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

[zuvarak]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Feel your pain; nothing easy with these cars. Pulled my trunk apart to test for parasitic current and leaned that my old multimeter is faulty…I probably blew it up at some point by using it incorrectly. Speaking of cheap tools, I figured I could at least drill out and tap the four suspension compressor housing bolt holes as long I was in there. The 4 m6 OE bolts are long since stripped so I bought some m8 bolts. Unfortunately the clamping portion of my cheap tap rounded off and ended that effort. Zip ties to the rescue and the X is back together. I hate to admit defeat, but the zip tie solution was quick and secure.

I will have to get back in there after I buy a new meter to check for parasitic draw however. I just wish I didn’t have to pull the trunk apart again to do it. I was successful in charging and storing in said trunk, my new GooLoo portable power pack and jump starter. Small victories.

My wife and I met a guy this morning who was getting into a really nicely cared for 2000 Range Rover. He lamented about the issues and challenges that car gives him, many of which sounded very similar to the e53. Clogged drains, condensate dripping on drivetrains, rain water backing up into the cabin air filter housing….well, that one may be unique to the Range Rover thankfully. The cowl doesn’t drain well and it backs up into the filter housing in heavy rain. Mildew and mold explode and blow into the cabin a few days or weeks later. Nice.

How are you liking that Gooloo jump starter? Been contemplating getting something similar. A really nice accessory to have in the car.

[jeffmiller]

It took three weekends and a rush-shipped, incorrect-color door handle, but I finally replaced my first door handle carrier successfully. I broke a million things and if the door panel stays on for longer than 24 hours it will be a miracle.

There is no sense of accomplishment. Only pain.

[Henn28]

I’ve only had it for 3 days. I’d been foolishly putting off buying one for too long, and it bit me last week with a dead battery in a parking garage. It could be crap, but I will say that the model just below it in their lineup was a popular mechanics best pick. I went up to the next model because it has an inverter with a cigarette lighter plug, either standalone in the car, or the battery pack has a plug and can then put out 110.

It’s heavy and just big enough to make the built in flashlight sort of a silly afterthought. The only way to charge it, out of the box, is via USB C. I thought his was odd, but it works fine. Came with a 76% charge so I plugged it into my laptop dock (about 15 watts) and it was at 100% this am and had automatically turned off. They do offer a fast charging system.

[zuvarak]

Originally Posted by jeffmiller

It took three weekends and a rush-shipped, incorrect-color door handle, but I finally replaced my first door handle carrier successfully. I broke a million things and if the door panel stays on for longer than 24 hours it will be a miracle.

There is no sense of accomplishment. Only pain.

Went through that not long ago. Believe it was still the original carrier. Didn't look like anyone's been in there before me. I bought a new carrier prior to tackling the job but ended up kind of repairing the old carrier with 2 pieces of wire as an experiment. It's now been 3 months and still working perfectly. Decided to store the new one on the shelf for when it really needs to be replaced.

[andrewwynn]

The two pieces of wire is literally stronger than factory new. (Because it's not brittle)

[X5chemist]

The best boost pack is coming soon. It will use 18V batteries.

[zuvarak]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

The two pieces of wire is literally stronger than factory new. (Because it's not brittle)

Indeed. I guess the next weak link to go in that whole fabulous engineering marvel is the actual wire that operates the locking mechanism

[andrewwynn]

The cable from handle to DLA is a weak link. Inisde dla the motor will start to fail about 18 years in all at once or 15 if you have auto lock set.


I use a steel cable ties wrapped twice for DHC repair.

Haven't had any break on my e70 yet. "looking forward to" figuring out that issue.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by jeffmiller

It took three weekends and a rush-shipped, incorrect-color door handle, but I finally replaced my first door handle carrier successfully. I broke a million things and if the door panel stays on for longer than 24 hours it will be a miracle.

There is no sense of accomplishment. Only pain.

Nice! Been considering having black handles on my silver X-5.

[zuvarak]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

The cable from handle to DLA is a weak link. Inisde dla the motor will start to fail about 18 years in all at once or 15 if you have auto lock set.


I use a steel cable ties wrapped twice for DHC repair.

Haven't had any break on my e70 yet. "looking forward to" figuring out that issue.

I actually had to replace the driver's dla because the previous owner decided to cheap out and put in a used one from an RHD car meaning that there was no way to lock/unlock with a physical key. At first I thought that I had a broken lock cylinder so decided to repair it with a repair kit, but lo and behold, when I removed the lock cylinder for the first time I realized there was nothing behind it in the door.