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

[ChevDog1]

Just got back to my office after the first drive on the new tires. They are soooo much quieter than the crappy Generals. Can't believe the difference. Rides a bit smoother too. Also can't beat the $100 promotion they have going this weekend. All around a good buy.

[SlickGT1]

Oh damn TMV. I just saw. Dont worry it will buff out.

Seriously, did you get it adjusted yet? Whats the damage $$$$

[tmv]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Oh damn TMV. I just saw. Dont worry it will buff out.

Seriously, did you get it adjusted yet? Whats the damage $$$$

~$3400. I request both bumper be replaced (~$900 ea.) and the 2 rear parking sensors. Also the exhaust mounts need to be adjusted, and the insurance have to pay for lost value since the tips were scratched.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by ChevDog1

Just got back to my office after the first drive on the new tires. They are soooo much quieter than the crappy Generals. Can't believe the difference. Rides a bit smoother too. Also can't beat the $100 promotion they have going this weekend. All around a good buy.

I've been running the 255/285 19s Hankook Ventus ASs for over 40k miles and really like them too. I found they wear/respond better with a few more psi of pressure, 2 or 3 in town and 5 or 6 for long hwy trips.

Heading east for the hoilday today (was planning tomorrow), just to keep the +10 yr streak of the X NEVER turning a wheel on ice/snow/sleet/road de-icing crap.

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by tmv

~$3400. I request both bumper be replaced (~$900 ea.) and the 2 rear parking sensors. Also the exhaust mounts need to be adjusted, and the insurance have to pay for lost value since the tips were scratched.

Damn that is not bad at all. Seems like the other car got owned.

[admranger]

Just put the 'winter' 18" wheels on the X5 today. Took off the 8 yr old Michelin MXV's that carried us between Vegas and DC, including through winter slushy snow in the Carolina mountains in Dec 2010.

Put on Bridgestone Dueler Sport A/S (all season) tires ($70 off a set of four at Costco, mounted and balanced for around $850, iirc). Haven't gone anywhere on them as I just dropped off the wheels for the new tires.

Brake and underbody inspection went well, no issues. Lots of meat left on the rotors and pads. They'll go at least another year so no cool carbons for me yet!

[RFaber]

Well I had an awesome day in the shop today, I pulled out the entire front suspension, replaced it with all the good stuff, Lemfoerder ball joints, Meyle HD control arms, and tension bushings, and while I was at it, all new FAG bearings.
Had some press issues, blew a seal on a 20 ton press, trying to get the old tension bushes out. crazy!!! I noticed that one of my CV boots was torn, so I hummed and hawed and finally decided to replace just the boot (20$ vs 120$) ill save the hundred bucks and make my wife happy !! Lots of Xoutpost searching, googling, and youtubing made the job easy, anyhow, it all worked out flawlessly! no more, shimmy between 60-25 mph, and now she is as much fun as ever to drive!!!!
celebrated by tinkering on my 1992 Jeep Wrangler Renegade.
I was totally impressed with the crew at FCP Euro, only thing I was questioning, was the Lemfoerder packaging, there is a stop sign shape, with two dudes in it, a regular stick man, and some kind of KrisKross looking dude holding a big wrench. the regular dude is crossed out, wondering what this is supposed to mean! so I went inside, put on some overalls, put my hat on sideways and grabbed a really big wrench! lol oh well, it was an awesome day!! wheel bearings went in easy and without issue mainly due to the below freezing temps outside! it was a great day! Now the X is as much fun to drive as ever!!

[pezho405]

Originally Posted by DTMdan

Too late/busy last night to update, but finally had the oil leak fixed yesterday.
Oil Filter Housing Gasket, fresh oil change... and I got the 4.4 exhaust installed (no sound difference in case anyone's curious)

Dayyyyyym That Ass!

Are those 315s???
are you using any spacers?

Maybe its just the way the pic was taken and the car being black
Or just different tires from mine

[Woody86]

Got my X approximately 1 year ago with just over 100k on it and at 136k now its getting into major maintenance time.

This past week:
New Radiator & Water Pump
Was losing coolant but it seemed like too much to be only the valley pan (although yes I'm sure mine is leaking too). Finally found a hairline leak on the top of the rad. Tried to JB Weld it so I could find a good price on parts online and that burst and started spraying the next day so I sucked it up and went into emergency surgery.

Accidentally pulled out pipes to rear reservoir when swapping water pump... oops. Also had not worked with quick-connect hose couplings before so didn't think to look for an o-ring as I usually just tighten a hose clamp... All connections were leaking after reassembly: d'oh. Strange thing is the next morning not a drop anywhere. Maybe the o-rings weren't totally shot and its all reseated itself?

New Alternator
Over the last couple months had the slightest of electrical gremlins here and there but nothing major. Finally around the same time started getting battery light flicker, learned how to enable OBC console (thanks to this forum!) and discovered the alternator was outputting 10.9v. What an expensive and awful beast that is. Went with new Bosch, lifetime warranty.

Because everything happens at once:

Brake Pads, Front Upper & Lower Control Arms, CV Boot
Also started getting some knock/click/grinding out of the drivers side suspension. Climb underneath and wishbone balljoint is shot, bushings on thrust arms are shredded, and outside drivers cv boot is torn. Replaced both pairs of arms but not a comfortable enough DIYer (so little tools) to tackle the boot. Swapped front and rear brake pads while I was in there. Enough rotor for one more set of pads.

The grinding is gone and now just the CV click when turning with torque to go. Tons of half shafts available on ebay for $60 and that seems like a much simpler DIY for me. Contacting local parts store for comparable price as sooner than later is best on the CV but if not then I'll have to just take it easy for 7-10 days while I wait for shipping from NY to BC.

I knew maintenance would be costly on the watch and the wallet but damn! Got a list of other engine related stuff to order (vcg, vanos, valley pan, plugs...) not to mention the exterior issues. Getting some serious sag on front and rear bumper and think I was hit'n'run because an entire piece of my front aero kit is missing??? And the rock chips... oiy.

Quick detail on top half of engine bay, wash, wax, vacuum and here are your photos cause I know thats all that matters:





Edit: For the record, I read all 291 pages of this thread before posting. Its like a right of passage or something. Maybe insanity.

[ProfessorX5]

Took mine to the car wash, a nice indoor self serve place. Took my time, waxed her, worked on the leather a bit. ZOMG the steering wheel was filthy!

Then I drove her around a bit, and now she's covered in salt again... but at least she's got a layer of wax between her and that salt. :P