girl friend edition X5.....

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I'm sure you meant I6...you may want to edit your post and make a correction.

Q you never heard of the V6 M 3.0l Only sold in Bavaria in a small town of Wishful Thinking.

[m5james]

I took my X5 to Bimmefest, and trust me when I tell you, I BEAT on it for three weeks straight while chasing down and keeping up w/ every other BMW on the road. Seattle to Hollywood to Central CA to Seattle, then two weeks later was Seattle to Leavenworth and back. Even during my DD duties, I drive my X5 like it's Friday after work...I've got somewhere to go!!

These have been around for 14-15yrs now, so there's NOTHING that hasn't been experienced before that can't be read about here. The key is PREVENTATIVE maintenance vs reactive...at certain mileages replace things that are known to go wrong vs waiting to be left on the side of the road. Heck, even a $100 buyers inspection could tell you plenty of things that you could fix yourself her for pennies on the dollar vs when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and at the burden of someone who has no clue, yet charges whatever they can, simply because they can. Granted an alternator going out can't really be predicted (happened to my ex GF on a roadtrip for work, shop racked her over the coals, didn't put the fender liners back on, but I at least got recouped there), but radiator hoses, radiator, expansion tank, spark plugs, pre-cat 02 sensors, etc should be replaced at 100k regardless...spend a $1000 and do it now on your own time or $3000 when you have a shop (spitballing numbers) do it while you're renting a hotel with your family.

I spent about $3000 on maintenance (mostly upgrades really) before I left for Bimmerfest...all new suspension and installed coilovers, replaced the expansion tank (broke it, my own fault), switched to Evans waterless coolant, new plugs (which revealed I'm due for valve cover gaskets (which means I might as well replace the OSV/PCV while I'm in there for more preventative maintenance)). I could go on and on, but my point is road trips take preparation...for you AND your vehicle.

[lord4play]

*update*
Hi guys, I just got home yesterday. I made it from wisconsin back to Austin Texas mostly uneventful.
With the only exceptions being massive bmw vs bugs (i killed a lot of bugs on the road) Had to stop once just to refill the window washer and scrub the window and headlights. The other was one tank of gas seemed like it was bad poor mileage and power.
Other then that a complete disappointment more stuff broke... now I get to replace two window regulators one of them shattered.
and I think the thermostat is going bad.

I have a 2003 BMW X5 3.0i automatic with sport package. I have only put 14000 miles on it in the year and a half that I have had it. Dealer said it just had a tuneup the mechanic was getting out of it when I saw it on the lot he said the same thing.

things I have replaced:
radiator
coolant tank
hoses
belt
pulleys
intake boot
small vacuum line into intake boot
gasket on taillight drivers side
bulb socket on drivers side tail light
all turning and stopping light bulbs front sides and back
hood badge
hood grill
brakes pads rotors sensors and hardware

current list of problems:
oil filter housing gasket - have gasket will be done in the next week or two
thermostat and waterpump - problem just started
two window regulators
pixels......
cv axle boot - just going to replace the whole axle
random squeaking from front driver side brake - just started only over 50mph stops when I touch the brakes will probably replace the pads, sensors and hardware ( I have two more sets this will be the third time I have replaced the pads, sensors and hardware ) I'm real picky about my brakes.
vanos seals I think
whistling noise at 1800rpm to about 2300 rpm
dead battery in key fob
loose nut in drivers seat
seat belt retracty thing
trim on wind shield
speaker grill in back door back
window washer don't spray
drivers door weather stripping ripped
auxiliary fan motor for a/c and a/c belt

if you guys can think of anything else of the top of your head


As far as the vacation due to work needing to be done for my parents I didn't get much time to work on my X5. But I did a lot of work while I was there I got a total of 3 days to just lay around and enjoy my vacation out of 3 weeks.
I rebuilt the hydraulics on the skid steer the rams got new seals and the pump and hoses were replaced. fuel lines pump and filters replaced. carbs rebuilt dizzy cap and rotor replaced with plugs and wires. metal work done to repair mangled skid plate and protective covers over gear linkage ( uncle tried to drive over a tree stump) wires to a couple gauge wires replaced due to hungry mice.
wired my parents house for WiFi
replaced 2 light fixtures and 31 light bulbs total in house and wood shop.
built tv entertainment center out of rough cut pine ( 11 hours of sanding and planing and 2 hours of just applying varnish)
cut and smoothed out a 1 mile walking trail in the woods with the repaired skidsteer and a chainsaw
cleaned and oiled all of my dads guns and installed a 4x12 scope and sighted in sighted in his 6mm to 200 yards silver dollar sized group ( I really hate that gun but my dad loves it for some reason)
detailed my moms new car its a couple months old
spent a hour in a heated debate with my sister why I won't drink beer. Most people stop when I say I don't like the taste but not my sister aka beer queen. If you have a beer she hasn't tried I would be shocked. disagreement stop when my mom stood up and anounced she was drunk for the first time in 16 years. After only 2 frozen daiquiris ( mom almost never drinks, like one of those frozen daiquiris every few months)

Well I should get ready to go to work soon. I have a bunch of irrigation, plumbing, and baseball field work to do this week. Yes they called me on vacation to tell me that they made a list of stuff that I need to do because they put it off till I got back.
BUT..... My boss's boss just figured out who does all the dirty work around there He couldn't get ahold of my boss so he called me not knowing I was on vacation and asked me who did the plumping repairs on the toilets, urinals, sinks, drinking fountains and septic lines. As well as the electric outlets and light fixtures and who replaced the locks and one of the doors on the pavilion. As well as my weekly irrigation repairs. ( I have been there just over 2 years and have yet to have to repair the same thing twice) We have somewhere between 25 and 26 miles of irrigation in the park. talk of a pay raise and the hire of another employee to help me was brought up by him. with a reply keep the raise just give me someone that will show up for work and willing to work and don't let my boss pick the person since the last two people he picked and hired on one doesn't show up for work 90% of the time but since he is a member of my boss's congregation it's ok he is still getting paid, and the other guy has been on light duty since he started and plans to quit soon as his insurance kicks in and he can have foot surgery and is also in my boss's congregation.

I know this became a mess of incoherent rambling and I am sorry.

But thanks for reading this
I'm going to go make my lunch for work and my mom bought me a new espresso machine I have to unbox and try


Have a great day everyone

[motordavid]

I suspect your Mom got a bit inebriated for the first time in years as a result of the pressure(s) of your work situation, and the laundry list of stuff to fix(ed) on your car... ...
GL, mD

[upallnight]

Glad to see that Nepotism is not just in Crook County or city of She-Car-Go.

You should do these at the same time since you will have removed most of the stuff for the OFHG repair.

oil filter housing gasket - have gasket will be done in the next week or two
thermostat and waterpump - problem just started