New to me E53! I have a few questions...
 

Hi, I just picked up my E53 and first ever BMW. It is a Silver 03 4.4 with 112k on it. I have done quite a bit of reading but I still have a few questions.

First of all, this thing has really touchy throttle response. Is this normal? I looked and didn't see any kind of drive by wire module on it.

Second, my clock, BC, and phone buttons don't work on the MID. Occasionally if it hit them the screen will blank out on the lower portion but comes back with a restart. I have read that this can be due to the instrument cluster being swapped out but everything looks to be original. Is there anything else I can check?

Other than that it is a really clean vehicle and a ton of fun to drive!

Thanks for any help!

the x5 bmw are very intune to the way you drive,if you are heavy on the throttle then it will jump when you drive, do your self and X5 a favor,use Castrol synthec oil...................

The X has a drive by wire throttle, whereas most cars uses a mechanical linkage to control the throttle. You might not be use to the drive by wire throttle.

Welcome, and congrats one the purchase!

You can reset the throttle adaptations, it will relearn to your driving. Not sure where the guide is, but searching the article section should turn something up. (I can't recall the exact procedure)

If the instrument cluster was swapped you would have the mileage tamper dot lit up if it wasn't correctly coded to the vehicle. If the buttons on the MID itself aren't working, it could be something wrong with the unit..

Hope this helps...

Thanks for the replies!

I have already done an oil change using Castrol Synthetic. I've always used mobil1 in the past but the cap said Castrol so I went with that.

I am very used to drive by wire. I was involved in Nissan Titan programmer development and one of the first things we tuned was the DBW. I would say that my X5 is a fairly aggressive tune. It could just be that way from the factory though. My wife doesn't even like to drive it. She says its too jumpy.

Thanks again for the replies!

Thanks! I'll look up the relearn routine.

The cluster doesn't have the mileage dot lit up. I'll have to look for a MID to try.

Thanks!

the transmission re-learns your style everytime you start the car... there is extensive coverage of this subject on this forum and on the other BMW forums... when you start driving aggressively, it shifts aggressevely... when you drive like a grandma, it shifts softer.. but still, even when it is soft, it is still hard...

the MID resetting is probably due to a poor contact somewhere... check to see if the dash has been tampered with, if anyone installed an AUX input into the glove comartment, if there is a phone holder there... they might have knocked something, like a wire, off...

You will get used to the throttle. Simple muscle memory.

My recommendation would be to start studying the forums in regards to maintenance, specifically DIY. Your X will inevitably need repairs and you don't want to have to fork over big $. It sounds like you are technically minded, so it should be reasonable for you.

Also, modify it a bit :)

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone!

I'll try the relearn procedure. It's not really a big deal, just muscle memory like epdarks mentioned. It would just be a little more comfortable for my wife to drive if the need should arise.

I am looking a little into some modifications. Right now mostly just springs and wheels. I did buy a cable so that I can code it but haven't had the chance to play with it quite yet. I am definitely a "do it yourselfer". I come from a car tuning background. The reason for purchasing the X was because I have dirtbikes and a small camp trailer. I was looking for a truck but wanted something sporty to drive. It's not really that practical at the moment to buy a car and then a truck just for towing. A good friend of mine suggested I look into the X5. It fits really well. Fits the family, nice and smooth, really fun to drive, and tows 6k lbs. more than ill probably ever need.

I've been really surprised at how affordable oem parts are.... And pretty surprised at how expensive aftermarket is. But I'll say this, it's probably one of the easiest cars to work on. Everything has been really well thought out so far.

:worthless:

Hahah! I'll snap some and load them up tomorrow. Nothing special, just stock E53 on stock 18's for the moment.

Welcome to the forum and the e53 family. Its good to see some Utah peeps on here. I'm down for some projects on weekends if you ever want to turn some wrenches one Saturday....maybe when the Artic Circle decides to ascend back up north and the tundra thaws.....;) I'm up in Logan.

Congrat on the SAV.
Did you buy it with service record or maintenance history? Did you have a PPI done? At that mileage, you have some preventative maintenances to keep it in good health. I would have that done before looking into cosmetic mods, like springs and wheels.

Yeah this cold has been brutal! I keep wanting to take my 4 year old snowboarding but it's just been too cold. I imagine Logan is colder than it has been in Ogden?

I didn't receive any kind of maintenance documentation with the car since I bought it at auction. The dealer did tell me they would provide any history they have if I just show them proof of ownership. As far as preventative maintenance I have just been doing fluids. It's a timing chain motor so I imagine I won't need to worry about chains and sliders for a while. Am I missing something important?

I suppose there are cooling system components and belts that could be freshened up....

you got last 7 digits of the VIN?... you can have the as built sheet with the factory installed options for your reference, when you use the parts search and wonder if your car had a hot climate or a cold climate version radiator, or what type windshield it was, you can refer back to as-built sheet...

