Official X5 4.6is & 4.8is Thread

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by tartilla

Just became the proud owner of a 2003 4.6iS Estoril Blue. Up here in BC. 130k kms, 80k miles.

Dinan badged, with CAI, MAF, and TB. Along with the Dinan Exhaust.

Emailed Dinan, they said it had the stage 4 engine software installed in 2010.

I'm really impressed with how well the car has been kept, though of course, a 17 year old machine won't be perfect.

I've had a 2000 540i Sport since 2007, so I'm well aquainted with the M62tu platform. Getting used to the 5 spd auto is will take some time. One thing of note, is with the 3.91 final drive, the 60mph cruise puts the RPM around 2200. Not the most efficient place to be. A 6th gear or a better overdrive would have been a welcome addition.

Been absorbing a lot of info on these cars. xoutpost seems to have some of the best info, and the most enthusiastic community celebrating the X5.

I went to the local BMW dealer to get a new oil filter. 80% of the new vehicles on the lot, were X5s. Or some it seemed.

I've been slumming with a 2500 Suburban for the past 5 years. A classles lady that suffers from a cheap interior, but sports one of the best designed engines even to drive down a road. I like the M62, but it's a very complex symphony of moving parts.

The LS platform offers simplicity refined, and some brute strength to back it up. Sadly, the magic of the 4.6iS, and the overall difficulty of shoehorning an LS into the X5, while maintaining the AWD, leaves a daunting prospect.

With the 420g sitting in the 540i just begging to be used again, the concept of a 6 spd 4.6 may be a worthwhile endeavor. it seems to have been done before a few times, while maintaining AWD.

I'm in the process of doing a deep cleaning, and I'll post some photos when complete.

Looking to replace all the cooling parts, and more importantly...get the 88c thermostat.

I bought a takeoff parts kit from a 540 long a go, from a guy that replaced his cooling system. The idea was spare parts for a road trip. You never know when one of these plastic parts will bite. timing chain and valley pan inspection, likely snag one of the new revised valley pans.

Odd story, bought it off a retired couple...that bought it to tow a trailer for travel into retirement...they read the 6000lb tow capacity.

They paid 13k for it, and put an additional $5500 into it. Then I got a few months later for $7500 CAD. They were into it for 19K. Drove it about 1200 kms.

The steering wheel looks brand new. Someone put a newer auto shifter on it. has 13 yr old Toyo Proxes ST tires. Lots of tread left, but some light cracking from UV. M+S rated tires, I don't thing the Proxes ST III are M+S? I need the M+S rating for the roads here in the winter to be legal.

Has the spacers on front and rear. The brakes are amazing, and appear stock, with front drilled rotors of unknown brand.

But it stops hard enough for now. Best braking vehicle I've even owned.

Can't wait to see the pictures!

[x5Alpine]

I just bought an estoril blue/alcantara 2003 X5 4.6is. I live in Nevada but I imported the car from Vancouver as I couldn't find any here in the U.S. about 96,000 miles (155,000KM's) timing chain guides have been done and its the only M62 X5 ive seen that doesn't leak a drop of oil ha.

[bcredliner]

Congratulations to new 4.6 owners Tartilla and X5Alpine.

[tartilla]

Originally Posted by x5Alpine

I just bought an estoril blue/alcantara 2003 X5 4.6is. I live in Nevada but I imported the car from Vancouver as I couldn't find any here in the U.S. about 96,000 miles (155,000KM's) timing chain guides have been done and its the only M62 X5 ive seen that doesn't leak a drop of oil ha.

Was that the one on Vancouver BC Craigslist?

$8250 ish?

Was trying to get some actual photos, but they only had some 'stock'4.6is photos up.

[x5Alpine]

He was asking $14,000 Canadian but got him down to $10000 Canadian so about $7800 US

[tartilla]

Yeah, the USD benefit helps out. Glad it found an enthusiastic owner.

