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

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Drove across town 30.4 miles for a hitch. Not an OEM one but better than the single bar types. Curt S019 seems to be the part number. ...

I'm assuming that this hitch isn't the one you were interested in 90 miles away, back in 2021
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ml#post1206071
but is a different one. Also assuming that it's for your '06 X5, I agree with Bdc101 that it looks unlike any for the E53; both the Curt and Draw-Tite hitches have the single strap/bar that bolts to the bumper mounting plate, plus have a structural extension that bolts to a crossmember behind the rear differential.

The hitch you've got resembles one shown on etrailer.com for a 2019 X5 (searched for that year/number because I couldn't find any reference to Curt SO19 or S019 anywhere on the web), but it doesn't quite look the same https://www.etrailer.com/p-C85VV.htm...BMW&hhmodel=X5

Might be an earlier model, discontinued by Curt. I did find a similar-looking hitch on etrailer.com in the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine https://web.archive.org/web/20080501...006_BMW_X5.htm, so there might've been others.

[Effduration]

X5Chemist..you want an OEM harness. I have an OEM harness and module for you.
I will PM later today or tomorrow.

[Henn28]

The “new” differential went in today, actually yesterday and today. Was definitely a two day job for me in the driveway. Good excuse to get a new jack.

I’ll post some lessons learned and pics on the overland thread, but I’m going to give the combined job of installing the diff along with a new driveshaft CV joint and center bearing a 6 out of 10 on the pita scale. It would have been easier with a lift.

I took it out for a quick test drive and happily none of the Quaife, output bearings, or CV joint came unglued. In fact the car was drama and noise free…even the loud “ping” I’ve been hearing for the past 2 years when shifting from reverse to drive, and back is gone.

Tomorrow I’ll drive it around some more and do the repeated 360s in either direction that is recommended for the break in. Then it’s on to some new thrust arms with Tuner ball joints., which I hope will last longer than the lemforders I out in a few years ago. I think the lift and bigger wheels are causing me to go thru bushings more quickly. I don’t know what a “spherical monoball” is, but I hope it last longer than the oe rubber bushings.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Henn28

The “new” differential went in today, actually yesterday and today. Was definitely a two day job for me in the driveway. Good excuse to get a new jack.

I’ll post some lessons learned and pics on the overland thread, but I’m going to give the combined job of installing the diff along with a new driveshaft CV joint and center bearing a 6 out of 10 on the pita scale. It would have been easier with a lift.

I took it out for a quick test drive and happily none of the Quaife, output bearings, or CV joint came unglued. In fact the car was drama and noise free…even the loud “ping” I’ve been hearing for the past 2 years when shifting from reverse to drive, and back is gone.

Tomorrow I’ll drive it around some more and do the repeated 360s in either direction that is recommended for the break in. Then it’s on to some new thrust arms with Tuner ball joints., which I hope will last longer than the lemforders I out in a few years ago. I think the lift and bigger wheels are causing me to go thru bushings more quickly. I don’t know what a “spherical monoball” is, but I hope it last longer than the oe rubber bushings.

Use the poly bushings in the thrust arms. They're a hell of a lot cheaper and have a lifetime warranty. They're also a pretty easy install with your exiting arms. Just have to remove the rubber ones and insert the poly. I've had mine for at least five years now and they are holding up quite well. If they ever do go south I can replace them for free with the lifetime warranty.

[Salty B.]

Concluded a 1,007mile road trip. No pains other than filling up that thirsty bitch, but it's getting cheaper. $3,56 for shell nitro whatever in Kentucky near the TN line. Barely used any oil; seems like it drank a liter the last time I did this drive.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Concluded a 1,007mile road trip. No pains other than filling up that thirsty bitch, but it's getting cheaper. $3,56 for shell nitro whatever in Kentucky near the TN line. Barely used any oil; seems like it drank a liter the last time I did this drive.

The X5 is still fantastic on the road trips, just 22 years older. Just pulled into Springfield MO this evening and the X was a beast today in the drive from New Orleans. Crap weather too. The diff didn’t explode and I can actually feel a difference in the way the car handles for once with the new Turner monoball tension struts. Usually I do “upgrades” and I’m left with “meh…can’t feel a difference”. Much tighter and quieter ride up front. I’m also pleased with the new diff too, in the sense that it worked and was quiet!

They definitely fixed the jerk in the wheel when the brakes are stabbed. However, the low speed clunking is still there. Not much else to change other than the lower control arms. Turner makes monoball pieces there too.

I did see a shredded left tie rod boot while putting the tension struts in. Always something.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Always something.

It's always something.

My non-sport X5 is a fine cruiser. It's got the basic 17" wheels which means tall tires and soft(er) ride. Sure could use an overdrive tho...

The M Sport suspension on my F30 (335i/N55/6MT) is punishing for more than an hour or two, even in "comfort" mode. Fine for ripping up mountain roads, not so much for long trips. I found it very tiring on the same drive my X has me arriving reasonably OK.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

Use the poly bushings in the thrust arms. They're a hell of a lot cheaper and have a lifetime warranty. They're also a pretty easy install with your exiting arms. Just have to remove the rubber ones and insert the poly. I've had mine for at least five years now and they are holding up quite well. If they ever do go south I can replace them for free with the lifetime warranty.

I waffled a bit over which to buy, but ended up with the monoball because I hope they will be the strongest of the three options turner sells.the pair I just replace started showing signs of wear (jumpy steering wheel) in less than 2 years. I think the combo of horrible roads in my city and the lift/larger tires and wheels puts more stress on the bushings.

[Bdc101]

My X has been getting some duty time in - on my family car (2015 Mazda 6 with 6MT) we had a tire failure due to, let's say "user error." They are are Nokian Hakkapeliitas (the greatest snow tires on the planet) but unfortunately Nokian's factory is in Russia and this particular one is impossible to get. So I am getting a whole new set of Blizzaks for that car and my X is doing family duty in the meantime. Fortunately those Nokians were on their fifth season, so they were getting close to needing replacement anyways.



I've done a lot of work on the X this year and my wife hasn't really driven it or even driven in it hardly at all. But after driving it for a couple of days, she had some high praise for it.

Originally Posted by Salty B.

My non-sport X5 is a fine cruiser. It's got the basic 17" wheels which means tall tires and soft(er) ride. Sure could use an overdrive tho...

Same here, I have the 17" wheels as well and it's a wonderfully comfortable cruiser - but man I like to keep the speeds low. Not just for MPG but also because it revs SO high! I took a couple road trips to Idaho last fall, where they have 80mph speed limits on the interstate, and everybody goes 90.

[Bdc101]

I went back and checked and the tank in Idaho where I was going 75-80 the whole time was 19.2 mpg (pure highway driving). The next tank which was mostly normal highway speeds 60-65 was 22.8 mpg. So it cost me almost 20% more to drive at 75-80 instead of 60-65. Food for thought, if you like money and prefer keeping more of it.