Thinking out loud: It'll stop when I sell it!

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by srmmmm

Thanks Ricky! Watch that weather. Looks like there's plenty more time this year for CCV woes.

2002 X5 3.0 248,502 miles
2004 325i 110,000 miles

Yep lol my CCV was whining again this morning (10F outside) but I had to drive my X to work, wife is taking her car to hair salon after she is done today (long story but we carpool together), I don't notice any stumbling yet so its prob just early signs, but definitely glad my ECS order is on the way so I can hopefully replace all this weekend.

[Doru]

Ricky, those driveshafts are for the whole X lineup, or only for the 3.0l ?

[Ricky Bobby]

Hey Dorin, from what I know, they should fit any pre-Xdrive (NV125) transfer case for E53.

From what I gathered from the guy Tom who makes them, you send him your core and he remanufactures it with the stubs he machines. His email is in the post if you had any questions for him. My driveline is working awesome now as I have low miles (71,000), but I wondered if preventatively it should be something done to extend the life of the factory transfer case. I have already done a flush and fill with Redline D4 ATF at 62k.

My thinking is along the lines of the CCV. We change it when it gets clogged and hopefully before it blows out the valve cover gasket, requiring additional work and parts.

Perhaps we should be preventatively getting our driveshafts repaired/remanufactured with longer splines, so as to not strip out the transfer case and require a rebuild of the transfer case for some time in the future?

If I could install a driveshaft with longer stub, and know that the positive engagement of the splines would keep the transfer case from getting stripped out or damaged for some time to come, I would do so.


Seems to be a common NV125 issue when at 100k or above, from what I've seen, another wonderful design by BMW, with 3/4" of splines engaging from the driveshaft lol.

[mam4.6]

When I had my new (used) engine put in awhile ago, I had my local Indy lengthen the splines on my driveshaft, before he installed the engine. I wasn't having any problems, so I'm hoping this preventative will keep me from having problems down the road somewhere... As far as reliability, we regularly visit family (450 mile round trip), and I have no fear whatsoever of getting left on the roadside, and wouldn't hesitate going further. I thinks it's all in knowing what you have done preventatively, and doing what needs done before any extended travel. There's enough info on the forums here, that we should be able to know what needs replaced (per mileage) before we run into serious trouble.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by mam4.6

When I had my new (used) engine put in awhile ago, I had my local Indy lengthen the splines on my driveshaft, before he installed the engine. I wasn't having any problems, so I'm hoping this preventative will keep me from having problems down the road somewhere...

Should definitely help. Did he remanufacture himself or did he install a remanufactured shaft? Curious as I know Cobra Transmission does make the reman driveshafts as well with the lengthened splines.

[Doru]

I have the X-drive, so this doesn't apply to mine?

[mam4.6]

He got a reman made at a local machine shop, I took a look at it before installation to make sure they lengthened it enough, and thot it looked really good...

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Doru

I have the X-drive, so this doesn't apply to mine?

Nope, you just have to worry about the actuator gear in the Xdrive ATC500 transfer case, and fluid changes/adaptation resets.

[anthonytexas]

Some days I just shake my head. Seems to be one thing after another. To date, I still have not resolve my 'AC won't kick in until I drive around for a bit or hit highway speed" and the "mysterious oil leaks that won't go away". Most of the major stuffs I take to my indie, the minor things (door handles, filters, etc) I diy. My wife took out the passenger side mirror last week. I found on this board that I should just replaced the mirror glass ($26 from eBay) and I did that. Works like a charm, saved money, made me feel good afterwards. Didn't have the heated feature anymore, but I'm not sure if I ever needed it. The elation of a successful DIY was quickly followed by seeing a gallon of washer fluid that I just refilled yesterday found it way onto my my garage floor (near my oil leak stains). SMH. Querying the board, I was able to find a couple of known solutions, so I'll be trying them out this coming weekend. So here's my list so far:
2005 X5 3.0I -
1. Bunch of hoses and belts (indie)
2. Radiator (indie)
3. Expansion Tank (indie)
4. Oil Housing (indie)
5. Valve Cover (indie)
6. Crank case, breather, Oil Sep Hose (indie)
7. Aux Fan (stealership - warrantied)
8. Condenser (stealership - warrantied)
9. Coils, dryer, pump (stealership - warrantied)
10. Water pump (stealership - warrantied)
11. 1st Battery (stealership - out of pocket)
12. 2nd Battery (Autozone - DIY)
13. 2 sets of tires (Discount ties)
14. 2 brake fixes (stealership - maintenance plans)
15. 3rd brake work (DIY -- amazing simple, but didn't use OEM pads so noisy)
16. Door Handles 2x (Seriously, door handles?! LOL, but DIY)
17. 2 alignments (stealership - out of pocket)
18. Oil Pan Gasket (TBA - high dollar item even for indie)
19. Suspension and bushings (TBA - high dollar item even for indie)
20. Stupid AC issues above ((TBA - high dollar item even for indie)
21. Washer Fluid leak (TBA after next weekend)

I'm sure I missed a lot of items. In the beginning of CPO ownership, I recalled spending time at the dealership every other months. Stupid warning lights kept on coming on. After CPO, I quickly found an indie I trust. Now, when I pull into my garage at night and turned my engine off, pulling out the keys, I am almost expecting to hear a beep or warning of some sorts. And when there are no beeps, I'm not relieved...I'm more weary about what will come. So is it worth the headache? Yes and No. I love to drive it. Handled better than any vehicle I've ever driven. I love the feeling of accomplishments after a DIY that works. I hate the thoughts of spending money for fixes that I can't DIY. And I hate the feeling of anticipating what's next. I've been considering getting a reliable SUV, but my X5 is already paid off. Do I incur new monthly payments for a reliable SUV or do I crossed my fingers and keep the X5; using the 'unused' payments as a 'rainy day fund' for future X5 fixes? There's the conundrum.

[upallnight]

Compressor not kicking in when you are standing still leaves me to believe that the aux fan is not coming on when you are standing still or in bumper to bumper traffic. Not enough air flow through the condenser which in turn does not cool the refrigerant enough. The hotter the refrigerant the higher the pressure and if the pressure is too high, the high pressure sensor prevents the compressor clutch from kicking in.