New member - Melb - Lots of questions!

[SMOKEY53]

Update time. I now own an E53 X5. After 6 months of searching, and a whole heap of learning in between.

I put up cash for a 2005 X5 3.0d, sapphire black, black dakota leather with titanium trim. It's got the Le Mans edition flare kit, Style 168's and pano roof. 114km's on the clock.

It was a bit of a compromise for me, as I swore I would never buy another black car and certainly not one the size of an X5 - but this one came up with the right numbers so I had to go for it.

It was also purchase sight unseen. Car was located at a dealer in Sydney (I'm in Melb) so best I could do was trust the salespersons opinion of the car. When he described the car as '100% A1 Condition, no worries mate' I was a little concerned. I decided to pay for an independent inspection, which proved worth it's weight in gold as the car was discovered to have a leaking rocker cover gasket, caster bushes gone, turbo was leaking oil from seal between compressor and exhaust (!!) and power steering leak. As the car was being sold with 12 month warranty I was able to use the report to get all those things fixed prior to delivery.

So it arrived, it was filthy (grr) but aside from one scratch that I wasn't happy with it seems fairly honest. It's not registered in Vic yet so I can't drive it anywhere (sold to me unrego'd) so I've spent the day cleaning up the interior, and doing a Leatherique treatment on the seats.

Have also punished the credit card buying a few bits n pieces for it already……hope to start a new thread and keep you guys updated with the progress!

Great to feel part of the gang now!

[SMOKEY53]

Update time. I now own an E53 X5. After 6 months of searching, and a whole heap of learning in between.

I put up cash for a 2005 X5 3.0d, sapphire black, black dakota leather with titanium trim. It's got the Le Mans edition flare kit, Style 168's and pano roof. 114km's on the clock.

It was a bit of a compromise for me, as I swore I would never buy another black car and certainly not one the size of an X5 - but this one came up with the right numbers so I had to go for it.

It was also purchase sight unseen. Car was located at a dealer in Sydney (I'm in Melb) so best I could do was trust the salespersons opinion of the car. When he described the car as '100% A1 Condition, no worries mate' I was a little concerned. I decided to pay for an independent inspection, which proved worth it's weight in gold as the car was discovered to have a leaking rocker cover gasket, caster bushes gone, turbo was leaking oil from seal between compressor and exhaust (!!) and power steering leak. As the car was being sold with 12 month warranty I was able to use the report to get all those things fixed prior to delivery. That whole process too the best part of 4 weeks and if I didn't have a deposit down I probably would have walked away…..but this is the game we play.

So it arrived, it was filthy (grr) but aside from one scratch that I wasn't happy with it seems fairly honest. It's not registered in Vic yet so I can't drive it anywhere (sold to me unrego'd) so I've spent the day cleaning up the interior, and doing a Leatherique treatment on the seats.

I've got a Dynavin N6 getting brought back for me from the US with a DVB-T tuner, I've also got a 4.6is front and rear lip. Have punished the credit card buying a few bits n pieces for it already……and next major purchases will be spacers and Bilstien B12 lowering kit. Hope to start a new thread and keep you guys updated with the progress!

Great to feel part of the gang now!

[Skier1]

Hi Smokey53. Not sure if you are aware but wheel spacers are illegal in NSW and I think they may be in Vic as well .So I would check that first before fitting.

[SMOKEY53]

Thanks @skier1. I'm well aware. Calculated risk. I'll be using H&T DRA style which bolt to the hub.

Did you also know that they're fitted from factory to some Porsche 991 ? They have 5mm and 17mm options, bolt through style (not bolt on).


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[nice1guv]

Absolutely awesome!! Big Congrats on the purchase!

Can't believe you found the 4.6is kit at the wreckers (I think I read).
Over here, the wreckers ask an absolute fortune for everything!

You're also geting the N6 from the US - you bastard!

The 168's, they're 20 inches I guess, and you have the Le Mans flares!

Sounds like your beast is very cool!

[SMOKEY53]

Originally Posted by nice1guv

Absolutely awesome!! Big Congrats on the purchase!

Can't believe you found the 4.6is kit at the wreckers (I think I read).
Over here, the wreckers ask an absolute fortune for everything!

You're also geting the N6 from the US - you bastard!

The 168's, they're 20 inches I guess, and you have the Le Mans flares!

Sounds like your beast is very cool!

Thanks mate, I think it will come together nicely. I've just bought a second set of 168s and some 30mm bolt on spacers. Plan to run a set of 10.5 rears on the front as well, and space the existing rears out with a 30mm's - hopefully get the look right! Next major purchase will be the Bilstien B12 kit to drop it 40mm. Should look pretty mean I hope

[nice1guv]

X5s look awesome with the normal 20 inch staggered rims, let alone 2 sets of 10.5s.
Have you seen J.Belknap and his 4.6is seupercharged Dinan X5: Jay Belknap's E53 X5 4.6iS S3
He has front and rear 20 inch x 10.5s and the Le Mans flares plus rear spacers - looks incredible!

I'm just running a set of 18s on mine at the moment.
I like the ability to rotate all 4 wheels, and the extra sidewall rubber keeps the comfort factor high.

In regards to lowering, I believe the sport models were slightly lower.
I've had Bilsteins before and the handling improvement was significant, so it should be a real good setup.

[e70junkie]

Originally Posted by SMOKEY53

No dramas, thanks Paul. Show us some pics of your 'motor'!

I've currently got three cars taking up space, two of which are for sale, so can't really consider another purchase until I shift them but I want to be all knowledge'd up so that I can strike when the right one presents itself.

Smokey

Awesome car. I just recently upgraded from a 2004 E53 (brown/beige) to a nice black/purple e70. I noted that you bit the bullet on the bluefin tune and I'm also interested. Been firing lots of questions at the local distributor (Peter) and so far so good. Am interested to hear how you found it? How is the car performing? Any issues?

cheers
Mike

[SMOKEY53]

Hey Mike, I bought my bluefin from tigersoft too.

I haven't actually had a chance to install the tune yet. I was tossing up between getting the transmission serviced first, still undecided.




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[e70junkie]

Smokey,

Fair enough. Still interested what made you buy it? Given all the options out there.