'04 X5 100k miles in Panama

[hbrezzi]

Hello all,

I moved from the US to Panama in 2008 and I have an '04 X5 3.0i... I am about 6 hours away from the only BMW dealer in the country and I live in a pretty remote area (mostly unpaved roads, lots of dust in summer and tons of mud in winter). Most people I know here drive Toyotas Hilux and Nissan Patrols and at first I was seen as the "gringo" with a wannabe SUV. Well, I am happy to say that I proved them all wrong since my baby has performed remarkably well to the point of towing other SUV's out of 10-15 inch mud beds and climbing 30+ degree slopes on very wet conditions. I was truly surprised myself by how my SAV is really an SUV at heart!

To make a long story short, almost 30k miles of off-road driving are starting to be felt... My X is not as "tight" as it used to be... I feel like I owe her more than just gas and an oil change every 3k miles. She now has 99k miles and I would like to know what SPA treatmet you guys would suggest.

These are the most obvious symptoms:

- Light crackling sounds from the front left wheel when driving on an unpaved road with back to back "wave" bumps... (cv joint?)
- Doors are harder to open and sometimes a rear one gets stuck.
- Slow electric driver side window (something feels loose in it)
- Looong 3rd gear... Driving on paved roads at 60+ mph I often have to completely lift my foot from the gas pedal for it to shift to 4th gear

Additionally, I would appreciate a DIY checklist of what you guys would do on a 100k miles X5 that has lived under very harsh conditions. (I can order parts online).

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post...

[mtX5]

i can answer a few things for you:

the slow electric window could be the window regulator dying out (very slight chance that it could be the window motor). i would start with changing the regulator. there is a great DIY on the forum.

the doors getting harder to open/stuck could be the door actuator.

the quick assumption for the long 3rd gears could be a transmission problem.

i would also have your spark plugs changed at 100k. i changed mine a bit early at about 93k.

[Lambeau]

You are very fortunate to be living in Panama! I was stationed at Howard AFB before Jimmy Carter gave our Air Force bases away effective 1999. What a beautiful country as the jungles are awesome. The diving was great too. I've always wanted to go back and am interested in buying some property if there is anything reasonable price-wise in the wilderness???

As for your X I'm sure the rough terrain takes its toll on the suspension and I would suggest replacing the ball joints, tie rod ends, (if BMW calls them that) & any other suspension parts that move. I've always replaced my own in my chevys and have never had to in my X so I'm not sure what the parts are even called by BMW. I'm sure if you replaced these it would tighten your X back up.

When I get back home from my overseas deployment in 8 days I'll look under my X to see whats all there & I'll give you a shout back.

Enjoy Panama!!!

[hbrezzi]

@ mtX5,

Thanks, I just got Bosch Platinum Splugs and that's a start... I tried the tranny "reset" thingy (30 secs on the gas pedal etc...) and it seems to have worked... We'll see...

Thanks!

BTW, congrats on your beauties! Mine remotely looked like your E53 until a couple of years ago....

[hbrezzi]

Originally Posted by Lambeau

You are very fortunate to be living in Panama! I was stationed at Howard AFB before Jimmy Carter gave our Air Force bases away effective 1999. What a beautiful country as the jungles are awesome. The diving was great too. I've always wanted to go back and am interested in buying some property if there is anything reasonable price-wise in the wilderness???

As for your X I'm sure the rough terrain takes its toll on the suspension and I would suggest replacing the ball joints, tie rod ends, (if BMW calls them that) & any other suspension parts that move. I've always replaced my own in my chevys and have never had to in my X so I'm not sure what the parts are even called by BMW. I'm sure if you replaced these it would tighten your X back up.

When I get back home from my overseas deployment in 8 days I'll look under my X to see whats all there & I'll give you a shout back.

Enjoy Panama!!!

Thanks Lambeau, I would greately appreciate it. They are telling me here that I need to replace the "punta de flecha" (arrow head?) CV joint maybe? In any case, as soon as I know what my baby needs I will try to order the parts in the US. Of course, if you have a chance to check your X5, I'll wait for your post.

About Panama... Torrijos indeed pulled a fast one on Carter! Howard AFB is being turned into some sort of luxury resort!

I live in Pedasi, a small fishing village (maybe you have heard of it) that has gone through a crazy real estate boom in the past 5 years. I own some properties and a small hotel about 6 miles from town on an unpaved road... my daily commuting back and forth aften adds up to about 40 miles on the above mentioned (shixxy) road. If you are planning a trip to Panama let me know!

Have a safe trip back home!