What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[X5only]

Originally Posted by LA02MAX

Bled the brakes, buttoned up a few suspension bits, and lowered it down to the ground for the first time in several months. I also finished 2 cylinders worth of valve stem seals today, so bank 1 is finished. The rear cylinder wasn’t too difficult. Just gotta make sure you get a good viewing angle on it. Took some acrobatics for that rear intake valve. I think I’m going to wait until bank 2 is complete before I install the bank 1 valve cover. For now I have it covered with some clean microfiber towels.

Good job, what a fun project! I had to remove the hood to be able to have a clear access to the driver side rear cylinders. Yeah, acrobatic maneuvers are necessary, and being fit helps a lot.

All the best.

[LA02MAX]

Originally Posted by X5only

Good job, what a fun project! I had to remove the hood to be able to have a clear access to the driver side rear cylinders. Yeah, acrobatic maneuvers are necessary, and being fit helps a lot.

All the best.

Yeah, it's really been fun! I'm just holding out hope that I'll have an old BMW with no leaks after all this is over with

Between the power steering hoses, alternator bracket gasket, upper timing gaskets, and valve cover gaskets, this thing was absolutely covered in oil. It even reached all the way back along the underbody plastics to the rear subframe.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by LA02MAX

Yeah, it's really been fun! I'm just holding out hope that I'll have an old BMW with no leaks after all this is over with

Between the power steering hoses, alternator bracket gasket, upper timing gaskets, and valve cover gaskets, this thing was absolutely covered in oil. It even reached all the way back along the underbody plastics to the rear subframe.

Ahhh old Bimmers. My E61 is like this. Just replaced the OFHG, CCV, valve cover, and replaced 4 front broken head bolts that were all hemorrhaging oil. Still have leaks from RMS and oil pan gasket. LOL. Car has 200k miles on it though... so I'll just add a quart of oil if I need between changes. The other repairs were necessary so as to not soak the belt drive system and throw a belt, which on an N52 can then get ingested through the crank seal and destroy the engine. Oil was being flung all over the engine bay prior to the repair.

[Bdc101]

I did the OFHG and all the power steering lines a few months ago, which was great but I should have popped the pan off because that is still leaking pretty good. Seems to be quite an achievement to obtain a leak-free E53. And I don't even have the V8.


Regarding my weekly activities, I swapped my A/Ts back on. I kept the snow tires on this late in the year because we actually had several solid snows throughout the month of April. And I dread putting my A/Ts on every year because they are such garbage tires -- loud, crashy, and poor grip. But I think this will be the last year I have to put up with them, because they are 9 years old and starting to look a little bit worn (only 30k miles). One of the front wheels must have thrown a weight because there is significant vibration in the steering on the highway, so I'll have to make a trip down to the tire shop. I'll have to start researching what tires get the best ratings for driving over the curbs at the starbucks drive through.

[LA02MAX]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Ahhh old Bimmers. My E61 is like this. Just replaced the OFHG, CCV, valve cover, and replaced 4 front broken head bolts that were all hemorrhaging oil. Still have leaks from RMS and oil pan gasket. LOL. Car has 200k miles on it though... so I'll just add a quart of oil if I need between changes. The other repairs were necessary so as to not soak the belt drive system and throw a belt, which on an N52 can then get ingested through the crank seal and destroy the engine. Oil was being flung all over the engine bay prior to the repair.

Yeah after I'm finished, I will have done the upper and lower oil pan gaskets, oil filter housing gasket, oil level sensor gasket, dipstick o-rings, alternator bracket gasket, oil cooler O-rings, upper timing cover gaskets, vanos solenoid O-rings, vacuum pump O-ring, valve cover gaskets, valvetronic actuator seals, valvetronic cam sensor seals, spark plug tubes, and all power steering lines and reservoir. I'm just waiting for the lower timing cover gasket to start leaking and I'll have to do most of that all over again

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Ahhh old Bimmers. My E61 is like this. Just replaced the OFHG, CCV, valve cover, and replaced 4 front broken head bolts that were all hemorrhaging oil. Still have leaks from RMS and oil pan gasket. LOL. Car has 200k miles on it though... so I'll just add a quart of oil if I need between changes. The other repairs were necessary so as to not soak the belt drive system and throw a belt, which on an N52 can then get ingested through the crank seal and destroy the engine. Oil was being flung all over the engine bay prior to the repair.

