https://i.ibb.co/1tmkCLBD/20250731-180210.jpg

Was a big day. Removed full exhaust, fuel tank, rear subframe, diff, 4 struts/air suspension, both driveshafts and halfshafts, front radiator and bumper reinforcement...
I think the engine is almost ready to come out. Gonna be a first one for me.
Need an engine crane and engine stand

not fun, working outside
 

I see that you're another "shade-tree mechanic" (but without a shade-tree for cover) like me. My 3-car garage is so filled with:

• my wife's precious Lexus,
• my precious home-made camping trailer (a 4'x8' unit),
• with a zero-turn and two push mowers,
• a wheeled string trimmer,
• a lot of home repair, auto repair, and lawn-use hand equipment:
  • polesaws,
  • brush-cutters,
  • trenchers,
  • T-post puller and installer tools,
  • air compressor,
  • wheeled charger,
  • two welders, bicycles,
  • wheeled generator (another one is installed inside the trailer),
  • circular saws, sawzall, table saw, hand saws,etc.,
  • some antiques,
  • coolers,
  • jack stands,
  • 17 gallons of 87 octane gas, a can of ethanol free gas, and two cans of white gas,
  • Rhino ramps (a set of steel ramps live in the driveway/car corral area,
  • a convection/microwave oven I never installed,
  • and a Chevy 327 engine,

that if I was to try a car-rebuild project there, I simply couldn't. Last time I did, my wife made me push the car out to put her car inside, before a hailstorm came through.

Oh, since that occasion, I sold my engine lift to the neighbor that I got the X5 from, since I knew I'd not likely ever use it inside the garage again. I have a different lift that I used to have mounted in the bed of my '04 Chevy 2500HD (used to lift engines, and generators, when I was building race cars or actually racing), that I could re-mount and use if/when I might need to, but probably won't, as I'm getting too old to be doing that sort of heavy lifting stuff, alone in my driveway.

So, since I'm forced to work outside on car projects, on a sandy/gravelly/leaf-strewn driveway/car corral area in front of the garage, behind the house (out of sight from the street), I put down 2.5 sheets of 4'x8', 3/4" thick treated plywood over the sand, secured a 4x4 with rebar to the front of the plywood "work surface", used two flat cinder blocks placed against the 4x4 as a front barrier to keep the steel ramps from sliding forward into the garage, and voila, there's my outdoor workspace.

Attachment 85020 the old way I worked outside, circa 2022

Attachment 85021 new "workspace" platform, from 2023 onwards

I'll use a 8'x8' pop-up canopy (from my camping gear) if I'll have a multi-day (once a multi-month) project going on, or even for some one-day projects in rain or excessive heat. I had one canopy get destroyed in a major storm, after it was up for months, but since I had two, bought for $50 apiece, it wasn't a big deal.

Also, since I'm working outside, and don't want to lose anything, I'll put parts in one box, tools in another (usually puppy pad boxes, since we go thru so many). We've got squirrels, possums, raccoons, semi-feral cats, free-ranging chickens & roosters, sometimes a neighbor's dogs & goats & turkeys, and occasionally his nosy 20-something kid coming into the workspace, so tools and parts MIGHT go missing, if I let them stay outside, unwatched.

Cool project!

One word of advice, please please please do all the engine seals, timing chain and valve stem seals while you have easy access.

Also make sure the cross through pipe, water pump etc are in good shape.

The timing chain is an engine out job, just get it done now before installing into your other e53.

Hey that's an awesome set up, making the best of what you got!
I have a double car garage and a hoist, but both spaces are taken by e39 m5 and e39 540i waiting for parts.
So the X5 is an my friend's house.
If things line up, im renting the engine crane on Monday and pulling the engine...then I need a bunch of $$$$$ for valve stem seal tool, timing kit etc. Just all the guides, gaskets and seals is probably gonna take me forever, not even including anything else. Like every projects I've undertaken, it's never as quick as one would want :)

Yes here are the parts that I've added to the cart so far

https://www.ecstuning.com/Cart/?add1...tent=link2cart

Nice work.

May I suggest you get the intake and exhaust actuators at the same time as these are also a known failure point (my N62 needed then as they lost oil pressure when the engine is off causing timing issues until they get oil pressure again).

https://spareto.com/products/aisin-a...e-lift/vcb-006

https://spareto.com/products/aisin-a...e-lift/vcb-003

Ahhh I'll see about that, this project is way over budget lol!! But appreciate the advice!

The crane is got had a busted jack cylinder....so i couldn't pull the engine. Got a new cylinder for 8 ton, hopefully it installs just fine.

So instead I started tracing the wires for A70006 Transmission control unit located under left side of rear seat.

https://i.ibb.co/JF8pg8Cz/20250804-212014.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/7NQkyx1V/20250804-212011.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/tpT6RfYC/20250804-211047.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/CpfWp6P8/20250804-210713.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/23dH8k0c/20250804-210608.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/wZN4fdf8/20250804-210513.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/HpMjfqTD/20250804-210509.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/jShCbdk/20250804-210505.jpg
dupe list

One wiring loom goes to the transfer case and solenoid/actuator, then the other connector goes into the loom of the body. This is what i need to undo to figure out where to splice on my X5 2002.

The ground is easy to find, the power goes to F205 40 amp in the trunk. For some reason I can't find the diagram for the distribution box right now.

The other 4 wires go to Can HI, Can Low, Diagnostics and F46.
Not too bad.
https://i.ibb.co/3mxQVCNX/Screenshot...801-Chrome.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/BH7ggXdH/Screenshot...515-Chrome.jpg
d12 roll

Will need to see where to get Hi and Low CAN as on my prefacelift it's the K bus version.
And power for fuse 46 comes from ignition switch. I figure my fuse 46 may not not come prepared

https://i.ibb.co/LhhwThRk/Screenshot...852-Chrome.jpg
free number generator app

Electronics is always a PITA.

That pic my BMW friends is why I won't ever buy a new BMW. :rofl:

If you were closer, I would let you borrow my engine hoist. It's disassembled for storage. :(

Keep posting project pictures. :popcorn: