facelift/pre-facelift & 1/2 model years??

[haumana]

Iʻm a totally new e53 owner. I noticed that my X falls into the ʻfaceliftʻ category, based on the year, but I wanted to know (and if anyone has pics) what the differences were?

I also thought about replacing my fog lights, but noticed that mine have the blurred looking lens, and not the crystal clear lenses, but OEMs for my year look like theyʻre supposed to be the clear lens type. Iʻd also like to turn my halos into the DRL, but noticed that there is some kind of size difference between the pre/post facelift.

Does my X fall into a slight limbo land because itʻs an early facelift? mfg. 9/2003. I already know that I got the shaft when it came to having bluetooth, but some say itʻs wired for it, and others say it isnʻt. If I have HIDs or if I donʻt, etc.

I just want to get the low down on what my X actually has, should have, or missed out because of the facelift year, but pre-facelift mfg date.

Were there that many changes? and is there anything I should be aware of?

[bcredliner]

There is a website, it might be this one that you enter last 7 digits of your vin number and it tells you what features your X has. BMW VIN Decoder - By Mitsuhiko Kanekatsu

There are several aftermarket options for better fog lights. Some get the whole unit some convert what they have to HID it they aren't already. It sounds like the years may have hazed the lens.

There are also several aftermarket options to add bluetooth, aux, sat radio, usb etc. so you can get to current technology using your existing controls.

Your X has the headlights that are close to impossible to split open. Once again there are aftermarket options. Some go back to the earlier units that can be opened and upgraded to appear close to current headlights.

I don't have a list of facelift changes but you are not stuck in the middle of nowhere.

First step is to see what accessories and packages came with your X.

[Zulu95]

If you have a small painted trim panel under your headlights that is removable then you are pre-facelift.

[PropellerHead]

I drove a 10/2004 model for nearly 7 years. I loved that thing. Early 2004 X5's (including yours) have XDrive. A change to the standard all wheel drive of the pre-facelift. X Drive can put 100% of the engine power to the one wheel it senses with traction. The older ones were static 48/52 (I think that's the right ratio)

The best thing ab early '04's? The good ole, reliable small sunroof. Less top side weight, too. Between the lowered weight so high on the body and the intelligent XDrive, I still find myself looking for early face lift builds. After they cleared through the body's from the older models with smaller roofs, they rolled out the 4.8is and the giant, heavy glass up top. Such a silly idea for a performance geek. Great for a rich mom, though.

Also, no screwy adaptive headlights. The ones on my 4.8is have yet to break, but when they do, I will strongly consider just getting the early ones. That said- it *is* cool that they sweep from left to right based on steering input. And it *is* cool to watch happen. But it does absolutely nothing practical (for me) and is thus just a gimmick as far as I am concerned.

You got screwed on Bluetooth, but so did every 2004 and it is an easy fix. I replaced the SOS module with a BT module and BOOM: Bluetooth.

Those are the two big things that I noticed when I went from my '04 3.0 to an '04 4.8is (07/04 build). Well, besides the obvious.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I drove a 10/2004 model for nearly 7 years. I loved that thing. Early 2004 X5's (including yours) have XDrive. A change to the standard all wheel drive of the pre-facelift. X Drive can put 100% of the engine power to the one wheel it senses with traction. The older ones were static 48/52.........

Not the case. Pre-facelift Xs were able to direct 100% of torque to front/rear axles and side to side using automatic brake activation. The XDrive just does this using the transfer case actuator to adjust fore/aft and still uses the brake actuation for side to side (just like pre-facelift).

Here's a good example of a pre-facelift transferring torque. You can see the X spinning front/rear/front/rear tires in search of grip......

BMW x5 summer tyres on snow - YouTube

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Not the case. Pre-facelift Xs were able to direct 100% of torque to front/rear axles and side to side using automatic brake activation.

I'd like your source on that one. Everything I have seen including my experience with a 2001 X5 since new and the two Xdrive 2004's is different. If you're saying it's 100% of *available* torque, that would be correct, but the available TQ to front and rear is not 100% of the engine power in the earlier cars. The later cars transfer allows this.

Also, I am reading I had the earlier ratio incorrect. Still fixed, but fixed at 38/62.

The video shows an X5 with ZERO grip on all wheels. The later portion of the video shows that the other wheels are spinning at the same rate or close to it until the braking kicks in. This happened quite a bit on my '04 3.0 in the snow and would be expected in that case.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I'd like your source on that one. Everything I have seen including my experience with a 2001 X5 since new and the two Xdrive 2004's is different. If you're saying it's 100% of *available* torque, that would be correct, but the available TQ to front and rear is not 100% of the engine power in the earlier cars. The later cars transfer allows this.

Also, I am reading I had the earlier ratio incorrect. Still fixed, but fixed at 38/62.

The video shows an X5 with ZERO grip on all wheels. The later portion of the video shows that the other wheels are spinning at the same rate or close to it until the braking kicks in. This happened quite a bit on my '04 3.0 in the snow and would be expected in that case.

Are you talking about the loss of torque from the engine flywheel to the tires?

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I'd like your source on that one. Everything I have seen including my experience with a 2001 X5 since new and the two Xdrive 2004's is different. If you're saying it's 100% of *available* torque, that would be correct, but the available TQ to front and rear is not 100% of the engine power in the earlier cars. The later cars transfer allows this.

Also, I am reading I had the earlier ratio incorrect. Still fixed, but fixed at 38/62.

The video shows an X5 with ZERO grip on all wheels. The later portion of the video shows that the other wheels are spinning at the same rate or close to it until the braking kicks in. This happened quite a bit on my '04 3.0 in the snow and would be expected in that case.

The TC torque split on pre-facelift was 38%f/62%r while driving without tire slippage. When slippage was detected the brakes on the slipping wheels were activated automatically which transferred torque to the wheels with grip. Not sure of the absolute limit BMW programmed into the system.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

The TC torque split on pre-facelift was 38%f/62%r while driving without tire slippage. When slippage was detected the brakes on the slipping wheels were activated automatically which transferred torque to the wheels with grip. Not sure of the absolute limit BMW programmed into the system.

I don't know the absolute % either and don't why it would be less than 100% at the wheels that aren't spinning.

[Normd996]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I drove a 10/2004 model for nearly 7 years. I loved that thing. Early 2004 X5's (including yours) have XDrive. A change to the standard all wheel drive of the pre-facelift. X Drive can put 100% of the engine power to the one wheel it senses with traction. The older ones were static 48/52 (I think that's the right ratio)

The best thing ab early '04's? The good ole, reliable small sunroof. Less top side weight, too. Between the lowered weight so high on the body and the intelligent XDrive, I still find myself looking for early face lift builds. After they cleared through the body's from the older models with smaller roofs, they rolled out the 4.8is and the giant, heavy glass up top. Such a silly idea for a performance geek. Great for a rich mom, though.

Also, no screwy adaptive headlights. The ones on my 4.8is have yet to break, but when they do, I will strongly consider just getting the early ones. That said- it *is* cool that they sweep from left to right based on steering input. And it *is* cool to watch happen. But it does absolutely nothing practical (for me) and is thus just a gimmick as far as I am concerned.

You got screwed on Bluetooth, but so did every 2004 and it is an easy fix. I replaced the SOS module with a BT module and BOOM: Bluetooth.

Those are the two big things that I noticed when I went from my '04 3.0 to an '04 4.8is (07/04 build). Well, besides the obvious.

This is an older thread but do you have the part number you used for the Bluetooth

Thanks