Changed my oil yesterday. First time DIY on x5 also first time in 30 years or so. I removed my skid plate a couple days ago to clean up the disaster of a major oil leak which made it easier.

Helping hints for people interested in DIY on their e53:

1) you need a 36mm socket to remove the oil filter. I have a 12 sided because also works on axle nuts
2) absolutely imperative to replace the o-ring on the filter. My mechanic who did my last oil change didn't and that was the cause of my leak: what a disaster!
3) 17 mm box wrench worked great to remove drain plug. Open won't do it. Socket I think it'd avoid as it's easier to clean the wrench
4) imperative to replace the copper seal on the drain plug
5) when replacing the filter, do not over tighten, the seal is radial not axial so there is no benefit to extra tight
6) the stream of oil or of the oil pan shoots nearly horizontally! I over shot the catch bucket onto the ground
7) to get some extra working room I drove up onto some cement blocks. A stack of three "half blocks" blocks got me 8" in the air. The oil pan has a slight pitch in the back that countered the front being raised. Maybe if 5-6" raised the last bit of oil will come out faster.
8) I have read varied reports of how much oil is required when doing an oil change. I put in 7 to start with and was low but when I put in 8 it was seemingly over filled. I think that was due to the car being up on blocks. I checked later and the level was in the middle of the range.
9) one of the easiest oil changes. Saves about $20/30 USD to do myself. I think I'll start doing my own again.



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Ordered 2 GKN front axle assemblies and seals, front and rear wheel bearings, 2 guibos, rear sub-frame bushings, and a heater valve.

I've been getting hot air out of the passenger side vents with the AC running, which is driving my wife crazy. Today I clamped the hose going into the heater valve, and her side immediately cooled off (pun intended), so there you go...

Still need to order fluids to change the ones in the front and rear diff, as well as a drain and fill for the transmission and transfer case...

My AC had totally quit working here a couple weeks ago. I did some diagnosing and decided the compressor was shot since my fan was work. I had checked that by pulling the electrical connector on the ac line, and the fan came to life. I couldn't get the compressor clutch to engage at all, no matter what I tried. Finally ordered a new compressor, only to discover the wires had corroded out of the connector that plugged into the compressor. Fixed up the connector, and all was good again. Sent the compressor back as quick as I could...

I had a similar situation with AC compressor wouldn't kick on when I first bought my '01 with about 130k miles.

I couldn't figure out how to disconnect the wire going to the compressor to hotwire the thing you figure out if the compressor was shot.

I went to plan B; check the pressure sensors. The low side pressure sensor, the weather seal was so tight it wasn't pushed on all the way.

It took maybe half my body weight to push the damn thing on but when I felt the snap of the connector lock the compressor also instantly engaged!


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Woke up to a puddle of water under the passenger side of the engine. Had no smell of oil or coolant and and had a blueish color tint so I figured the windshield washer tank had let go. Turns out the windshield washer pump motor for the front windshield was leaking from the motor internally and the rear pump had signs of seeping, Bought the OEM pump motors for both with new grommets for $125 at the dealership. 10 minute job... No more leaks and the rear pump had been frozen for nearly a year. :headbang: Headlights washer pump looked new so I threw caution to the wind and left it alone. :thumbup:

Took the X5 offroad
 

$1200 Craigslist find with smashed radiator. It actually does well on class II trails. 2" lift 32" mud tires.

What a beastly setup.. what's that bumper?!

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Custom made copy of the fluid motor union x5 bumper.

Installed OEM crossbars and found a sweet deal on an excellent shape Packasport 60 roof box. Ready for camping!
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...psxjseipfh.jpg

Also stumbled upon a brand new in box aFe CAI, price... wait for it....120$.
Couldn't be happier. Sounds amazing under load, like an angry dinosaur !!
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5c2ffud.jpg

Great find!