Replaced the tail lights a few months ago... the lights were always a bit intermittent, so after 200$ of factory lights from Car-Parts.com

I found that the tail lights had actually melted due to poor ground... unfortunately I made the mistake of using bulb grease when I put them in. Sometimes they worked sometimes they didn't. Went out and bought a tub-o-towels and gave everything a good wipe down and got the bulb grease of there and they work like new! DON'T USE BULB GREASE

I just finished my timing guides and vanos seals, after driving for around an hour, no codes, inpa shows the vanos is working and seems happy, no more rattle, I'm quite happy about this but it was a real pain to do.

the worst part were the oilcheck tube and the power steering pump (the bold behind the alternator that nothing can get to. The only way I managed was to pull off the lower timing cover with the timing pump still attached and moving it enough to access that bolt.

I also had issues with the webasto heater and the coolant lines running all over the place, I had to take it out as well as a few coolant lines at the bulkhead.

I used the chinese tools to set up the timing (blue case) and they could be massively improved by adding a cover plate that would prevent them from moving off the head so easily. If there is a next time, I'll try to make one up that holds onto the oil plates over the cams. I also had to grind the vanos socket as there was a ridge inside from bad manufacturing but that was easy.
If I hadn't bought those (because amazon prime made it quick), I'd probably go for the german auto solutions kit as it seems easier to use.

After the fact, I wonder how hard it would be to simply pull the engine out to do the job, it would make it soo much easier and pleasant.

Overall it took a month but I'll be honnest, I spent most days not touching the car, I did videos of the process for reference and maybe youtube if I can find the time and I've got 20 hours of video all in. Now I know what needs to come off and how, I could probably shave 5 hours off that time.


TLDR; don't be afraid of the timing chain guides, just be patient and check everything 3 times.

How many miles on your 4.6?

260 000km which converts to about 160-170k miles I think. The timing guides appear to have been original.

Just arrived at a junkyard with a matching topaz blue X5 and a couple others. I'm gonna have those sports seats, that black headliner, the paint-matched bull bar, and whatever else I can think of!

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Very angry... Been looking for sport seats at yards and none are anywhere decent shape!

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^You guys are lucky. I have NEVER seen an X5 in the general yard at a PickNPull. Maybe you have to pay to into the "special" yard?

Yeah, it was actually advertised on Craigslist. Called the guy and he has a small shop/yard with a bunch of crappy auction cars lol. Just so happens the place is far enough from the city that nobody has really bothered the "foreign stuff" haha. $250 for a pair of nice sport seats [emoji16]

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Wow that's a great deal! I'm here in Florida, wonder how far that is away from me if he has another set?

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Replaced the rear cargo cover. The one I had was good, but a little saggy on the driver's side. It's for sale if anyone is interested.