Had the perfect opportunity work out, with a late '90s 'Vette at a red light.

I've been running a manual since I was 10, and I'm not bad at it. But I really have to say, there is an art to getting in synch with the manual 'auto' tranny.

I suspect it would help if it shifted faster. With the Stage 4 engine software, Dinan never mentioned and Trans software upgrades. I'm thinking that may help.

I was slow of the green...but kept pace.

It takes a lot of ponies to make up for a 1600# weight penalty.

375 'ish flywheel maybe, and lots of driveline loss.

I enjoy the vehicle, and in a few years it qualifies for collector plates, for cheaper insurance. So maybe an addition of an X5 M.

The best thing about the 4.6is...is appreciating it every time I see it. Not many cars like that. Here's to a long Honeymoon...

I suspect the wheel spacers help as well.

I've got the Sec Air code...both sides. I suspect vacuum hose, the work it just had on the front timing cover getting disturbed.

I'll likely do the plugs and a compression test, and if I have the time, a leak down test. I prefer to do them with the piston close to TDC, where the rings have a more real world state of the union.

I have a spare set of M62tu heads. I wonder if there is any benefit from porting to be had?

I've had great luck with the NGK Iridiums. Likely the better option?

[x5Alpine]

I would do the timing chain guides asap. its not mileage as much as it is age that gets them.

[tartilla]

Good point. I'm trying to get some service history from various BMW dealerships. There are 3 in Vancouver. One of them installed the Dinan hardware, so there should be some info.

I'll also have a look inside with an inspection camera.

Heat being an issue, I'll get the lower thermostat.

Any suggestions for the best option for the 4.6iS?

Valve seals seem good for now. Definitely the timing chain tensioner. I'm going to pull the lower oil pan, looking for plastic pieces.

The kicker...the front timing cover was just off in Sep 2020, getting a leak fixed. The shop never asked the previous owner if they wanted to replace the chain guides. Would have been peanuts on the 3k timing cover job. At least would have been a selling feature, and I would have paid more for it in the selling price.

It was a local Euro BMW specialty type shop.

I even found some silicone on the timing chain. Sloppy work.

The other reason to pull of the lower oil pan cover.

I would like to do the cooling system and the valley pan, with the timing guides all in one shot.

Guides I think are ok, but at that point, that deep, it may be worth doing.

I have a spare set of heads, and a complete 2000 M62tu.

That is a lot of valves...

Polished up the stainless Dinan exhaust tips. Autosol is the best polish...

Best part was my 6 year old daughter wanted to help out. Priceless.

[tartilla]

2003 4.6iS mpg. 94 oct Ron+Mon/2 Canadian Chevron no ethanol.

Hand calced, 346 kms...212miles.

13.5 mpg US Gallon. I was probably into it more than normal.

I'll get a gps reading for speed to confirm the accurate mileage.

My only complaints...the transmission shifting. Too soft. Also lags too much between gears sometimes.

The resonance is a little much for me. I prefer a deeper exhaust note. Yet a more refined depth...as it is a BMW.

I'll have to source a good microphone,and take some samples.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by tartilla

2003 4.6iS mpg. 94 oct Ron+Mon/2 Canadian Chevron no ethanol.

Hand calced, 346 kms...212miles.

13.5 mpg US Gallon. I was probably into it more than normal.

I'll get a gps reading for speed to confirm the accurate mileage.

My only complaints...the transmission shifting. Too soft. Also lags too much between gears sometimes.

The resonance is a little much for me. I prefer a deeper exhaust note. Yet a more refined depth...as it is a BMW.

I'll have to source a good microphone,and take some samples.

If still available the transmission software from Dinan will help the soft shifts, move shift points to improve acceleration, shifts will be firmer and quicker shifts. Will take .01 off 0-60 time. You will also have a full manual mode and transmission will automatically up or downshift when kick down switch is activated so you are in the right gear for max acceleration.