Questions you thought were too dumb to ask E53 edition

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Ryoken

there is a bulb going into the inside door handle, (now I didn't know there were bulbs here as none of them work on any of the doors),
A. when do they light up? (when the headlight switch is turned on)
B. any one know what bulb they are so I can buy more? (see information below)

Thanks for signature info.

Now it makes more sense, too...as to why you see a bulb but may not have illuminated door handles. The pre-facelift X5s (at least here in the States) may have the LED taped off inside the door, but the door handles don't have the light guides attached (yes, it's weird).

So you may be looking at the LED (which is #10 in the various lamps diagram below)...but if your door handles don't have the light guides...it could be the reason they aren't illuminated.

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E5...pare_bulbs_box

The door handles required for interior illumination is #10 in the diagram and link below...and if you don't have the illuminated door handles...you'll have #9 (but the LED (#10 in diagram above) to illuminate the door handles may still be sitting unused and taped up inside your door):

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E5...t_side_airbag/

In a thread from 2013...Cadesto posted an image of the interior door handles that have the "light guide" that attaches to the LED inside the door (see 2 of his images below). And here's the link to Cadesto's thread about illuminated door handle upgrade : http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-retrofit.html

[Ryoken]

you know , I love this forum
just double checked my door handles ( as my door card is still off the car)as I am waiting for a number 18 bit or the 2nd diagram (£7.50 from the stealers)!!!! it does indeed have the light guides. its just looks like the leds , have blown, ive ordered some orange leds thru ebay.
will let you know what happens when they arrive and fit

Cheers
Steve

[THE VEIN]

Anybody know how to correctly install the Oem roof rack?

[Ryoken]

Qsilver7, I looked on all my door cards , and the ones that were not illuminated got removed ( plus the ones that had the door card clips broke) which was all of them
the reason why none of my leds worked is that the tubes thing were broke
so I have repaired them all
now got 4 working leds

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Ryoken

Qsilver7, I looked on all my door cards , and the ones that were not illuminated got removed ( plus the ones that had the door card clips broke) which was all of them
the reason why none of my leds worked is that the tubes thing were broke
so I have repaired them all
now got 4 working leds

Great..."LET THERE BE LIGHT"!

[DillonInCO]

Ohhhh, I have a lot of questions I bet could fit in this thread.

Firstly, is it possible to change the sound of the buzzer that comes on when you open the driver's door with the headlights on? I mean, get rid of the buzzer, and use the normal "chime" sound. Or really, use the chime sound for anything that would normally use the buzzer.

Second, can the alarm beep be turned off? The noise that it makes when you lock or unlock with the key? Completely pointless, especially when so many cars are using a similar beep now...

Lastly, how difficult would it be to upgrade my '01 to use the newer headlight switch that has the "automatic" feature? Is it even possible? I just wonder if it's something that was pre-wired even in the early models and just wasn't implemented until later.

[TerminatorX5]

the buzzer is programmed in the GM module... there could be an alternative line for alternative sound but I have not heard of one..

the audible confirmation can be turned on and off, you need to use NCS Expert or PA Soft to turn it on/off

not so sure about the switch - it depends on the LCM, if it has the feature present and not activated... You can try to fit a switch, see if it works (probably not), and with the auto switch, see if you can change the programming of the LCM - you will need NCSExpert for that...

I know that the some of those switches can be interchanged, providing that you have an additional wire introduced (as for rear fog lights)

[Ryoken]

I today took delivery of one of these
E53 X5 Pet Barrier - Cargo Divider

to stop my stupid German shepherd climbing over my seats and eating every one in the car
I slotted he 2 top parts into the roof , and attached the 2 middle bits into the rear seats but how do you stop the bottom flapping around, cos everytime im going to accelerate the dogs going to get a face of pet carrier? does it attach to something else?.
or can some one with a pre facelift take a picture
I needs to buy a parcel shelf for the beast next, it might fit to that . I dunno
Steve

[THE VEIN]

Based on the picture it looks like you fold down the back seats and attach the bottom of the net to them

[jcp240z]

I have the same divider. When you have it attached to the seats, the bottom part rolls up and you tuck it into the two solid straps (one at each end). I roll mine up so the roll is between the net and the seat. This keeps it neat.