Looks good! I provided my three boys with REAL beaters, not X5's! Hopefully your son appreciates it.

AM.

The neighbors should be thrilled... I finished up the rear bumper installation today, so it now looks like a fully-assembled vehicle sitting in the driveway!

While I was waiting for the bumper carrier paint to dry, I started pulling stereo components out. The radio itself looked pristine both inside and out, but there was a fair amount of corrosion in the connection for the amplifier.

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I cleaned everything with a small brass brush. Will be anxious to see if it works when I get it back together tomorrow.

AM.

Got my LED halo bulbs and DRL bulbs in the mail, so I got those installed. Hooked up ISTA and cleared all my codes, reset the VTG (transfer case) oil wear, and went through the VTG re-calibration procedure. I couldn't find an AT oil change option like I had for my E83. Hmmmm....

No joy on getting sound out of my radio system. I pulled it back apart again, tried touching some of the solder joints even though they didn't look bad. I'm now out of ideas for troubleshooting. I don't want to throw good money after bad on this system, so I guess I'm going to bite the bullet and order this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...5Z5MU6OM&psc=1

It's way more radio than I really need, but it looks like trying to install a basic radio could be a real PITA. I will like having a reverse camera, and maybe I'll end up enjoying some of the other features as I play around with them.

Other than the radio situation, I'm pretty much "done" getting all the deferred maintenance caught up and everything set up the way I want. I have a used tire coming that matches the other 4. That way I can get rid of the new 15 y.o. spare tire and start using a 5-wheel rotation. It's a great way to go with any AWD vehicle that uses a matching full-sized spare. You get to go longer between tire purchases and in the event of a tire failure, you can simply revert to a 4-wheel rotation without compromising your system with mismatched tire circumferences.

I know these things don't get great mileage, but I am not getting the mileage I expected. I tend to drive gently and usually get toward the higher end of the range for avg. mpg in my other vehicles. I don't have a lot of miles on it yet, but I seem to be getting about 13.5 around town and maybe 17.5 on the hwy. I expected at least a couple mpg. better. I haven't yet checked fuel trims or done any other troubleshooting, so I guess that will be next.

AM.

Check your ET operating temp. Should be 95-97C on the 3.0L. If you have a soft failing thermostat and running in the 80's, she will run rich.

Thanks. I just replaced the thermostat with a Wahler (before checking mileage). The old one had definitely failed as it was throwing a code and the engine couldn't ever get up to temperature on the dash gauge. I'll check it, though.

AM.