Torque Wrench for 2003 X5 3.0
 

Don't own a torque wrench but want to buy one for my X5 Maintenance. What size would you recommend I get. Tranny Fluid Changes, Oil Change, Brakes, Etc... Thanks Gregg

150 ft-lbs will cover a lot of what you need.

Torgue Wrench for 2003 X5 3.o
 

150 ft lbs max what the min?

Thanks!

There are quite a few common items on the X from about 15-30 ft. I have always heard the middle of the range is where the t wrench is most accurate. If that is indeed true, then you may want to look into getting two of them.

150 ft/lbs is more than most automotive fasteners require. Most wrenches that are accurate up to 150 ft/lbs do not go down to 15-20 ft/lbs. Minimum on most that I am familiar with go from 50-150 ft/lbs. That is one of my responsibilities at work is to check calibration on about 300 wrenches monthly. Can anyone chime in on the torque spec for wheels? Alot of manufacturers are around 85-100 ft/lbs. Surely that is more than anyone would want if they need a wrench for such items as oil drain plugs. With that being said...I believe for DIY purposes, I would have two wrenches....one for the low end of the spectrum and one for higher end torque values. That is, if you are needing something to torque items such as suspension components.

Wheel bolts are 88 ft-lbs on my vehicles. That puts a 150 wrench right in the sweet spot. I trust that wrench down to around 40 ft-lbs; while it is rated from 20 I wouldn't trust it much at that range. It is a 1/2" drive wrench.

Not a bad idea to have a second torque wrench, 3/8" drive, rated from 5-50 ft-lbs or so. That will be very accurate at 20 ft-lbs. I don't have one. Not a bad idea at all for oil drain plugs; I use the excuse that I haven't stripped a drain plug in 35 years of wrenching, but it is a bad excuse.

My next tool purchase will be a 1/4" drive torque wrench for specific fasteners used for hollow carbon fibre components on road bikes. They crush quite easily. I need that wrench more than I need the 3/8" drive version.

Jeff

I also use the same excuse. I have a calibrated elbow maybe... So it sounds like maybe I just need to keep trusting the elbow and save my $$ for something else...

I have been using 105 to 110 for years.

I recall that the X5 was a little higher. It is listed at 101 ft-lbs spec, for the E53. All the other BMWs I have are at 88 ft-lbs, that is what I have been using and recall. I always check the owner's manual before torquing them, it is listed there.

The only way to calibrate an elbow is to use a torque wrench periodically. It is actually a pretty good idea to buy one. Craftsman torque wrenches aren't expensive.