What did you do to / for your E53 today??
 

You can test the switch theory by using your Foxwell to recline the seat

My son did not find that humorous when I was moving his seat around when he was driving

–awr–

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Last night I did the left front and left rear door handle carriers. The front one was a febi unit from 2021. There was a bit of slop in the middle of the mechanism and sometimes it didn't get a good pull on the cable. I didn't have a hard time with the front one, it was pretty straightforward, just strange design at first.

The rear one, was the original, and it had failed in the usual way. I really had fits getting this one in. I could not get the Allen head screw to line up. I put it on the workbench and the rear handle part slid right in and the screw was right there ready to start. Then every time I put the door skin in the middle, it would not line up. Finally I think I misaligned it, where the rear end for the Allen screw was sticking out of the door skin just a touch and then it lined up. All is working. Tonight I will clean the door cards and put them back on.

Also over the weekend, the local junkyard had a 2001. I went and looked at it. Not much really there but I decided to go back the next day and get the steering wheel. So I did a quick steering wheel swap, same one, just better shape.

I did the string alignment check before I throw these bilsteins on. The right front has 1 mm more toe in than the left but the rear and left front are perfect. I have a set of those flat top pin type jack stands, that I really don't like much, but they're great for the string alignment. Putting them on a 2x8 piece of wood the fishing line can be adjusted so it goes perfectly through the center of all four center caps.

I also cleaned all the windows, and clayed and waxed the paint. I highly recommend the Chris fix how to super clean your windshield video. I use the Unger concentrate glass cleaner they sell at home Depot and those microfiber towels. Glass cleaner, clay bar on the outside, and wax. On the inside it's the isopropyl alcohol to get rid of the plastic vapors. It took a while to do all the windows and I probably didn't need to wax the side windows, but it is great.

Yokohama tires?
 

In my experience (on cars, trucks, and SUVs), Michelins last longest, followed by Yokohamas, Coopers, Pirellis, etc. As for ride comfort and quietness, Pirellis, Yokohamas, Michelins, Coopers, etc, in that order. I used mostly Michelins, Pirellis, and Continentals as far back as 1970, on my three VW's and Volvo 142, and they were better made than the Firestones, Generals, and BF Goodrich's that I mostly used on my domestic cars. I've only had one set of Hankook Optimas, on a '08 Cobalt, and they were OK, but I sold that car before I used them up.

Right now, my wife's Lexus is on Michelins (came brand new on the car when bought used), my '01 BMW X5 E53 and '09 Chevy HHR Panel are both on Yokohamas, and the '98 GMC and '04 Chevy Silverado 2500HD are both on Coopers (GMC has Cooper/Mastercraft All-Seasons, and the 2500HD is on Cooper All-Terrains).

Re: Yokohama Tire(s), I currently have a set of nearly new YK-HTX All-Seasons (in 235/65r17) tires on my X5, with so little miles on them that the little "tire whiskers" are still extant. A good-to-great tire, IMO, but I like Yokohama tires a lot (I have had Yokos on my '09 HHR Panel...still good, after 65000 miles..., and on our '92 Olds Achieva SC Quad-4...now gone...). If I had bought the X5's tires myself (they were newly-installed just prior to my geeting it), I would've opted for Geolandar All-Terrains (my overlanding goal hasn't been met, yet). So, for how I've been using the X5, the AS tires are good enough.

On pickup trucks, since '85, I had one set of Pirellis Cinturatos (a P-sized tire, probably not ideal for a pickup) that worked fine. I bought them as new returns at half-price, from Discount Tire, and they were great, but most every other pickup tire I've used since has been made by Cooper (All-season or All-Terrain). There were a couple of Dunlops and Goodyear Eagles thrown in there, but they all wore out early. The worst I had on pickups was a set of Bridgestone AS tires; they only lasted 20k miles, not recommended.

Once I find a brand I trust, I stick with it until I don't.

Working towards the oil pan gasket on the 2001 3.0i.


Finished removing the front sub-frame. Replaced the motor mounts with new Febi parts from FCP. If you're interested the mounts arrived in sealed Febi boxes but were marked made in China. Old mounts were definitely done. New ones look good.


Moving on to removing the front drive shaft and differential.

My Oxford green X5 was in a crash about two years back. Some guy decided not to yield which caused be to drive straight into him. I was faced with a decision, give it to insurance and try to find another (impossible in 2025) or buy it back from insurance and fix it right. I went with the second option. I removed the entire drivetrain from the car and gave the rolling chassis to the best body shop in the area.

The body shop replaced the front left frame rail and replaced the end of the front right frame rail. The X5 went on a jig to ensure it was measured perfectly and then they painted the new hood, bumper, and other misc parts. I then spent the last 6 months putting it all back together.

Every single nut, bolt, clip, body nut, etc. is correct and how it should be from factory. I spent endless amounts of time on real OEM ensuring that a screw for the head shield or body wiring harness zip tie or brake line bracket was the right part. Most of the hardware was just ordered new so I knew it was correct.

Pretty much every part, no matter how small, that was removed, was replaced.

Here is a link to the photo album of just some pictures I took along the way.

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCtNvv

Wow ... now THAT is some serious dedication to an E53!! Congratulations on a great looking car. I like to think I'd choose the same path in your shoes!

Best regards and happy driving,

Chris
Lockhart, Texas
2005 X5 3.0 Schwarz Black
2002 X5 3.0 Titansilber

Thanks! It was a long road for sure. I love this color combo and couldn't let it die but if I was going to fix it, I was going to fix it properly.

That, my friend, is awesome! Superb dedication. Did you have a final amount on what you spent on parts and labour to do the project?

Oh so that's what mine looked like new... nice!

Paint correction and wax.