New purchase, a few questions

[absentmathis]

Hey guys, recently picked up an X5 again and love it. Adaptive drive is awesome. Long time BMW owner and I had an e53 a while back but this is my first e70. It's an '08 4.8 with about 115 on the clock. Got a few questions if anyone has feedback;

1. Transmission fluid. I know they say lifetime but if you've ever opened one you wouldn't believe it. Beyond just debating it, has anyone have recent experience changing it and for better or worse?

2. Engine idle. My sixers have always been silky smooth, like you can't tell they're even running kind of smooth. This V8 runs great and idles well but I can feel it idling. Is that typical?

3. Slight (suspension?) click/pop sound under footwell when turning. Car checked out fine and I threw it on the lift myself and inspected front suspension to no avail. I've since read a little about the possibility of loose subframe and/or transfer case bolts. Thoughts?

4. Can I stream pandora, etc. via BT? Can't Get it to happen.

5. One key doesn't operate doors or comfort access. Works in ignition though so I assume this means dead batt? Will it charge if left in ignition? Do I need to reinitialize?

I've searched around a bit on this stuff already, so any additional input appreciated.

[Ron07x5]

Fyi ... I recently purchased a 2007 x5 4.8l with 105,000 it had a significant drip from the transmission pan gasket. I ordered the oem pan-filter and 5liters for oem zf fluid from rmeuropean.com the fluid is expensive. I squeezed 3.75liters back in.
Transmission holds about 10 liters but you can't drain it as it sits in the torque converter and gear section of the transmission. I plan just to change the 3.75 about every 25,000 from now on. The fluid was very bown and clearly needed to be changed.

These cars have four 02 sensors that are supposed to be changed at 100k and the spark plugs at 60k of course the double air filters might go 30k. My plugs have 65k on them and the 02 sensors haven't been changed. It does seem to idle a bit rough when first started and also maybe just a little rough when warm. I plan to use a carly-bmwhat odb2 reader to look at fuel trim and consider plugs and 02 sensors but I haven't found time yet.

Haven't felt or heard a suspension issue need to inspect for it.

I tried to use bt to stream audio and seemed I could not. Could only get phone audio working via bt.

I have the known oil cooler drip. In next month's I will be doing the significant 3hour job carefully.

[ard]

I love new members that arrive with clarity!



Just service the ATF. You're right about that. thectsc.com

At 115k you want to replace the thrust/tension/lower control arm bushings. (one bushing, just called different things.) I cannot tell you if that is 'the thing', but those are absolutely THE first suspension part to wear out.

[absentmathis]

Thanks for both the replies. I wanted to change the fluid so glad that's consensus. The thrust arms...is that part #10 of the below? Do you know OE brand or is anything better recommended? I'm familiar with lots of the sites to order just want to know what the best option is. RealOEM doesn't list a brand that I saw.

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

[bawareca]

5. Comfort access keys have a small cover on the back and replaceable battery.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by Ron07x5

These cars have four 02 sensors that are supposed to be changed at 100k and the spark plugs at 60k of course the double air filters might go 30k..

What makes you think that the O2 sensors are wear and tear items? If you go that route you have to replace all sensors in the engine and if you go with anything than original you are probably in big trouble. As a matter of fact when the O2 sensor fails the computer will tell you that.

[Ron07x5]

Originally Posted by bawareca

What makes you think that the O2 sensors are wear and tear items? If you go that route you have to replace all sensors in the engine and if you go with anything than original you are probably in big trouble. As a matter of fact when the O2 sensor fails the computer will tell you that.

They definitely are wear and tear items. The fronts are really torn by the high heat.of exhaust. Wish they lasted forever but they do not. They are not cheap either. You are right one can wait for them to go out of spec to the point you get check engine codes but this isn't good for fuel economy or catylictic converter life.


cars trim adjust the air to fuel mixture by the information from the o2 sensors. As the 02 sensors wear can give increasingly bad info and then the "fuel trim" goes increasingly bad. Rough running and poor economy would result. Also threatens life of catylictic converters. Fyi google "odb2 fuel trim".

Fyi I took a mechanics emissions class at golden west college like 6 years ago and got an A. One can determine a lot with the emissions numbers via odb2 and engine exhaust gases.

[Ron07x5]

Originally Posted by ard

I love new members that arrive with clarity!



Just service the ATF. You're right about that. thectsc.com

At 115k you want to replace the thrust/tension/lower control arm bushings. (one bushing, just called different things.) I cannot tell you if that is 'the thing', but those are absolutely THE first suspension part to wear out.

Thanks for the info about the suspensions parts, ard 😁

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by Ron07x5

They definitely are wear and tear items. The fronts are really torn by the high heat.of exhaust. Wish they lasted forever but they do not. They are not cheap either. You are right one can wait for them to go out of spec to the point you get check engine codes but this isn't good for fuel economy or catylictic converter life.


cars trim adjust the air to fuel mixture by the information from the o2 sensors. As the 02 sensors wear can give increasingly bad info and then the "fuel trim" goes increasingly bad. Rough running and poor economy would result. Also threatens life of catylictic converters. Fyi google "odb2 fuel trim".

Fyi I took a mechanics emissions class at golden west college like 6 years ago and got an A. One can determine a lot with the emissions numbers via odb2 and engine exhaust gases.

I am not going to argue with you here. It is your car and your money, but if you go this route you have to change at least the MAF too because he also gets de-calibrated over time and it is also a factor in the short and long fuel trim adaptations. However there are a few very important facts that you are missing:
-The pre-cat sensors in your car are so-called wide-band O2 sensors. You can Google, but in a few words they are sensors with a very precise readings. Compared to the regular O2 sensors of the yesteryear is like comparing Huyndai Pony to BMW M3. The DME will figure out something is out of spec long before you will find some difference in the MPG, let alone a danger to the catalytics.
-Post-cat sensors do absolutely nothing for the fuel economy or to protect the catalytics. They are there to monitor their efficiency.
-All 02 sensors are made for heat. As a matter of fact they dont even work when they are cold.

[14thbmw]

I had my trans serviced (87k miles) because of a hard 3-2 shift coming to a stop. Also replaced the filter, pan and that rubber gasket that goes to the valve body, following a thread on the E53 forum. World of difference, even though the fluid appeared fine.

The key probably needs a battery. I don't think these charge from the car. One of mine needed a battery so I replaced both at the same time. No re-coding needed (for me).