The X5 continues to die a slow death.

[M_Six]

I have an appt on Tuesday to get the part that died on my Christmas trip replaced. This morning I went out to the autoparts store to get a new set of jumper cables and when I got back I could smell something burning and smoke was coming out from under the rear of the engine. Sure enough, oil dripping down on the exhaust. Not pouring, just dripping. Looks like it's coming from the lower back part of the engine. After I shut the engine off the leak stopped. Never even hit the ground. The engine sounds fine and I got no warning lights, but it could be the leak just started.

Depressing. I really wanted to hang onto this vehicle. And it's 50 miles to the nearest dealer. Nearly 100 to my preferred dealer. This is going to cost.

[Weasel]

Sounds like the valve cover gasket is leaking. It will only leak while running and does usually drip right on the exhaust. I'd expect parts to be less than $100 and labor of about 2.6 hours at whatever the shop's labor charge is.

[BAX5]

Don't give up on her. Maybe you have to put in a few hundred $ or a grand or two, but what's a new X5? $50K?

[m5james]

Unless the motor is blown, its cheaper to keep her.

[M_Six]

Agreed with all. It's paid off, so it's cheaper than car payments. But I've just finished replacing most of the front end. Upper/lower control arms, bushings. tie rods, rotors/pads all around. I was hoping I was done for a spell. So now I guess it's this gasket issue and the part they bypassed at the PA BMW dealer.

I once read that every 100k miles you need to sink $5k into a BMW to keep it fresh. Boy is that the truth.

[Quicksilver]

Wow I'm at 61K. if all it's gonna cost is 5K I'm ready
to keep her. Versus 75K? to buy a new one, that's a walk in the park....

Originally Posted by M_Six

Agreed with all. It's paid off, so it's cheaper than car payments. But I've just finished replacing most of the front end. Upper/lower control arms, bushings. tie rods, rotors/pads all around. I was hoping I was done for a spell. So now I guess it's this gasket issue and the part they bypassed at the PA BMW dealer.

I once read that every 100k miles you need to sink $5k into a BMW to keep it fresh. Boy is that the truth.

[m5james]

I'd say about $2000 each 100k for a complete cooling system and intake overhaul, w/ tranny, diff and transfer case fluids every 50k. Then there are all the little things along the way that break due to climate changes...OSV, rubber suspension pieces, fan blower, etc. The way I see it is that I have a $20,000 $60,000 SAV that still gets looks and the typical "Oh, you have a BMW" w/o them needing to know what I really paid for any of them.


Have you considered just tackling some of the work yourself? Between the advice you can find here, tons of writeups on e38.org BMW 7-series information and links (more helpful for V8 owners than the I6'ers) should make you feel a little more comfortable tackling some of the little tasks yourself.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by m5james

I'd say about $2000 each 100k for a complete cooling system and intake overhaul, w/ tranny, diff and transfer case fluids every 50k. Then there are all the little things along the way that break due to climate changes...OSV, rubber suspension pieces, fan blower, etc. The way I see it is that I have a $20,000 $60,000 SAV that still gets looks and the typical "Oh, you have a BMW" w/o them needing to know what I really paid for any of them.


Have you considered just tackling some of the work yourself? Between the advice you can find here, tons of writeups on e38.org BMW 7-series information and links (more helpful for V8 owners than the I6'ers) should make you feel a little more comfortable tackling some of the little tasks yourself.

I'm a walking disaster around cars. Every time I've tried to fix anything engine related, I've caused more damage. Besides, it's 5F outside and not much warmer in my garage.

[m5james]

Mine isn't much better, but I got one of these http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/wp-con...ter-Warmth.jpg from Costco.

[flatlander]

M_six

Don't worry, if its the valve cover gasket leaking then you have probably been a victim of the cold weather "oil separator freeze up". Fix the valve cover gasket, but also check the oil separator. Those hoses and the separator might need to be replaced before you go driving off into the cold weather again. Check the threads for 'oil separator'.

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm a walking disaster around cars. Every time I've tried to fix anything engine related, I've caused more damage. Besides, it's 5F outside and not much warmer in my garage.