It was a nice day between cold spells. Washed the X5 today. Took out the cordless pressure washer for wheel cleaning. Used a drying towel to get the nasty stuff off. It's time again for some Sonax wheel cleaner. I dislike the brake pads. The pads must be low end to create so much brake dust. This spring, each wheel will come off for a thorough clean. Hope get pit wheel dust off chemically. Once the wheels are dust free as possible, a nice wax will go on. Snaking the roof drains worked.

Genuine BMW pads produce a ridiculous amount of dust. One reason I went to ceramic pads. (go ahead purists, flame me for running ceramic. I'll laugh while you're getting dust off your wheels)

I *only* recommend this as an absolute last resort, but if either Sonax or Meguiar's wheel brightener fail (I have both), the last ditch option is literally muriatic acid. You're taking a risk with your wheel finish, but it works. It did NOT damage the finish when I used it, but YMMV. (The risk goes up dramatically if the wheels have been refinished.)

Actually the stuff professional shops use to clean wheels is quite strong hydrocloric acid.

Sonus Aluminum Restore is the best commercial product I've used and very close to professional stuff.

https://www.autonhoitokauppa.fi/imag...ore-1_orig.jpg

I'll sit on the side lines and laugh with you. I only run ceramic pads. I'll sacrifice the initial linear bite for my sanity while cleaning the X. It drops anchor just fine when necessary.

Yesterday finished the front suspension refresh on my Dad's 70k mile 535d F10. I was surprised with how worn the front struts were. Almost no rebound and easily compressed by hand. Bushings seemed "okay" but had micro cracks. None of the ball joints had completely failed, but did feel loose. Did the service because of a squeaking sound at certain times.

I don't recommend this, and had to have the wife hold the brakes, but this was the only way to get enough leverage to reach the torque angle on the bushings. Needed the breaker bars and to have the suspension loaded for torquing... again, don't recommend this, but thought it was funny enough to post.

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Don't ask me why I didn't order the tie rods as well because I don't have a good answer for you. At least they are easy to get to and do in the future.

After that, since the X5 had been outside for a month under the cover, it was time to clean the engine bay. I noticed this green bushing had popped out of its home on the on the steering shaft. I'm guessing this popped out when I dropped the subframe while doing the motor mounts. Just a guess though. It was easy enough to pop back into place, having to sacrifice only a minimal amount of skin to the heater control valve.

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Glad to have Red back in the garage. At least for a few days until I bring in the E61 to replace the front 4 head bolts that have snapped causing a ridiculous oil leak. Ahhhhh BMW ownership, it never ends. Wish I could be satisfied driving a Honda, Toyota, or Lexus. But neither the wife or I can, we've tried. :dunno: Turning 40 in a few days so hopefully I've got at least 20 more years of wrenching in me before I am forced to drive vehicles I don't have to work on. :(

Crystalworks, I am so jealous. I will own an F10 someday. When we had kids and we were family car shopping, we almost bought a low-mileage 535i with a 6-speed (I think it was a 2012/2013 MY). We ended up with a brand new 6-speed Mazda6 for $10k less, which was maybe the smarter choice, but when the time comes that we can have two sedans, it's gonna be an F10. Such a nice looking car. What other problems has your dad had?

Wow, I don't ever want to see a car on cinder blocks.....

The pads on mine were put on by the previous owner. My choice is ceramic too. I change the pads on my brand new truck just to keep wheels cleaner.

The wheels look stock finish. I assume clear coated. I did use Sonax once. It did a good job. However, corners and deep finish pits didn't clean up as well. It was a quick run. Taking the wheel off to put on a table will be easier to clean. I'll try a good soak by Sonax. Next, a little Sonus on the backside. A little on the face side to get deep pitted Fe rust. HCl dissolves Fe very well.

This is why I have hub stands.

Although the X5 was unplanned when I bought the hub stands, so mine aren't rated for that kind of weight.

He hasn't had many problems as of yet. I do most of the maintenance on it for him. So far, a complete set of brakes, the front suspension, added a couple containers of DEF after the car asked for it, and a couple of oil changes. Right after purchase he did have to have a condenser replaced due to a leak. I had noted the code for low pressure at the dealer he bought it from, so they charged it and assured us it was fine. Bought it during winter so of course 4 months later it has no AC. Dealer was stand up and paid half the bill to replace it. He's had it for about 30,000 miles and 2 or 3 years.

He's kind of hard on his vehicles in an old-man, non-car person way. He enjoys driving, and really uses the power of the N57, but is not mechanically inclined at all. Makes a 3000 mile trip to Florida a couple of times a year in it, gets great gas mileage (I got 700 miles on one tank coming back from Kentucky where we picked it up). Absolutely loves the car and says it will be the last one he buys. I told him to save up some real maintenance money once the emissions gear starts acting up. Been through that song and dance on our 35d X5.

It wasn't ideal in my mind either. Haha. Was just the quickest way I could think of accomplishing what I needed to do.

Yep, those are nice kit... but they are $$$. The X5's are high enough that I haven't had problems with getting breaker bars in there while on the ramps. The torque angle on these was just too difficult to get while on ramps with the lack of access. Car was still too low. I can usually find a way to get jackstands under the control arms or knuckles to get the vehicle high enough and load the suspension, but the F10 just didn't allow for that.

Gotta do what you gotta do. Car drives amazingly now. With the weak struts it felt like a Lexus. ;puke;

Love the Lexus reference.

People will say "you could buy Mercedes or Lexus" to which I reply "yes but then I'd have to be seen in a Lexus or a Mercedes) bwahhaahhaa.