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

[guntherrex]

did a search but couldn't find any specific threads; I was thinking of adding some wheel spacers on the summer wheels, I was thinking 20mm front and rear? Who is going to dissuade me?

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by TriX5

We did a round trip to Toronto, ON and covered about 1200 miles in total. Pleased that the X5 ran perfect, only complaint was the loud squeal from my rear brakes on initial application. They are quiet at full brake pressure. On return I took them apart and checked that all is well. Lubed the back of the pads and chamfered the edges slightly. Improved things but the kids had about a 90 mile drive yesterday and this morning the noise is back. I will chamfer the pad edges a bit more next. Anyone have some suggestions what else to try?

I am tired of fighting the rear alignment, it refuses to adjust camber to less than 2.3. Toe is zeroed out pretty well but the winter tires are showing more wear on the inner shoulders than I like, not terrible but not perfect either. I want camber to be about 1 degree. The alignment guys recommended adjustable bushings for the inner lower arm but I haven't found any that I like. So, instead ordered adjustable upper control arms from Silver Project. It will take a week or two, I guess, before they arrive. Not sure about the poly bushings but I guess it will improve wheel control. Let's see how that goes....

I'm not too well versed on suspension terms and adjustments, but would that be too much positive camber? I always thought that the X5s suffered from excessive negative camber (tops of rear tires tilted in too much...I think), although my suspension guy tells me that the adjustment window for the X5 allows for a lot of negative camber. He simply cranks the rears as far positive as possible, which still looks like a tiny bit of negative in the end result. So far so good though on the tire wear on my Geolanders at about 9k miles.

Let us know how the adjustable arms work out. I recall a guy on the other forum doing this and one of them bent in short order, but it was on a 5 series perhaps and he could have been flogging the car!

On a related note: I'm sitting down to order new rear shocks and all the extras (guides, bump stops, washer-gaskets, etc.). I'm going with Bilstein B4s (touring), and will move on to the fronts after I get the rears done.

Also, can anyone remind me what the small hose fitting on the bottom front left of the radiator does? I recall a hose going from here, across the bottom of the radiator to somewhere, but not the specifics. I did a quick RealOEM look and its not obvious to me what that fitting and hose support. Thanks.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by TriX5

We did a round trip to Toronto, ON and covered about 1200 miles in total. Pleased that the X5 ran perfect, only complaint was the loud squeal from my rear brakes on initial application. They are quiet at full brake pressure. On return I took them apart and checked that all is well. Lubed the back of the pads and chamfered the edges slightly. Improved things but the kids had about a 90 mile drive yesterday and this morning the noise is back. I will chamfer the pad edges a bit more next. Anyone have some suggestions what else to try?

I am tired of fighting the rear alignment, it refuses to adjust camber to less than 2.3. Toe is zeroed out pretty well but the winter tires are showing more wear on the inner shoulders than I like, not terrible but not perfect either. I want camber to be about 1 degree. The alignment guys recommended adjustable bushings for the inner lower arm but I haven't found any that I like. So, instead ordered adjustable upper control arms from Silver Project. It will take a week or two, I guess, before they arrive. Not sure about the poly bushings but I guess it will improve wheel control. Let's see how that goes....

How old are your rear ball joints? When I had camber adjustment problems in the rear it was because the rear ball joints were shot. Replaced those and no further issues. Until I put coil overs in and lowered the truck two inches. Then I had to put in adjustable upper and lower control arms to get it aligned to spec.

[TriX5]

These ball joints are about 22k miles old. You are right tho, worth checking them. Might just do a preventive overhaul when installing the new upper control arms (which arrived last Wednesday, very impressed with the speed of shipping, six days! :-)

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by TriX5

These ball joints are about 22k miles old. You are right tho, worth checking them. Might just do a preventive overhaul when installing the new upper control arms (which arrived last Wednesday, very impressed with the speed of shipping, six days! :-)

I'd be curious to know how you like those after you get them installed. I looked at them when I was buying my adjustable control arms, but chose to go with Megan.

[sandbagger]

Well, after a bunch of idle issues and a hunting and searching and a single miss step early on I have finally fixed it.
So its got a new Mass Air and Cam Sensors, and HAD a new Idle Air Controler, the old one was fine and the new one is bad, runs at 60% just to keep it at idle and causes all kinds of problems.

Glad that is fixed.

I think my front growling noise is now the right side support bearing, has anyone ever tried and or seen the part # for just the bearing? the whole housing with bearing and seal is 31507503115 but would love to just press what is probably a $30 bearing in it along with a new seal.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by sandbagger

Well, after a bunch of idle issues and a hunting and searching and a single miss step early on I have finally fixed it.
So its got a new Mass Air and Cam Sensors, and HAD a new Idle Air Controler, the old one was fine and the new one is bad, runs at 60% just to keep it at idle and causes all kinds of problems.

Glad that is fixed.

I think my front growling noise is now the right side support bearing, has anyone ever tried and or seen the part # for just the bearing? the whole housing with bearing and seal is 31507503115 but would love to just press what is probably a $30 bearing in it along with a new seal.

According to the info in RealOEM, it's not replaceable as a separate part. You could order the carrier get the size info for the bearing and order one, then return the carrier. Cost you some shipping, but $180 for the carrier, you might still come out ahead.

[bradb]

Well, its happened.

I didn't take the time to put the 2004 X5 on the battery tender like I always do when traveling during the winter.

I came home after three months to a dead and locked X5.

Wouldn't be too bad except I cannot open the front doors from the outside.

What BDBH would do something like this?

He is typing this right now.

Have mercy.

Brad

[PropellerHead]

Introduced it to a long-standing fantasy of the pressure washer-powered foam cannon. I need alone time. This was magic.


Of course, I wouldn't be f'ing ancient history old if I didn't include that when I went to store this where these things go, I discovered that I also had always wanted one of these in like 2018.... I obviously just forgot I had one..

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by bradb

Well, its happened.

I didn't take the time to put the 2004 X5 on the battery tender like I always do when traveling during the winter.

I came home after three months to a dead and locked X5.

Wouldn't be too bad except I cannot open the front doors from the outside.

What BDBH would do something like this?

He is typing this right now.

Have mercy.

Brad

You should be able to manually unlock the drivers door with a key.