BigBody, very nice looking X5!

After curbing one of my refinished style 87s (so mad) I went and purchased a known genuine set I found for sale.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...573dbc1585.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6b7129b42f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...413f7480ca.jpg

Definitely the alternator.

I've previously experienced the xmas lights going on one by one when my tensioner pulley came apart and shredded the drive belt on the e46 wagon a couple years ago.

Power steering pump replaced. Annoying whine noise didn't go away. It can be heard even louder while turning wheel... I was sure it's ps pump, but... Gotta check the alternator tomorrow.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5_...zTas87c6w=w768

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zr...cYpYUwk7g=w768

Also new oil for the engine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/W8...hCv66podA=w768

What's the consensus on the best route for pixel repair? My radio is fine but my MID is so bad that I can sometimes not read the mileage. It's weird, sometimes in the winter there won't be a single pixel out, but only when it's very cold. 98% of the time though I can hardly read the odometer or tripometer. This makes logging my mileage difficult.



Is it better to send in or repair myself? If I send it in, is it possible to drive the car without the MID?

Big thank you. Means alot from a member who's X i very much i look up to :p:

MID (multi-Function Information Display) is the unit in the center of the car, where "radio" station, CD Player etc. information appears.

This is the MID...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/03...5.11.56_PM.png

The text display under the speedometer and tachometer are part of the main cluster.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/02/b9...b420679bd7.jpg

It's possible to drive with no MID unit.

It's not really possible to drive (much or far) with no cluster!

If you are having pixel issues with the main cluster, I'd send it out. I've fixed a MID display and it was bloody tough.

Sorry, I meant the cluster. Can you drive without it? I mean, I can drive without a speedo for a couple of weeks, no problem. (I rarely/never drive on highways)


I am more wondering if everything will still work without the cluster.

Quite probably. Will you get a "tamper dot" on the mileage counter? Again, quite probably.. YMMV (literally in this case!). ;)

156,017 miles

Drain and fill front and rear diffs and transfer case. Engine oil and filter too while under there.

Transmission gear oil replaced 20k miles ago.

1 liter Transfer Case Fluid BMW-83222409710 (have some left)
Bought drain and fill bolts but they were the wrong ones. Re-used existing.

3 liters Differential Fluid BMW-07512293972 (have some left)
Replaced two drain and two fill plugs

1 oil engine Oil Filter BMW-11427512300 Genuine bmw

2 engine Oil Filter Housing Cover O-Rings BMW-11427549573 Genuine bmw

7 liters engine Oil BMW-83215A2AF99 0w-30

1 replaced oil pan drain bolt

Took a photo of rear of engine and there was more oil there than I would like. Rear main seal? I don't notice anything dripping on the driveway.

The skid plate removal was a PIA.

The only downside is that now I hear clunking at low speeds which feels like its coming from right under the drivers seat. Everything felt and looked tight when re-installing the skid plate.

Brad