Plz welcome an experienced nube
 

Hello all,

New here but been around the web since bang address paths. We just bought an e53 facelift 3.0d with manual gearbox for an nth car, but I spend most of my seat time in my e70 40d. Past BMWs include e38 730i, e32 750is, and 1967 (6v!) 1600-2. I also covet a GS and have been been on Edelweiss motorcycle trips on a rented GS with the missus.

Hoping to be helpful here in your forum and learn a few new tricks. We live in France only 25 minutes from der Vaterland (if I speed). I enjoy shopping in Deutschland but recent events are a bit worrisome.

Reno,
Alsace

Welcome! Make sure to upload some pictures

Welcome to The Board, and congratulations on the manual trans X5!

Alsace: home of my favorite white wines on the planet, aka Alsace Rieslings.
GL, mD

Welcome to the family of X5 E53 owners!

Welcome! Wow, an e53 facelift 3.0d with manual gearbox - that's a pretty rare beast - at least in these parts. Never even seen one. Ever. Was wondering if they have even made them.

I drive my 3.0d (with an AT) in "manual mode" quite a bit, especially when going down hills when the AT wants to shift down as soon as I touch the brakes. I can certainly see the attraction of a real MT. :thumbup:

Oh yeah, +1 on the GS! :D

Well you'll be pleased to know that she looks exactly like the one in your profile pic. Only the wheels differ.

I did have a tough time finding one, even in der Vaterland. What's more, I really wanted active xenon lighting (Kurvenlicht) that turns the headlamps with the steering wheel. I only located three of those in all of Germany, and I bought the third one due to good overall intuition after a test drive.

Back home on the car lift, she checks out well. No wrecks, no rust, just a few bushes to do within a year or so. Life is good.

I'm also out on xdrivers.uk but there seems to be less of us in the e53 pages there, whilst the e70 forum there is quite active.

Welcome!

Bienvenue!!!

Welcome to the board. The E53 diesel is super rare here in the US. I think I've only seen one.

Lafayette, Nous sommes ici Hopefully both our countries won't ever accept these "recent events" as the new normal.

Wow, I'm surprised even one 3.0d made it into the US. It is definitely not as clean as my e70 40d. I start the 40d in the garage and can't even smell the exhaust, ever. It's astounding for a diesel. The e53 otoh does have a little smoke and quite a bit of odor. His name is Eeyore and he sleeps outside.

That said, Eeyore smokes much less than most French cars of the same age. The smell and smoke of my wife's yearly company cars (Citroen Berlingo 4x4 Dangel) did not go away until the very latest 2016 model, which meets Euro6 standards runs and AdBlue.

But I think I'm OT. Does admin squelch that kinda thing here? I guess I'll find out. :p: