I shift from D to DS to manual frequently. I never do so when I am accelerating but almost all the time I am moving at speeds as high as 80mph. I have been doing so for years with no problem.

The SI (service interval) Display's function is only to inform you that you have consumed enough fuel...and that it's time to change your oil & oil filter...plus the other things BMW recommends during the OIl Serv or Inspection service. This feature is about maintenance...mainly preventitive maintenance...it doesn't illuminate as a warning that something is wrong with the vehicle (other than neglect...especially when the red light illuminates which means that service is PAST DUE). :D :stickpoke :D

I haven't had a chance to test it in the E53, as it is an "all-wheel" drive, but I have tested it in the rear-wheel drive E34 and E39...

when I rocked the car out of a deep snow, i moved the gear selector from R to D without touching the brakes - it is a special built-in feature for "rocking" a car out of a deep snow or sand... the shifting had to be done fast and if i would delay a moment, then i would have to start rocking again as i had to press the brake...

not sure if the E53 has it...

must be deep snow to get the X5 stuck, good luck to someone who has to test that out.

@jc1surf - what is wrong with the thermostat? if it is throwing codes, or mechanical issues, I'd definitely replace it before driving up the mountains(or in traffic in socal). Thermostats aren't typically maintenance items anymore. They throw SES lights if having activation issues, or they default to stuck open (car runs cold all the time) when they do break.

Last I knew rocking a vehicle with an automatic made the tow truck driver grin.

Yup, if you do it wrong (usually meaning too much). I was able to rock my E53 with no damage. You have to use the weight of the vehicle to your advantage, and not fight it.

Thanks Qsilver.:thumbup:

-racing.... Yes it's been defaulting for a few months now. Takes very long to warm up. When it does, the needle will drop to below the midline. The boys on here told me I just need to replace. Just wondering if I can do it after I return from the road trip w/o further damage.

Thank you for the tips.

the tow truck driver probably was used to buicks and olds - and not familiar with the bimmers...:nanana:

rocked myself out of snow - it was several years ago, during one of the bigger snow blizzards in the NE USA... i dug out the car on the right side (a car parked right to me was dug out, and on the left there was a huge snow bank), squeezed into the passenger side, and started to rock the car... made it out of the snow hill that the car was buriend under on 3 1/2 sides, rolled it over top of the snow behind the car... had the car parked on the next spot, that a neighbor cleaned up - almost started a neighborly fight!!! :bustingup it was an apartment, why should i clean their parking lots???:dunno:

In this part of the country the person that digs out a parking space normally mark it with a piece of furniture, the most common is a chair. People know better then to park in a space that has been marked.

went to autozone to buy some german castrol 0w-30. The front said European formula but when I checked the back it said made in Belgium not Germany and it did say it was LL-01 approved so is this stuff the same? it was on sale for $6 a bottle