600+ miles after a coolant system refresh, new starter, new wire loom, and CCV replacement, the X5 passed emissions and safety for 2024 use. :bmw:

The check coolant warning is annoying. I'll replace the tank soon.

That’s good work, especially the starter. Not sure if you have the 6, but the v8 is a bear to change. Especially if you aren’t smart enough to drop the stiffener like Bentley says.

This past week my x5 got new washer pumps and screens to fix a persistent leak and a new 84 mm throttle. Despite tracking down the replacement plug, the female end on the throttle was also chewed up enough that a new one was needed. The X also got a full front strut refresh as well this week.

The diff is finally together. I rechecked the backlash and despite not knowing what I was doing the first time, it’s right at the upper limit of .14mm for a 188k diff. The gear pattern on the crown is an 80% solution, and I’m good with that. I think I’d have to pull the pinion to get it any better and I want to avoid that for my first diff rebuild. Once I get it in the x5 then I’ll have a spare diff to mess around with and fully disassemble/refresh in case this one implodes due to shoddy workmanship.

Next up is to get it in the car, along with a new cv joint and center bearing. The whole reason for this LSD upgrade is to make for a better vehicle while hunting in the winter weather, so getting it in before I head to Iowa in a few weeks would be great.

Henn28, thanks!
It was a 3 month challenge. Mostly for being out of town for several weeks. Plus waiting on parts. Everything I could replace with the intake removed was replaced. I saved changing heater hoses to later. The hoses can be reached without removing the intake. The new expansion tank must have an issue with its magnets. Luckily, I have another new tank with a sensor. The current tank didn't have a sensor in the box. We drove it around I the rain all day yesterday. I like how it doesn't spin the wheels. Traction is instant. Our other two daily drivers spin the wheels too easily on wet roads.

The new Bosch starter spins the engine like a fidget spinner. It was easy to replace with the intake out. The left side should be trouble free for years!

Over the past week.....


Oil and filter change engine/transmission

Change my driver's side axle (threads were optional I guess)

New wipers

Degreased and fitted new ps hoses

New overflow tank

Rebooted every damn cv

Found a crack in engine mount

Have decided on huffing paint, before I take another vacation and leave the White Witch sitting again. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b4faeb3d0d.jpg

Sent from Embassy network using Tapatalk

That’s a little nuts with the stripped axle

Decided to "repaint" the peeling hood and roof with truck bed liner coating. But not until it warms up here again. Probably in beige, goes with the Oxford green on the rest of it, and cooler than black in the summer. They sell several shades of green but I think that would look weird.

https://raptorcoatings.com

Nicely done. Yeah, I hadn’t realized how weak my 20 year old starter had become until I put a rebuilt one in it (failed in the grocery store lot). The new starter sounds so much stronger.

Axle issues going around. Maybe I'll give that huffing thing a try...

As I figured, the DS axle boot was not far behind the failed PS axle boot.

Attachment 83813

This one however... did not come out with a small center punch. :rofl: I needed the 5lb mini and the jack hammer bit.

Attachment 83814

And this is how I keep the suspension assembly out of the way... :bustingup

Attachment 83815

Whole job, with an oil change took about 2 hours due to the axle being frozen in the knuckle. My Jeffrey Bezos CV joint puller worked spectacularly again and made quick work of removing the CV from the axle shaft. :thumbup: Didn't even bother hogging it out...

I am not at all positive, but I can envision that bad engine mounts could cause bad geometry/movements that speed up the death of front boots.

I would be interested if people who have had bad luck with boots and/or suspensions also have flattened or (in my case) cracked mounts....

PS. My mounts are only 2.5 years old!! [emoji849][emoji35] of course I've shattered 1 rim and cracked 3 others over the last 4 years.... [emoji25]

Sent from Embassy network using Tapatalk