwx5]

I recomment these indie shops for your state
follow the link below and click on your state
http://www.bimrs.org/MapPage.html