Stiffening plate bolts

[Omerta]

Originally Posted by trader4

Same here. So I guess some of us learned more from being under
the car changing oil than others. Also, unless the other poster's
X5 is built very differently than mine, those bolts don't hold the
sway bar to the chassis either.

[StephenVA]

Guys

Look at these two images. Different perspective same bolts on the sway bars also hold the plate to the subframe. According to this parts listing the bolts are the same for 6 and V8

31101096987

[cn90]

I re-use these nuts and bolts, zero issues.

Dealer mechanics re-use them too.

On another note, when doing suspension (control arms etc.), the book says replace the bolts etc. but dealer mechanics re-use the bolts. Zero issues.

Many people here are arm-chair generals lol...So stop worrying about these bolts and nuts. They are big, as someone said above and extremely unlikely to break...

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by trader4

Also, unless the other poster's
X5 is built very differently than mine, those bolts don't hold the
sway bar to the chassis either.

You said the plate bolts don't bolt the swaybar to the chassis. They do.

(picture stolen from else on Xoutpost)

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by trader4

Baloney. Have you even been under the car? There are 6 bolts that
hold the stiffening plate/cover to the chassis. That is all they do.
There are other bolts in a completely different location that are the same
part # that hold the stabilizer/sway bar mounting brackets to the chassis.

I have been under the car. If it weren't for the rear swaybar holes the rearward part of the plate would have nothing to bolt to.


Taadaa

[admranger]

FWIW, my plate is aluminum (or aluminium, depending on where you went to school). 2005 4.4i.

[bcredliner]

It is beyond ridiculous for anyone to decide that they know more than the E53 design engineers.

I have been doing my own work for many many years. If I can take it apart I can put it back together. I have always applied the saying to know what I don't know---I never test it. There is simply no logic in not changing the bolts.

[ants_oz]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

Guys

The X5 had two different plates under neath our vehicles. The aluminum one used until sometime in 2003 and a steel one used after that point until production ended on the E53. All the 4.8is have a steel one. As far as I can tell all the 4.6is had a aluminum one. The 3.0 models had both but when they changed to steel, I have no personal knowledge.

Bolts: The factory used one time fasteners (nuts and bolts), that are torque to yield. Torque to XXX and then 90 degrees more. These nuts will then change their shape and "lock down" with greater force. Yes, they are expensive. 1 year ago they were $25 for a set. Now Higher. Can you use grade 8 bolts with lock washers and get a solid connection for the bars and structural rigidity? With only a few years of auto engineering education/experience, I would say "yep". But I would also post the "no testing done to confirm acceptability" clause.

Bottom Line: Do not use the old nuts. At least replace them with known good grade 8 and lock washers. Just for safety.

Most of us on the forum, are high maintenance DIY who go above and beyond what the normal owners do to 10 year old cars. A lot of us are not the first owners and have spent $$ to get them "just right" once again. The reason? We want everything to work correctly and not leave us stranded somewhere. I like to believe we are care takers of the things we own, not just "users". Hell, I even weekly wash and detail, Qtrly clay and wax my Minivan!

I got a 2006 build vehicle mate, and the plate is alloy. Dunno what to tell you...

[StephenVA]

Why is it that everyone gets the good looking Alloy plate and I got a nasty black steel one?

With the last posting, there goes my change date theory. Maybe some had what ever was laying around at the time of build or each assembly line had different suppliers? It would be interesting to hear of other later production models had either plate at the same time.

My X5 4.8is Build date: 6/2005----Black steel

[LVP]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

Why is it that everyone gets the good looking Alloy plate and I got a nasty black steel one?

With the last posting, there goes my change date theory. Maybe some had what ever was laying around at the time of build or each assembly line had different suppliers? It would be interesting to hear of other later production models had either plate at the same time.

My X5 4.8is Build date: 6/2005----Black steel

Mine is 01/2004 production with the aluminum plate.