Preventive Maintenance

[x5turtle]

As I browse around the site dialy, I noticed that there is a few concerns regarding preventive repairs, like serpentine belt, water pump, oil separator... etc. I find that it is very hard for all of us to come ot one place at 75K-100K miles to do a major preventive maintenance to our beloved X, so she doesn't give up on us when we are offroading, cruising, going to work/school, camping, anything you name it. I am sure the frustration and the cost associated with unprepared situation cost much more than paying the stealer to get the job done. In addition, the tow company also... I want to start this thread(needing help) to put in items that needs attention.

The way that I am going to do it is to update this thread frequently whenever there is suggestion for attention, or links to the diys, concerns to the first post.

So people will be able to come read the first post and know what they are doing instead to browse the thread for 10 hours and come out confused! This should keep our X stay on the road longer and proof it to be the LEGEND!

Disclosure: I will be the first one to be benefited as I have done no other maintenance except oil change, differential oil change, transmission oil change...

Preventive Maintenance for 75K-100K interval

1: CV Boot - Check the boots - costly damage to axle may occur if boots are ripped and rocks get in.

DIY INFO
Repair Cost range $150-200/side for inner & outer boot
Parts: Front (Inner & Outer Boots) ~ $100 (Brand Rein) from prostreetonline
Stealer Parts: Approximately $80-90/ boot quoted from 3 dealers in So Cal
Stealer Repair Quote: 672 / side


2: Oil Separator

DIY INFO


3: Alternator/ Serpentine Belt(Drive Belt, Multi Rib Belt)/ A/C Belt

DIY INFO

4: Waterpump (Throw in a new Thermostat Also!) USE DISTILLED WATER!

DIY INFO 4.4
Added info: Some complaint that waterpump with plastic impellas will tend to break off in earlier models. I got mine OEM replacement at prostreetonline with metal impella for around 60+, plastic and metal is pretty much the same price~
Check the 2 hoses behind engine for softness, and hoses going in/out of radiator.
DIY INFO 3.0
Troubleshooting
Follow the procedure in serpentine belt/alternator to take off the belt, and you will need a 32mm wrench and a counter holding tool to release the fan. Search "BMW Fan tool" on ebay and you will see it for sale around 35-50 for both pieces. You may also need a 8mm Hex Drive and a T60 Trox bit to release the tension of the belts.

Unresearched Topics:
Tranny filter/Fluid change - A great debate between owners, but there is alot on this topic on the forum, I will try to link it asap.
Fuel filter change - I personally don't know why we need to mess with this filter when the car is running fine, maybe someone will explain?
Diff's fluid change - update pending
TC fluid change - ??
Ignition coil change - update pending

[faz]

I was hoping to find a thread like this when I joined this forum a couple of months ago, but my search results didn't come back with any one thread that had most if not all of the info in it. (may be I didn't search hard enough.)

Great idea!

p.s. the link in iten 3 is not working.

[X5Newb]

You might want to add info for the water cooled alternator. From what I've been reading in my trolling, it's something to watch out for in the 100k mileage range.

EDIT: and i agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY that this is an excellent idea.

[djmilleroh]

Nice post great idea X5turtle. I just went through the oil seperator valve blues and this post would have saved me some time. Well there is always next time!!!

[4 Wheels of Fun]

I just had the 'drive belt' changed by the dealer. I'm assuming this is the same as the serpentine, yes?

Is the water pump easy to get at to inspect?

[X5Flyboy]

unless you can isolate some kind of noise coming from the waterpump, there really is no inspection that will tell you it is about to fail - please note that some previous threads have had the plastic vanes in the water pump breaking off and restricting the coolant flow. this has overheated the engine and warped the heads, resulting in an engine replacement. It's like the old Fram oil filter commercial..., "you can pay me now, or you can pay me later."

At least on this website, you can get a fairly good read on how long parts last. you then have to adapt them to your type of driving and conditions. I know CV boots have been an often mentioned repair. yet I've not had to replace one in 96K miles, but it is something I remind my mechanics to check when I have it in for any service. Somethings, like the waterpump, I had replaced because I'm about to go on my biannual cross country trip. Again, it's less expensive to fixin the shop, than out on the road.

[4 Wheels of Fun]

I haven't seen a document here on X5World on how to replace the water pump. Is it something you should just have your dealer or indy mechanic do?

[blktoptrvl]

Since you are making a central list. (Great idea, thanks.) It would be great if you also list the year/model that has a weakness in a part.

For example, X5Flyboy mentioned the plastic impellers of the waterpump. If all years do not have plastic impellers, then it would be especially good to know which ones do.

[X5 Meister]

As far as I know, the high end Stewart waterpump is only for the M54 engines.

[x5turtle]

Alrite!! I am looking for some more information to add the the thread, anyone have additional information that I can summarize into one place? Your effort would do a lot of good for the community!!