I think the guide life is more due to location and high RPM buzzes than oil changes under 7K. Most oil test show little difference between 5-7K changes as both of these are way lower than the once a year or 15K, whichever comes up first approach by BMW.
I personally change out Oil, and all the Filters once a year. In my case that works out to 2,500 to 5,000K. Short drives = short intervals.

Pet the 4.6 on the hood and say nice job!

I had a chance to play with the 4.6 this weekend and finally was able to install the trim piece that I painted for the SMG steering wheel. The shift paddles are still not hooked up, though. I need a new slip ring with the proper connector for the paddles. I'm very happy with how the painted trim turned out. It was a ton of work to get the super smooth finish, but it was totally worth it!

http://www.creative-pro.net/cars/200...ng_wheel_1.jpg

http://www.creative-pro.net/cars/200...ng_wheel_2.jpg

There are usually several BMWs at my house and I often hear the comment that I must really like BMWs to have so many. I always give the same reply, which is that it's more of a love/hate relationship, which is usually met by a blank stare. They are great cars and there is nothing else like them - I can't see myself ever wanting anything else. But they can be a real pain in the ass sometimes! There are a few light mods that I want to make, but first I want to resolve any functional and driveability issues. So I've been methodically sorting this 4.6is over the last couple of months and every time I think I have it squared away, a new problem shows up.

Case in point: I thought I finally had all the mechanical problems repaired but then began to notice that it had a bit of a lumpy idle when cold and would occasionally stumble and hesitate until it got warmed up. Then it started throwing the dreaded P0171 and 0174 codes (lean mixture). I checked the long term fuel trims and they are around 15%. So I was most likely dealing with a relatively minor vacuum leak.

So I spent yesterday morning with my DIY smoke tester and snake-cam hunting down the leak. It turned out to be the oil return hose from the crankcase vent at the back of the intake manifold. The hose is completely rotten and basically just fell off the fitting on the CCV (red circle):
http://www.creative-pro.net/cars/200...roken_hose.jpg

I don't see any way to replace that hose without removing the CCV or the intake manifold. Of the two, I think the CCV will be the least invasive, so that's the route I'll take. Since it has to come of, and it's probably nearing the end of it's useful lifespan anyway, the smart thing to do would be to replace it with a new one. Along with all the other gubbins that go with it. So I've just placed a $200 order for parts and have another weekend of working on the X5 to look forward to!

OP, just realized we have the same truck, and in the same state no less! Love the new wheel.

Nice read, subscribed. Hopefully you still have the vehicle. Sounds like a similar story to mine I just picked up a couple weeks ago.

Yes, I still have my 4.6is. I'm so far upside down on this thing that I'll never be able to sell it! But that's okay. I happen to really like it.

This should help when you get to connecting paddleshifts: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ions-pics.html

Thanks! I have that one bookmarked already. I think for Christmas I may ask Santa for the slip ring to hook up the paddles. I have everything else.