03 x5 4.4 - Oil Leaking

[03x544]

Hey all....Been trolling around and love the forums here.

About 3,000 miles ago I bought a 2003 x5 4.4 with 108k on her. Car is in really good shape I fixed a few small things...Door handle carrier, rear subframe bushings, window regulator, front lower control arms, sway bar links, and rear air bags.

Anyway, I'm starting to smell a little bit of oil and I lowered the front lower shield and it's really wet with oil. I know the valve cover gaskets were replaced about 10,000 miles ago. I also know all power steering pressure lines have been replaced.

From my readings I'm seeing the upper and lower timing covers, alternator bracket seal can leak, as well as a smorgasbord of other things.....I also know the transfer case chain may be starting to stretch JUST a bit because shifting reverse to park and accelerating I hear a "slight" chain sound under the car. Also, hear what is likely the vanos noise when running. Sounds a little "diesely" under the hood and slight rattle if the car has sat for a few days.....

I just completed refinishing the new wheels I bought (Picture attached)

Anyway, I'm thinking of the direction I should go with the car...The car is a second car mostly for winter that the wife drives and loves.

I'm assuming the upper and lower timing covers need to be re-sealed, the alternator bracket seal needs to be replaced, etc....but what about longevity on these cars? Is it worth putting money into?

Is it that difficult too to remove the engines in these cars? I was planning on removing the transfer case to rebuild it in the spring but maybe I should do a full overhaul. Problem is I believe the springs/struts need replacing too....just seems to be a ton of work and then what....Just looking for some advice of the board!

[Dickster]

At that mileage you have to expect some work and x5's do appear to need looking after - they are big heavy cars and that takes its toll on components.

I'm new to x5 ownership too (always fancied one) and moved from a 2003 Grand Cherokee - the gearbox went on that and it wasn't economical to fix so it was sold for parts. And that's the difference, our x5 has done more mileage (100k), and resale value was 4 times that of the GC. So in my opinion in most cases the x5 is worth spending the money on - resale values remain high.

Not sure about your leaks though (we've got a 3d) so good luck with that!

Cheers

[David.X5]

It looks like a pre-facelift. Not hard to pull the engine or refresh all the seals and hoses. Do the whole CCV system, vacuum hoses, cooling hoses, water pump, thermostat, heater hoses, front main seal, rear main seal, oil pan seals, valve cover, front cover, drive shaft seals, motor mounts. Consider longer splined front drive shaft upgrade when you are doing the transfer case.

My suggestion is to remove the radiator (it will have to be drained anyway) and unbolt the radiator support. Gives much better access. You will need a 2-ton shop crane to have the reach needed to lift the motor. A 1-ton can lift it, but they tend to have a shorter arm.

The engines seem to run forever. People seem to give up due to a slew of little problems.

[electricalserv x5]

if You have a good mechanic who is reasonable sure................but these BMW are money pits.

[03x544]

David,

Precisely what you mentioned is what I've been considering. Just worried about the cost of parts.

Additionally, I was considering buying a MAXJAX lift for the house. May be a good investment and I could always drop the entire drivetrain pretty quickly I would think. Then have the whole shebang on the ground to work on. May seem more feasible than yanking it from the front. I can't find much reading on this information though. Any insight?

[David.X5]

A small lift would definitely give better bottom access and would be more comfortable to detach the tranny, but I suspect the engine has to come out the top. I've been using race ramps and their tire cradles to get a stable extra 10 inches when working under the X.

You may get lucky and drop the engine with the subframe. Don't know if it's any easier.

[David.X5]

Parts aren't so expensive if you shop around - ECS Tuning and FCP Euro have some decent aftermarket parts. Husker BMW is usually the cheapest for dealer parts. BMW PNPC is a program that lets you compare prices on dealer parts across ~20 sources. Fairfax BMW seems to be starting to sell online at pretty good prices now.

[03x544]

Dave,

Thanks for the advice. We'll see how things go in the future. The car just has to get through the winter for me to make a 100% decision. Some of the special tools stuff worries me about maybe rebuilding the timing chains/VANOS as well.