Have your tried oil saver? (Liquimoly). I put in customer's n52 for starting weep on OFHG to punt until I have time to take his car home. It nearly eliminated the leak haven't added any oil since I added the oil saver.


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[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I did the OFHG and all the power steering lines a few months ago, which was great but I should have popped the pan off because that is still leaking pretty good. Seems to be quite an achievement to obtain a leak-free E53. And I don't even have the V8.


Regarding my weekly activities, I swapped my A/Ts back on. I kept the snow tires on this late in the year because we actually had several solid snows throughout the month of April. And I dread putting my A/Ts on every year because they are such garbage tires -- loud, crashy, and poor grip. But I think this will be the last year I have to put up with them, because they are 9 years old and starting to look a little bit worn (only 30k miles). One of the front wheels must have thrown a weight because there is significant vibration in the steering on the highway, so I'll have to make a trip down to the tire shop. I'll have to start researching what tires get the best ratings for driving over the curbs at the starbucks drive through.

I'm happy with the wife's Dunlop winter sport and the Michelin I have on my car for curb hits; they both have time protection. The tire comes out past the rim.

I regularly drive on top of a curb for drive in forward parallel parking and the tires put up with the torture.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Have your tried oil saver? (Liquimoly). I put in customer's n52 for starting weep on OFHG to punt until I have time to take his car home. It nearly eliminated the leak haven't added any oil since I added the oil saver.

Will try that. I guess AT205 is still unobtanium? I am going to Seafoam the engine first though and flush the oil (again) as the previous owners were very unkind and must have stuck to BMWs (at the time) 15k mile service intervals. The interior of the engine still has quite a bit of sludge. But after a bunch of servicing... runs great. Just updated the DME, CAS, KOMBI, and VTG yesterday to newest integration level.

[95M3Gretchen_&_06X5Rolf]

Hey all,

No, nothing bad happened, I'm just getting everything ready for Rolf's new owner and I'm sad to see him go. I hadn't intended to sell him, but in February I got the itch for a sports car and bought a 2016 M4 Competition. I don't have enough bays to keep both of my babies AND the wife's car garaged so Rolf must go.

This crazy car market is a blessing though.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

My 1st run out last night and I will say.. Oh, holy sh!t. It's tight. Like.. NOT a luxo SAV kinda tight. Let's be clear, I have sorta the perfect storm of rough riders.. Eibach sways on both ends, adjustable bits here and there, and ab 1" lower on the air suspension. It's never been what most would consider.. supple.

Today was the 1st roadtrip with the Turner bits installed. And yeah. Do it.

You ever felt that sorta 'wiggle' on a hard brake or in the middle of on offramp? Not with these silly things. Road feel was amazing for ~4 hours. Smoothest thing I have driven and been UNconcerned about road construction, road debris- or even missing ANY of it if I wanted to. It's just so damn solid.

It really does feel like this is what they were after when it was designed. But none of the housewife target would have the harshness. Screw them, fellas! That's not HARSH! That's what we like to call- the ROAD! So. Like when ya lose a fnckin tire.. ya KNOW ab it before the light comes on and your a$$ is off the bridge! (I Haaaaaate bridges)

This thing will haul and haul and haul. And it'll haul ass doin it. I just did the math for today's road trip. 17.33MPG. In a gussied up 4.8is with rollers in the back, I think she did pretty well! I usually have cruise set to 88MPH cause of where the needle is and so forth... But there warn't NOBODY out, so I ran near triples on a few occasions. I might actualy LIKE runflats.

A few stereo mods and I think we'll be done. Though there ARE those Euathane rear bits...