x2, listen to what Riggo says, the aftermarkets dont fit properly as has been noted by many members here.

if you can't pony up the $50 extra for a properly fitting part (and get your CEO's ok) you might want to ditch the 4.6iS now because that shouldn't be an amount of money that breaks the camels back, on a door handle carrier.

Yes , will go with OE , $ are approved by my CEO :D .

Thank you.

no problem i just want to see it fixed right! If I am seeing correctly your '03 has 75k miles on it! If so that is a low mileage gem and take care of it man!

Yea success. The OE is the way to go and it waill save us all about 23 postings on "My handle does not fit flush after buying a cheapo carrier and I can not get the side screw into the carrier" postings. See "My Door handle is broken/ will not work" postings from the last round of 10 degree days here in the USA. There must have been 5 individuals with the same problem at the same time in Jan/Feb.

My own carrier snapped on the driver's side one C O L D morning in spite of lubing the carrier and cable and leaving the door unlocked. It was the first after 9 years so i think it was OK engineering. I think this part was completely re-engineered with the next model of X5. Yep, just doubled checked. Twice as strong.

X5 E53 Carrier and door handle (LEFT)

X5 E60 Carrier and Door handle (RIGHT)


Welcome to ownership of an X5 and to the forum. We all try to share common experiences and knowledge. That is why everyone was jumping up and dowm on the OE vs ebay parts. Fit finish and correct alignment.

Now go buy the part, install it, and lube the other doors BEFORE they break too.

Thanks!

Wow i look again in my book where i put down what i did,and i am at 79900 miles, o boy! will go to 80.000 very soon,wanted to stay low...:D

Anyway ,well is the CEO's Suv (wife:D) , and it only gets about 10-15 miles a day to work and back, i drive too when have the chance , nice power ... but lately , to many things to fix and she
say that maybe is time to move from European cars to some American Cars! i use for my work Dodge ram and never have any problems i even have lots of miles on it...

Did so much with our X5 lately !

Got it at: $16000 with 68.500k miles

*at 69k changed battery (other one was going dead )

*rotors for rear done with pads (abs and brake sensors replaced-69.500 miles)
*also same miles front new tires

*starter changed at 72k
*purge valve and gas cap changed at 72.900miles

*rebuild transmission - at 75.467 miles
( did it my self to save money-was kicking really bad- still runs fine at allmost 80k)

*at 76.200 changed driver side front window regulator

*at 77.500 miles a/c and alternator belts

*at 78.400 change hood struts
( was checking the oil level one day ,and the hood come in my head )

That's all the maintenance i did , plus of course the change of oils.


So anyway, i love the x5 a lot , 3rd one in our family and had mostly only European cars ,
but expensive to fix and everything breaks down lately.

This is life....goes on.

Thank you for your guys advice will keep the tread updated.

Now regarding that cover around the key,that part snaps out?


Thanks

Yes Oem will be the best, i had quite few problems before with non-oe stuff,some work , some don't...



Is there any lube at the autozone to use? and what brand?

I have some of that Valvoline grease (here), unless there is some other grease to use .

Thanks.

I Used WD40 to shoot through the door openings as it will replace water and provide some lube There are many have other options. Some have posted Antifreeze but I would not use that. When you have the carrier in your hands, add a touch of brake/Caliper grease (hi temp, will not wash off, etc) or the Valvoline grease to the pivot points as the part manufacturer does not add much.

The key cover has two long fingers that go into the key mech and have locking tabs at the end. Use a plastic pry tool and start with the bottom working around the edges. That part takes longer to get out than the whole job takes.

NOTICE: Take your time, do not force it and break it. The fingers are LONG and straight into the body of the door. Look at my "Wax" image below and you can see the 1 inch fingers.

Nice pix, StephenVA, and Bosanci28, I'm glad the CEO/CFO was not 'penny wise and pound foolish' on her daily driver! With your description of the work you have done, you clearly have the skills needed to maintain the vehicle at reasonable cost, particularly with the help you can get here. Don't give up on that low-mileage E53 too soon! With the CEO's short drives, you might watch for the CCV 'mayonnaise under the oil filler cap' issue and keep an eye out for oil leaks around the valve cover gasket and oil filter - those seem common at this mileage/age point, though more so with the 3.0L, if I remember correctly.