Road trip go bag
 

What’s on everyone’s list of pieces, parts and other crap to pack when taking the mighty e53 on a road trip these days? So much on my X5 is new, or has been removed, inspected and put back on. In truth, any reliability issues she’s given me have been generally due to shoddy workmanship (yours truly), but it is still an older car so a trip kit seems smart. She’s been running strong thankfully.

Impossible to prepare for every eventuality I know, but I’ve got some room in my newly opened up spare tire well and beyond my Bentley manual and a set of standard tools, I’ve got a main belt, a new injector, and a new coil I will toss in. I also keep a kobalt electric compressor in the back and of course my precisely manufactured tools to support the eventual front and rear window collapse due to clip/regulator failure…also known as cut wooden sticks. I’ll also throw in my fan/clutch holder and wrench, some Loctite and some spare fluids and I have AN line plugs in case of damage to the oil cooler, which I haven’t gotten around to protecting better or remounting behind the front bumper cover.

Any other must haves for guys about to put 2000 highway and mild off-road miles on their 20 year old x5s?

Besides the tool kit and self jump-starter kit.

Some old school stuff....

Self tapping sheet metal screws (plug for tires) besides the regular uses.

Ivory bar soap (works for plugging fuel tanks) doesn't dissolve in gasoline or diesel.

Zip ties.

Fuse kit.

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Just my foxwell

you can never have too much gear
 

I have a "go bag" (get home kit, including some prepper-type items) in the bed of my '04 Silverado HD2500 pickup, dedicated to towing my camping trailer, as well as the fully-stocked trailer itself (some say it is ridiculously over-stocked). The pickup has tools of every sort, and spare parts too, so it's ready at any time for travel, but now that I have a new favorite vehicle, the X5, I hardly travel at all.

But that hasn't kept me from starting to equip the X5 with whatever I've found that I need (or may need) to get/keep it running:

• 1) a growing, extensive tool kit, with hand tools to take off just about any BMW fitting I've encountered or read about (no triple-square tools yet),
  
• 2) basic electrical tools & parts: multi-meter, USB/OTG endoscope (for Android phone), jumper wires, test probes, test light, back probe kit, connector kit, rolls of wire, strippers, crimpers, varios needle-nose pliers, spare fuse kit, and two old parts that would work well enough to get me home if their "new" replacements failed (MAF & ExhaustCamPositionSensor: both were working, but just setting codes),
  
• 3) basic diagnostic equipment: several Android apps, for live data and fault code tracking while driving, on any of the three devices I carry onboard, plus two dongles, and a K-line "CAN" cable,
  
• 4) more diagnostic stuff, in a separate briefcase/laptop bag (so it can easily transfer to other vehicles):
  
  • a) Innova 3100i scan tool (for generic OBD & ABS info),
  • b) Foxwell NT510 Elite bi-directional scan tool (for more specific BMW testing, and for my GM vehicles, too),
  • c) a 13.3" laptop (for detailed records, past data, internet connections for more data, all my BMW files so far, downloaded manuals, etc.), and possibly better diagnostic programs later (if I can make it work)
• 5) tools for tire changing, or getting towed (heavy-duty tow strap, axle strap, an extra tow hook, an extra wheel hanger, aluminum jack pad adapter, two extra scissor jacks, a 10-ton bottle jack, 4-way lug bolt tool, the BMW-included tools, 1/2" long-handle breaker bar, 3' cheater pipe for added leverage, blocking & jacking pads, a knee pad for my bad knees, a 120vac 1/2" impact...if I am near an outlet, & tire pump),
  
• 6) battery related tools (post cleaning tool, 4 gauge jumper cables, on-board maintainer/trickle charger...always used every night, Schumacher XCS15 15/10/2-Amp charger),
  
• 7) miscellaneous extras (magnetic work lights...both a 12v rechargeable LED wand, and a battery-powered one with extendable parts grabber, another grab tool, magnetic dish, 2 cotton beach towels, 2 packing blankets, 2 rubber mats, fender cover),
  
• 8) fluids & other spares (one gallon 50/50 blue coolant, one quart 5W-40 oil, spare valve cover cap, spare Disa O-ring, extra body grommets and fasteners)

all in the X5's trunk, in six (or seven) tool bags.

On my wish list are a better 1/2" impact wrench (my corded one is old, with no beans, and the two 1/4" cordless ones in my house are marginal), an on-board inverter (I have two extra 400 watt models on hand, but need higher capacity), a good jump box (mine just died after 15 years), another set of and whatever tools I've failed to list. Not to mention extra belts, spare relays, and a BMW module or two. And, someone here promised me a used Bentley manual long ago, but ghosted me, so that's on my list too.

Though I finally got the X5, after several years waiting for it (while being prepared to swap for my old race car), with an added hitch & basic 4-way wiring for a trailer (I need to convert that to a 7-way, with controller), I no longer need to go camping much, nor have the desire to travel and explore. So, the truck remains my "camping special", and the X5 is being prepared for ???? I guess it could serve as my getaway vehicle, since it could carry more stuff inside (truck is a regular cab), and it could haul the trailer (2225 lbs). But not likely.

Cordless impact a plus! Get a coolant hose o ring set. Helpful for leaks.Fuses and scanner.
Cell phone for board access and help.

Beyond what's already been said.

The tools you need to remove a door panel (T-25 torx? and panel tool) and a length of PVC Pipe to hold a window up if a regulator fails.

I understood you could NOT tow the E53 as it would cause damage to the transmission.

Lez

In my trunk tool bag, I keep a set of T torq set.

A reverse and T set also comes in handy.

Plus an obligatory 1 quart of 5-40 A3/B4 Castrol oil.

to tow with: OK...... to be towed: not so much OK
 

I think you're correct; the early X5 needs to be towed long distances on a flat bed tow truck, and for very short distances at low speeds if not.
Attachment 82850

I'm printing this to use as a sticker for my glovebox door.

If you were replying to my post, I never meant to tow the X5, but to tow with it, not the pickup.

Some of you are way more prepared than I am, though the two times I've broken down on road trips would have been impossible to plan for (water pump the day I bought it, and front differential on a separate trip).

I mostly keep the basics. Torque wrench and breaker bar, 8mm, 10mm, and 17mm sockets with extensions, socket wrench, and electric socket wrench. I figure anything else happens I'm screwed anyway and the tow truck is being called. lol

Taking her on a 330 mile trip on Wednesday and returning home 330 miles on Thursday.

you got 4 chances to break a window regulator...the few tools needed to prop up the window are an easy add..

Curious how you guys are doing that without removing the door panel? It happened to me when I was backing out of my garage once so i have no doubt it can happen away from home too.

Carry what you can fix. Or a shop can fix/place for you. All other stuff, yea it's getting towed or wait for parts.

I have a pretty solid tool go-bag that I've built up. But, honestly, it doesn't necessarily come on trips.

I've built it around the Milwaukee 15" Packout Tote. Why? Because I like the Milwaukee half packout carrier for their socket set. (quarter inch and 3/8 metric only sets in one set). A nice alternative is the CTA 10100 ( https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/eur...acturing-10100 ), which I've been thinking about as an actual trip kit. You don't need to add much to that CTA kit as a true emergency set.

In the tote, I carry these tools:
socket set (5mm - 19mm)
a few 3/8 impact sockets (17, 19, 21, 22, 24)
select extensions / wobble bars / impact swivel
smallish breaker bar / ratchets / t-handle
torx / allen / e-torx / stubby allen
combo 1/4" hex bit / drill bit set / hex to square adapters
wrench set: https://www.craftsman.com/product/cm...ench-set-12-pc - this is actually rebranded FACOM. I honestly bought it more for the case, although the wrenches are pretty nice.
fan clutch tools (not useful for X5)
pliers
snap on PWCS7 wire stripper / cutter / crimp tool (it's bizarre that virtually no one else makes a crimp tool with the crimping end on the front)
panel popper tools
screwdrivers
dewalt atomic 20v 3/8 impact (lives in the bag) or Milwaukee M18 mid-torque if I think I'll need a little more oomph vs. size
milwaukee M12 fuel high speed ratchet
milwaukee M12 fuel 1/4" hex impact
12v power probe
tiny multimeter

supplies:
zip ties
box of assorted crimps
plug kit
electrical tape

Edit:
I will say that a nice go bag is great to have. I actually do a lot of work with it even just in my garage as it's easier to bring that over to what I'm working on than go back and forth to the toolbox. Working out of your go bag at least some is also really helpful for determining what important tools you're missing. I've done the same thing for household electrical work as well.

you don't*...but after you have taken an E53 door panel off about 15 times...it goes quick...

- Take off door panel, peel back vapor barrier, disconnect glass from regulator, prop up window with a piece of PVC pipe...preferably notched at top to hold glass.

T-25 (t-30?) to remove panel
1 panel shim tool to help with panel and vapor barrier
10m socket driver /ratchet to separate glass.
PVC pipe and maybe a small saw to cut it..

* Actually there are a few reports (Rob Siegel - Hack Mechanic) of folks just grabbing glass the pliers (carefully) to pull it up, then jamming wedges of wood, etc. to keep glass up...no removal of panels...But this has never worked for me...usually the cables won't allow it..

Agreed...in 6.5 years of E53 ownership this has become THE job I am most proficient at.

A fella could have a pretty good time in Vegas with all that stuff :D

Check you have your wheel lock key if wheels have locks.

Along with the usual tools you will need torx stuff for many jobs.

I'd probably bring my laptop with INPA to round this all off.

My AAA card