This is the last seven LH47310 I did run it through a vin decoder but I didn't even notice that there is a different cooling system for different climates. I can tell you it doesn't have the cold weather package. I didn't think it would matter until we had single digit temps.

I would recommend you have a full inspection done by a licensed BMW independent repair facility. For $100-$120, it's a cheap way to get a better understanding of what might need done immediately and what could be done in the future.

My guess is you'll need to think about the suspension components, driveline, cooling system, and possibly transmission or transfer case.

I have the same year and mileage as you and wanted to know if you heard any rattling noises at cold start? Vanos seals?

Yup. I have the vanos startup rattle a couple times a week.

VIN 5UXFB33593LH47310
Type code FB33
Type X5 4.4I (USA)
E series E53 ()
Series X
Type GEFZG
Steering LL
Doors 5
Engine M62/TU
Displacement 4.40
Power 210
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour TITANSILBER METALLIC (354)
Upholstery LEDER DAKOTA/GRAU-(WAR TITANGRAU) (LCTT)
Prod.date 2003-05-16


S205A AUTOMATIC GETRIEBE Automatic transmission
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S403A GLASDACH, ELEKTRISCH Glass roof, electrical
S417A SONNENSCHUTZROLLO HINTERE TUERSCH. Roller sun vizor, rear door
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S461A SITZLEHNENVERSTELLUNG IM FOND,ELEK. Electric seat backrest adjustment, rear
S488A LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S555A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer V with remote control
S650A CD-LAUFWERK CD player
S761A INDIVIDUAL SONNENSCHUTZVERGLASUNG Individual sunshade glazing
S926A ERSATZRAD Spare wheel



S220A NIVEAUREGULIERUNG Self-levelling suspension
S249A MULITFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S310A LM RAEDER/STERNSPEICHE 58 BMW light alloy wheel, star spoke 58
S321A EXTERIEURUMFAENGE IN WAGENFARBE Exterior parts in vehicle color
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Green windscreen, green shade band
S437A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S473A ARMAUFLAGE VORN Armrest front
S533A FOND-KLIMATISIERUNG Air conditioning, rear
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S640A AUTOTELEFONVORBEREITUNG Preparation f tel.installation universal
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S661A RADIO BMW BUSINESS Radio BMW Business (C43)

S676A HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM HiFi speaker system



S692A CD WECHSLER I-BUS VORBEREITUNG Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic belt warning
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version English
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number-plate attachment

Wait until it's time to replace the timing chain guides, we'll see if that statement is still valid. LOL

Hi Terminator X5 whereabouts do you get the consist listing ? As I would like to look up mine . Thanks

I'm not TX5...but you can enter the last 7 digits of your VIN at either of the sites below: ;) Please feel free to bookmark or add the sites below to your favorites folder.

1. Ð*аÑ�шифровка VIN BMW :: BMW :: Первый Интернет журнал об автомобилÑ�Ñ… BMW :: Ð’Ñ�Ñ‘ о BMW, новоÑ�ти, Ñ�татьи, обзоры, фото БМВ (remember to answer simple math equation)
2. BMWVin.com (remember to answer simple twisted code)

:iagree:

bmwvin.com is a newer site and is in English

rubmw.ru is older site and starts out in Russian but you can navigate to English

The rubmw.ru link in my post above has the "eng" suffix on it already and will take you directly to the translated web page that's in English. :)

For some reason, this forum's software writes the long version HTML (in Russian) when you type in the HTML link...but again, if you click the link it will be in English.

BTW...TX5, I'm wasn't trying to put you out of the VIN "look-up business" :D ...just posted the links in case anyone wanted/needed the info right away before you had a chance to respond...especially when the VIN isn't given in their initial request...which means that there will be additional back-n-forth discourse just to get the information to look up the "build sheet" info...which makes receiving the requested data even further from the initial request. :tapping:

lol... no worries, i don't own those sites or the monopoly to look up the info... it goes with many things on these forums, while info is available with a quick search, people rather ask the same questions in new threads in hopes to get a quick response - goes with human mentality, as I am myself guilty of this behaviour...

Same with other info off the WDS sites, about the functions of the modules or the pinout - sometimes it is easier to post the info, than to tell the people to go and look for it...

we are cool... :D

:thumbup:

So you've replaced your CCV, and valve cover gaskets already have you? :confused:

No, I haven't been that far into it yet. Just basics. It's not leaking and the oil looks fine. But comparing to other cars I've worked on, so far it looks to be fairly intuitive. I've read that the ccv is a pain and I would guess the valve cover gaskets would be as well, but I expected that out of a vehicle this small with a V8 in it.

With a Subaru background I'm used to pulling the motor to do anything under the hood. Timing belt, clutch, head gaskets....