newtis is your friend. https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...epair-manuals/

Kommen e53 rear sub-frame bush tool: -

https://www.kommentools.com/products...g-tool-set-e53

I've added it to my original post also...

You don't need a tool anywhere near as expensive as that. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bmw+e53+x...b_sb_ss_i_1_29

True but did you see how badass that tool is? Sometimes you have to splurge. Considering the stupid amount saved vs even taking to an Indy, the savings will pay for the better tool. That said, why is there no pass around on the forum for this exact tool. Everybody pays $30 to borrow the tool and it's paid for in ten uses


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Threw one of the roof boxes on the newly acquired wagon... which has been getting all my attention lately. Mostly due to it being a poor neglected 182000 mile BMW. So basically a typical used BMW. A $1200 purchase price has quickly ballooned to ~$4500. People abuse their cars... never ceases to amaze me. And then complain their BMW isn't as reliable as a (insert chosen import brand here). :rolleyes:

Anyway, here's a shot next to Red. Haven't purchased a roof rack for her yet to throw the other box on, but will. Did buy one for the E70 totally by accident. :dunno:

https://i.postimg.cc/bvpvBbs9/201907...HDR[1].jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8k9zVx75/201907...HDR[1].jpg

Anyone interested in seeing pics of the faux suede headliner and pillars going in the wagon? It's not E53 related exactly... but if you do some mental gymnastics they share the same pano roof. So totally E53 related when you really think about it. ;) It's ridiculously labor intensive but was necessitated (HAH!!! Yeah, necessitated) by having water stains on the headliner due to a leaky pano roof seal. Had to drop everything to replace it anyway.

You nailed it Andrew. I paid less for this "badass" Kommen tool than any of those cheaper Amazon tools. ;)

I'm the "second owner" - it was used by another E53 owner before me, I bought it from him and I'll now sell it to another E53 owner, reducing my investment even further. Win, win.... :thumbup:

If I can bring myself to part with it. It's just so badass.... :rofl:

Gave up on chasing the SES light issues and paid a visit to my friendly neighborhood dealer. Autozone lifetime warranty MAF went lean and the thermostat was unhappy again. Full inspection turned up cracks in all four front CV boots and a worn out thrust bushing. Really can't complain since the inner boots had 300,000 miles on them and the outers more than 100,000 this time. The tension thrust bushing lasted 170,000 miles. But that silly thermostat (that was #4) only went 63,000 miles.


Some other customers in the service area had to look at the dash because they had never seen a car with so many miles on the odometer!



2002 X5 361,700 miles
2014 428i 64,000 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration - engine dyno run in August

Heading to customs to get rear arms and bushing set!! Thursday night till Saturday evening set aside for work.[emoji857]

Also found out that a greasy fingerprint on the H.U. screen will cause activation in full sunlight and temps above 46c...[emoji3062]

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Some years ago there was a member that tried renting a special tool. Didn't do it for very long. Tool didn't come back timely and was damaged after a few round trips. A deposit of the cost of the tool was needed in case it didn't come back at all. Postage was an add on. Couldn't schedule advance rentals because of the return delays. Member said more trouble than worth. As I recall he never recovered the cost of the tool.

Most jobs that require special tools are not frequent repairs and now there are reasonably priced tools for most of those jobs that work very well. I have found it better to purchase the tool since some of my experience trying to shade tree engineer it take too much time and sometimes caused other damage. I justify the cost of the tool in the labor saving just as you do. And, you can never have too many tools.

It looks cool, but I don't see it doing anything different than an $80 tool. I've used mine once. If anyone in my area wants to borrow it, they're welcome to. I've also got a very expensive ball joint removal tool for the rear ball joints. Used that once as well. I'll loan that out to anyone around here as well. It makes all the difference in the world for removing and reinstalling the rear ball joints.