The Startup Clunk

[Ron07x5]

as far as the engine running smooth it should.
the spark plugs might be marginal?
I had a 97 m3 with spark plugs at the end of there rated life of 80k I replace them and mileage increased 2 miles/gallon.

The bmw service records I have for my x5 says bmw replaced them at about 40k, which seemed early to me. Anyone know? So the ones in my x5 now have 67k, they should be ok, but I will pull one of these and consider replacing them in the next months.

More pressing is replacing what I suspect is a small drip from the engine oil cooler gasket. The gasket is no cost at $5 but I hear It will take 3 hours of labor, I will prepare steps-tools to do that work carefully in the next month or so.

I think of the x5 as like a plane, I have told my wonderful wife we will call it "the plane". One needs to inspect and service-repair the plane so it doesn't fall out of the sky. It is a joy to fly, and my wife loves sitting high and the power! Perhaps I have created a monster? The x5 isn't her simpler and more reliable Toyota Rav4, my challenge is to service and work on it so "she" will think it is better than her Rav4 in every way! Kisses of course are my reward :-)