Well done though sorry to hear about the F25's untimely demise.

Wishing you many miles of smiles.

What work do you have planned? I just had to replace my alternator.

Brad

Hello all,

Adding to the list my 2001 BMW X5 5-speed. Purchased in April with 113k miles and have around 114k now. It is Schwartz on Black leather interior with the cold weather package, and digital climate control. During my ownership, I've been fixing a number of things that have popped up due to the X5 sitting for multiple years in a garage (previous owner had it as a spare car never used). I've done the valve cover gasket, new coils / plugs, and am in the process of having the ABS module rebuilt. I've also purchased the Lemforder front suspension rebuild kit from FCP Euro, but have not yet installed.

It's a great truck and a nice compliment to the other old BMWs in the stable (1998 M3 sedan auto, 1994 540i 6-speed, 1990 535i 5-speed, 1989 535i auto).

Add me to the list. :)
2004 6-speed in South Carolina. Purchased used in April, 2020 from PA for $5,500.
VIN: 5UXFA135X4LB09205

Dedicated thread: https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ilver-suv.html

Great buy! I laughed a bit because literally all of the issues you described, I have been through and done. I recommend the OEM aux cord kit, p/n 82110149390. It's cheap, and with a bluetooth audio adapter, it's a perfect setup.

Compass mirrors are PnP. I found mine at a pull-a-part from a 2006, and paid $5 for it.

MID pixels were a big hit to the wallet. I think I paid $800 for a new unit after getting fed up buying used ones that didn't work.

This is why I joined this forum. I knew I'd get great nuggets of info like this.
Thank you for the aux part number, and info on the mirror. I'm all about these solutions. :D

I'm going to quote your reply in my thread to keep track for my own records.

FWIW, I bought the aux cord and installed it according to the instructions, but it never worked for me. That was before my PA soft days so it may have just needed coding or something.

I don't believe it needs coding.

I've never been able to get it working either. In my case it's because my Becker CD54 unit doesn't support it (I think) but it could also be because there are several variation on the wiring required, depending on the exact head unit you have... :rolleyes:

I'm one of those guys that has an old fashioned view that a kids first car has to be a manual transmission. Then you'll always know how to drive one and non of your friends will ever take it for a joy ride. Anyway, my daughter for the past couple of years has been claiming she wants a Jeep when she turns 16. Have you looked at Jeep prices? Desperate for alternatives and being a long time BMW guy I started my search for the manual X5. I setup a search on a few apps and over the course of 18 months I would check every couple of weeks. One showed up two hours away and the owner wouldn't answer any questions or send any pics. The next one didn't start, was smoked in and was 3 hours away. I was getting desperate! Then just two weeks ago I ran across a 2001 Silver, 120k miles, black interior, cold weather package, clean carfax, 10 min from home and was posted just 4 hours ago. I cancelled my work meetings, got $3250 asking price cash and headed out to see the car.
It was a shady deal with a guy passing thru town, bought for wife and she didn't want to learn, title in someone else's name, coolant dripping, bad odor inside. All my bells and whistles were going off but it's a manual X5 so I handed him the cash and drove home.
It turns out, the car is super solid. The drive home was amazing. My daughter's first words were a disappointed "Ooohh". I said, "This is $6k cheaper than any Jeep, google X5 Off-Road and see what you can buy with that". Exactly 3 min later she was the most excited I've ever seen her about a car.
My daughter and I have been spending time together taking the doors apart to replace the window clips, shampooing the carpet (twice), sending the radio out for pixel repair. This weekend we're replacing the entire cooling system. Then pull the headliner and recover and drive the beast.
She starts driving in a couple months and we're leaving it stock until she gets comfortable. Then the plan is to add a 2" lift, new wheels and all terrain tires, roof tent, and maybe off-road bumpers if we can find them at a reasonable price.

Welcome!

Well done.

If you haven't familiarized yourself already with FCPeuro.com now is the time.

Don't forget the cooling system expansion tank.

Have fun!

Brad

Hey Robert,
Loved your post about manuals! I did the same thing to my daughter, she also wanted a Jeep, but ended up with a 5spd VW Sportwagen! She “cussed” me at first but as soon as we spent some time detailing it and getting it where she wanted it - she now loves it and wouldn’t look back!

With regard to the off-road bumpers, roof rack, etc..., I don’t know that I’d call them “reasonable” but they aren’t catastrophically priced either, check out FMU, they make just about everything off-road for the X5 E53 chassis and it’s all bolt on.

I don’t remember exactly but their kit makes room for I believe a 33” tire - may be 35” but I don’t think so. You can also check out the “overland” thread on here, guy just put one together for off-roading [emoji106]


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