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

[andrewwynn]

You can find aftermarket copies and with a little bit of clever cutting I've read it's possible to swap it out without removing the console. Search YouTube for replacing the part.

I think somebody posted on xoutpost av year or two ago the process.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by guntherrex

Quick question for the people who have run into this: the cover for the cup holders is starting to disintegrate, several of the sections are breaking loose. Any idea if this is possible to repair without massive cost? I figured a second hand unit will probably have a similar state, being 24 year old plastic

Thats great if someone is cranking out an aftermarket solution. I finally resorted to just removing the sliding cover (breaking it out and removing the pieces) as I couldn’t figure a replacement fix out either. I think it is part number 51168408026 and is the entire cup holder unit, which looks to be discontinued.

I never used the cover anyway and for my purposes it looks fine without it, so not having it there doesn’t bother me too much. Unlike say, the little “Airbag” plugs/covers for the doors that all broke over the years. The boss finally authorized the expenditure because the holes in the door panels bothered me.

I would spring for a new center console armrest insert, without the CD holder. This thing is worthless now, mostly broken and it would be nice to have the room to store stuff. The OE piece is discontinued as well and out of stock everywhere I’ve looked.

[guntherrex]

oh that's great!

I found this online:




Guess I'll order one and find out

[EODguy]

If it is just separated in a few of the grooves, I don't see why you couldn't use contact cement on a thin cloth and repair it in place the same way a roll top desk is made.

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[Themoog]

I've started using mine again daily after running around in my honda civic. Had a set of tyres put on it a few days ago too which made a big difference. Today it's had 6 x 25kg bags of plaster (UK) and two sets of ladders on the roof - only to realise the front left tyre was nearly flat. Back to the tyre shop where they diagnosed a leaking valve. Sorted.
By the way, the tyres are Accelera Iotas and they are pretty good for the cost. Highly recommend. £470 fitted. I'm not complaining.

[X5chemist]

Prepped the cold weather package option for use this week. Heated seats work. The fan didn't like starting up very slow this morning. The AUTO temp kept the fan at low speed until the engine warmed up. Sounded like Freddy's knives on a pipe. Turned the rear vent setting to hot and set the fan to middle speed. Fluids topped off. Should be an easy trek to work and home with bad weather. I think headlight washers still don't work. I need to check for power. A new washer pump is installed.

[andrewwynn]

Headlight washer is coded option.

I turn my heat off to warm up. Warms up much faster. I monitor my ECT real-time until it's about 70c before i kick on the heat.

[wpoll]

Headlight washer operation is fiddley to check since the system operates on a "once in every five times" cycle and only if the headlights are on.

[Henn28]

Wish I had that system. My fluid froze solid in 8 degree Iowa a couple weeks ago. I also wish I had a blower fan that didn’t scream when the temp dropped below 38 degrees.

It’s getting cold here too and I’m loving the heated seat upgrade. I’m willing to ignore the airbag light that came with the LCI seats in my non LCI x5. We are in for 4 to 6 inches in New Orleans tomorrow and below freezing temps into wed or Thursday maybe.

[andrewwynn]

I'd maybe buy a car without heated steering but never again without heated seats