Let me clarify that I did not paint the whole tips black. I was referring to the inside portion of the tip exhaust which I painted black. This is similar to the original AC Schnitzer tips design.:D

Service green bars
 

I have done 34k from new (now 2 years old) and I still have 2 green service bars (brake fluid square is up so that will need doing but was waiting to have it done with oil service). I am due to take the car to Europe and will do 2.0k or so in 10 days. Should I wait for bars to disappear before servicing, when can I expect the next service to be due (lights to go out) this will only be its 2nd ever service so what’s involved?

Thansk

Richard

Is regularly scheduled maintenance for eligible X5's free of charge in the UK? If so, my dealer would not perform the free service until the green lights were off and the service indicator was alight. They were more than happy to do it at my expense though.

Good question and yep your right "They are always more than happy to do it at my expense."

Hello,

After 2 years and 40000km no problems with the diesel engine (218 hp). With the autogearbox on the other hand ... . It has just been replaced at 35000 km. Anyone the same kind of experience with the gearbox matched to the diesel?

Gr

Had an autobox problem with my previous E46 330d. There was apparently a batch of 2002/2003 models that had GM manufactured trannies that didn't last...... ? After that ZF gearboxes were used and this alleviated the problem somewhat.
Never had a moments problem with my X5 3.0d except for an annoying and intermittent "check oil level" false warning since the last service.
Other than that I still feel amazed when I drive it. It always feels like I am driving someone else's car!! I can't believe I own it :D:D

:boogie: Love my X5

Re the starting problem I raised earlier in week
 

Re above:
The problem was cam sensor £76.00 inc VAT from stealer, 10 mins to fit.

OIL BREATHER SYSTEM

Parts no.s 11 to 15 on the link below

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...16&hg=11&fg=15


This is a crucial part of the engine that needs to be replaced periodically and is often overlooked and discarded by owners and dealers!
It is overlooked because of its built in location on the cylinder head!Unlike other common Oil Breather systems that have a hose from your Valve Cover to your Air Inlet pipe ,Bmws have a paper filter (oil separator) within a Capsule (breather) that has a channel .allowing filtration of oil back into your air inlet system.
This Filter(oil separator) has a tendency to clog up on higher mileage cars or cars with bad oils!I recommend changing this every 30,000 Kms .
The consequences of this clogging up completely are obvious!You engine cannot breath and it will blow out all the oil through the Dipstick,overheating and imminent engine seizure.
One occasion,one of my clients was lucky!His 3.0D was idling and stopped ,when I noticed loads of oil pouring out underneath the car!I opened the bonnet and the oil Dipstick was blown out and oil pouring out!We replaced the Breather system and car as new again..........

My oil breather system was checked in the stealereship when I had my Inspection 2 sevice.

Any recent problems for other X5 diesel owners ? :stickpoke