*The Official E53 Manual Transmission Registry Thread*

[Phr3d]

Originally Posted by x5toker

Hi Everyone:

I actually ended up here because I purchased a 2002 x5 3.0 5-speed with 92k miles about a year ago, and I've been having nothing but problems.

ahhh.. our twin brother.. yep the front end expense is harsh, stealer is harsher, but when the repairs that the last owner put off/ignored (usually, obviously we've seen one dream-date here) are finally done, I'm pretty sure you will be happier with your decision. We did the Hondy-thing for the 'kid-years' and it was ok, but we're happier with Dancer..

[Ricky Bobby]

updated list!

Nice pics of Rolf btw, looks clean as you described it! and glad to hear it has gotten a clean bill of health too!


x5toker, looking good in Topaz Blue (my color as well!), I say change the driveline fluids, and hopefully you should be good for a while!


my X is going in for driveline fluids, belts and tensioners this week, at 62k miles (but 9 years on original everything)......i just need to replace my air compressor and i should be good for a while


....maybe that damn speedo fix to do too (i have some missing pixels)

[Ricky Bobby]

Getting all driveline fluids, belts, tensioners replaced as we speak!

If anyone needs their X serviced I have a great indie mechanic in Madison, NJ to recommend.


UPDATE: Mech called this morning and said my fan clutch was making a terrible startup sound, and was wobbling around (which I thought was a tensioner) and so that is getting replaced as well today! Better safe than sorry!

[GABRIEL]

Originally Posted by cdowd

I bought mine in florida in late 2010. it needed a clutch right off the bat but has been great sine then. Mine is a total base model (leatherette and all). But I have to say that stuff wears like iron.

Chris

Thank you for your response, one more question did you change the flywheel at the same time?

[Phr3d]

Finally emembered to call Rob at UUC (see my earlier post) to check up on the short-shifter.

Rob says the site for the machining is still 45 days out, so no solid ETA, though he promises a heads-up when they are confident on the date.

SOoo, 45 days to order up your shorty, if you are so inclined (wish I hadn'ta bought the replacement Zeckhausen valve so early.. it looks so lonely and small, and gettin' dusty, heheh).

[Green Dragon]

Hey Ricky Bobby, what transmission fluid are you going with on your X? I'm trying to decide on which to use.

My "Lifetime" tranny fluid at 115K feels pretty worn. Its getting notchy, feels like it sticks a bit, and I really have to baby it when its cold. If your not doing a soft 2nd start when cold, you really have to jump from 1st to 2nd gear(as you all know), and the ol girl doesn't like it one bit. I'm in a pretty cold region in northern Utah. Park City on weekends during ski season.

For everyone, I'm interested on opinions/experiences from using an aftermarket fluid vs oem fluid. On my e36 I used mobile one synthetic mixed with lucas synthetic additive and loved it, but on a more modern manual tranny that I think calls for something closer to ATF fluid and not typical MT fluid, I'm a little in the woods.

Not to hijack the thread, I'm just interested on what other people are running in their manual X. Glad to be part of this crew.

[pbe gummi bear]

I took my X5 to the Golden Gate Chapter BMWCCA's Car Control Clinic last weekend. Doing slalom, emergency braking, and skidpad exercises in the X5 is.... interesting. But it still performed like a champ.

[MINIz guy]

Very nice! I've done an Audi Club NJ and Tire Rack Street Survival teen driving school in the X5. Must be much more fun with a manual transmission!

The X5 still surprises people but still drives like a boat.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

Hey Ricky Bobby, what transmission fluid are you going with on your X? I'm trying to decide on which to use.

My "Lifetime" tranny fluid at 115K feels pretty worn. Its getting notchy, feels like it sticks a bit, and I really have to baby it when its cold. If your not doing a soft 2nd start when cold, you really have to jump from 1st to 2nd gear(as you all know), and the ol girl doesn't like it one bit. I'm in a pretty cold region in northern Utah. Park City on weekends during ski season.

For everyone, I'm interested on opinions/experiences from using an aftermarket fluid vs oem fluid. On my e36 I used mobile one synthetic mixed with lucas synthetic additive and loved it, but on a more modern manual tranny that I think calls for something closer to ATF fluid and not typical MT fluid, I'm a little in the woods.

Not to hijack the thread, I'm just interested on what other people are running in their manual X. Glad to be part of this crew.

What I used:


Manual Trans - Redline MTL (70w-80 weight, OEM is 75w-80 BMW MTF-LT2)

Front/Rear Diff - Redline 75w-90 gear oil

Transfer Case - Redline D4 ATF


Picked her up today and it wasn't a HUGE difference shifting, but definitely shifted nice, I think it helped. I'm a big fan of keeping up on fluids!


Glad you're part of the 3-pedal crew and glad this thread is beneficial!

[cdowd]

Originally Posted by GABRIEL

Thank you for your response, one more question did you change the flywheel at the same time?

They tech that changed it for me just resurfaced it. It had only started to slip in 4th and 5th gear. cost was around $850.

Chris