Well all up and running for 1 week and I had to replace the driveshaft center support bearing... I swear (all the time) that when it rains it pours and that's saying something over here.

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

The horrible bolt behind the alternator is easy to do with a through hole socket. If I didn't have that I don't know how I could get it off and on. Done it a few times now. I'll try to find a picture

The dipstick tube is not that bad you have to find the right direction to get to it (I think I got it from the front). The right combination of extension and swivel is key.

People that have pulled the engine say it adds 6-7 hours and can be worth it for the ease of doing the job. My ¢¢ is that you will have a very hard time applying 350 ft·lb of torque to the crank bolt when the engine is not attached to a 5000 lb counter weight. Even the 135 ft·lb on the cam shafts could be difficult on an engine stand.

I used timing plates from GAS German auto solutions and they are held down by the oil distribution stud. Works perfectly.

You can get vanos solinoids off by loosening the timing cover and reaching inside with a 27? mm open end wrench.

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The yellow arrow shows the obstruction that disqualifies a normal socket but the through hole socket goes into the ratchet and reduces the height by about 7-8 mm. Even that is a very tight fit to get in there however. Get a through hole ratchet set if you need to do the job it will pay for itself on that one otherwise impossible bolt.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...42d823f84.jpeg

Crescent X6 kit it's one of the best tools ever made. Not just through hole they are spline and bite into the fasteners like you wouldn't believe.

The reviews often complain no 16mm in the kit but there is a 5/8 which is the same.

changed the alternator
 

Only had the X for a few weeks. On the day I purchased it the battery died and the previous owner replaced it before we could test drive it. Everything was fine then but a few days later I kept getting an intermittent battery light. It would come on and go off after a quick restart and would not return until like later in the night or the next day. Tested the voltage and the alternator was only charging around 12.2volts, not enough to sustain life for the big 4.8 and all the electronics. Swapped out the alternator and I had a huge improvement in the overall drivability of the X. Used to get some hard shifts and random warning lights but that's all a things of the past now. Shifts are smooth and power is definitely greater with the new alternator. I'm even happier now with my purchase. :thumbup:

Bought a non running 4.6is as a donor to take parts of it =)


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While not today, but my seasonal update. Bought new Snow tires for my 17" set-up and replaced the overflow tank ! (along with cap and ATF thermostat). Air filter.
She went past 200K this summer !

Dropped off the winter rims for fresh rubber.

Not today but recently flushed old PS fluid out and replaced with CHF11s and a matching new reservoir saying CHF11s to eliminate any confusion.
Today...coolant pipe and valley pan...
Soon after..valve stem seals. And I hope I’m done with repairs til summer.

Replaced another door handle carrier - this time front passenger side. In 3 years I had to replace them in 3 doors. The driver door twice! The only door missing is the rear door passenger side. This is getting really annoying and I hate taking the door panels off and on.


Ordered a new screen for the board monitor yesterday from China. Its getting black spots. This screen lasted 3 years only. And while I was on it I also ordered a replacement laser unit for the MK4 in the trunk. Its started to have issues as well.

I recently purchased both of my X5's. Both needed timing chains and some general "going over". The Black Sapphire X5 has 161K miles on it, and the Silver Metallic X5 has 126K miles on it. Both vehicles are 4.6is's and are in pristine condition aside from the mechanical issues, which do not scare me at all as this is what I've done for a living for 30 years. I bought the black one first here locally and after investing several hundred dollars in the tools to repair it, I decided to buy another one (the silver one) to make better use of all of these nice, expensive tools.

I finished up the timing chain job on the black one. It runs and drives excellent, except for the token P0741 code from the torque converter starting to go out. Nice... I'll be pulling the converter and sending it off for rebuild while I'm at SEMA next week. I also replaced the driver's front door handle, and while I had the door panel off, I performed some general maintenance on the window regulator (cleaned and lubed guides and tracks).

I replaced the passenger front window regulator on the silver one, and gave it a quick once over as I had literally just pulled it off of the trailer from the journey from Portland, OR the day before. One nice thing about this car is that it came with pretty much every part required for the repairs that it needs. The guy I bought it from was planning on fixing it himself and had purchased nearly everything it needed (including the window regulator), but some health issues caused him to change his mind.

Nice to see enthusiast saving a couple beasts :thumbup: