Could it be intermediate levers again?
 

So, BMW replaced my intermediate levers about 3 years ago due to the rough start up shake in cold weather.

Just the other day, exact same symptoms--- shake, ses light, the whole thing in 22 degree weather.

So the question is, are the new intermediate levers better? Or did they just replace them with a part that breaks again?

Ps... Hasn't happened since..,could be a weird occurrence.

hmmm thats weird bro


hows your oil level? engine mounts, etc, CCV. Shake upon startup with SES light maybe a vaccuum leak of some sort? Is the idle smooth?



I know those Ithaca winters are rough, hope you dont have anything major and maybe just a freak occurrence!

Could be the levers. A family friends shop in upstate NY has seen some N62s back in his shop every 2-3 yrs after the inital lever replacement, they always return after a drop in temp. This info is what drove me to the "last of the M62s" when I shopped for my E53. Normally when I purchase a used vehicle, it's ALWAYS the final year of production for that platform, the dreaded N62 lever issue stuck me with the '03 MY E53.

Just buy the 6 instead of the V8. I have always had BMW inline 6 engines. Between timing chain guides and intermediate levers I stayed away from the V8 when I was looking for a X.

Last v8 engine car I brought was a 70's Plymouth Cuda with a 340 six pack. Fast car as long as the road was straight.

Could it be that I sometimes do short drives up here without the engine fully warming up? Maybe the condensation is getting to it.

My idle is pretty smooth, it's always had the slightest pulse to it though in the cold ( maybe I'm just crazy). My mechanics said its perfectly fine and in his words " purrs like a kitten"

The 6 was off the table when I was shopping for the X because I wanted the added torque (324 for the V8 vs 214 for the 6, over 50% more!) for towing. I am currently over 160k miles and still going strong with the chain guides. I've driven a 3.0 MT X with a 3000 lb trailer and it seems the V8 accelerates harder with double the load. Also the 6 takes a bigger hit in MPG while towing when compared to the V8, heard some 6 owners talking single digit MPG while towing.

My money is on CCV.

It could be the intermediate levers and associated repairs. Were the shafts replaced also?

On the CCV, did you check if you have any of the "cheese"?


Apparently, replacement of not just the intermediate levers should be done. The shafts should have been replaced too.
http://www.xoutpost.com/676246-post9.html
http://www.xoutpost.com/821607-post13.html

After several lever/shaft replacements, cylinder heads may have to be replaced.
http://www.xoutpost.com/715524-post4.html

If you're not getting a SES light I wouldn't worry about it. Because of the short drives that you are doing I would change the oil more often as compare with BM Trouble U's schedule of 15,000 miles between oil changes.

His original post states he is getting the SES light.