Finally the X5 is here, hello everyone.
 

I'm saying finally because when I test drove the car the SES light came on and the previous owner had to fix it before I get the car. Turned out that one of the O2 sensors was bad and needed replacement. Now I'm new to the X5 family but not to BMWs. This is my 7th but first X. So far I love it, and my wife likes it so much she said she will sleep in it the first day we got it.

It's nothing too fancy, but it has almost everything that I wanted and the condition of the vehicle is really nice. I bought it from the second owner, who got it from the original one at the end of 2009 with 100 000 miles and service records since the car was brand new. Unfortunately the second owner didn't keep many records, but he kept the car in a nice condition for the 60 000 miles he owned it.

Now the two questions I have right away are: first what is the best way to fix my MID display cause almost all of the pixels are gone and its driving me nuts? And second, when I shut off the car a message comes on the dash that says "check side lights" I believe it was. Now I did notice that the angel lights never come on so I guess their bulbs are burned and probably thats causing the message but wanted to double check.

Here's couple pictures, before the car goes to the detail guy to work his magic on the paint :)

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/...4e88c459_b.jpgPhoto Sep 22 by alex_at

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/...001a042c_b.jpgPhoto Sep 22-2 by alex_at

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/...29d614e2_b.jpgPhoto Sep 22-3 by alex_at

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/...35de7fa4_b.jpgPhoto Sep 22-4 by alex_at

nice score! looks damn clean

looks really nice - welcome to the forum

the "side lights" are the angel eyes... consider LEDs since yours are probably both burned... originals cost about $15-20 a piece, so LED replacement might not sound too expensive... lol...

with the MID - you might have corroded ribbon cable inside - do a search on the forum for DIY or there are folks out there (on ebay?), who do it for money...

you clearly have a facelifted 3.0 with about 160k miles - might want to come up with a signature line, so people would give an advise suited to your car, should you ever ask a question on the forum, and they would not guess if you got a V8 or I6 or whatnot...

again, welcome aboard

Welcome! Your X5 looks nice.

clean ride! welcome!

Welcome! Looks very nice.

Glue on the ribbon cable deteriorate and will start to loose contact and cause loss of pixels. I haven't open MID on X5 since my unit doesn't have the issue but opened one in Jaguar and Audi due to bad pixels. I added pressure where the ribbon cable contacts are by wedging in folded paper between the ribbon contacts and rear bracket that secures ribbon cable. It works perfectly after since the pressure created good contact again. Backlit LCDs are all similar in design so might work for X5 MID.

Clean! Nice trick for MID, Jungerishere.

Looks like you found a nice example, Alex, congrats. From the pix, it looks like you have an 04-06 3.0L auto tranny version, with 160k miles on the odo, but, as recommended earlier, add the specifics to your signature so folks here can better help you as you have questions.

If you aren't handy with the tight work to open the cluster or MID, repair guys on ebay do it for about $95, I had my speedo done last year, perfect job and added silver rings in it as well.

Check side lights should be your angel eye bulbs, take the opportunity to upgrade to LED versions for about $50 and do both sides.

Nice looking facelift on the pre-facelift Style 69's....

Thank you guys, for the warm welcome and the tips. I actually already purchased LED bulbs for the angel eyes of the X from a forum member but one of them came broken so I'll have to get another ones. And I have no problem fixing things, I'll just go ahead and order new cable for the MID screen from ebay and replace it. Hopefully that solves this problem.

Now I did see that ecstuning is a sponsor on here, do we get any discount if we order from them? Theres some plastics in the interior that I want to change cause they are worn and I see that ecs carries all of them, so would they be the best place to order?

And since some of you guys here are also e30 owners I thought I'll post a picture of mine. It's currently abroad but I'm planning to bring it in the States at some point.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/...7e6a2e76_b.jpgPhoto Sep 14 by alex_at

Here's another question, I want to be able to stream music from my iphone 5s, what is the best option?

I found this product: http://www.amazon.com/DICE-DUO-100-B.../dp/B004I6JR24

Has anyone used it? Or is there better alternative?

Thanks, Alex.

Dice mediabridge is good, I also have an ipod/iPhone interface I might be selling in the coming months as well. Do you have DSP?

Nope, no DSP just Hi-Fi speaker system with a CD player. How hard is it to pull the MID display out? And do I have to connect the cable to it or to the CD player? I tried to look for a DIY on how it can be taken out but couldn't find anything.

Here's something cool that came with the car

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/...30dfa408_b.jpgPhoto Sep 26, 9 51 18 by alex_at

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/...e257a55d_b.jpgPhoto Sep 26, 9 51 32 by alex_at

here is something almost as cool...



Vehicle information

VIN 5UXFA13514LU22589
Type code FA13
Type X5 3.0I (USA)
E series E53 ()
Series X
Type GEFZG
Steering LL
Doors 5
Engine M54
Displacement 3.00
Power 170
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour BLACK SAPPHIRE METALLIC (475)
Upholstery LEDER DAKOTA/SCHWARZ (LCSW)
Prod.date 2003-10-24



https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/webetk/images/minus.gif Options


S1CAA SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE Selection of COP-relevant vehicles
S205A AUTOMATIC GETRIEBE Automatic transmission
S321A EXTERIEURUMFAENGE IN WAGENFARBE Exterior parts in vehicle colour
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S403A GLASDACH, ELEKTRISCH Glass roof, electrical
S417A SONNENSCHUTZROLLO HINTERE TUERSCH. Roller sun visor, rear door
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S438A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S442A GETRAENKEHALTER Drink holder
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S461A SITZLEHNENVERSTELLUNG IM FOND,ELEK. Electric seat backrest adjustment, rear
S464A SKISACK Ski bag
S494A SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Seat heating driver/passenger

S502A SCHEINWERFER-WASCHANLAGE Headlight cleaning system

S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S533A FOND-KLIMATISIERUNG Air conditioning, rear
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S555A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer V with remote control
S639A KOMPLETTVORB. HANDY USA/CDN Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN
S650A CD-LAUFWERK CD player
S676A HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM HiFi speaker system
S761A INDIVIDUAL SONNENSCHUTZVERGLASUNG Individual sunshade glazing
S785A WEISSE BLINKLEUCHTEN White direction indicator lights
S8SPA COP STEUERUNG Control unit CO2
S926A ERSATZRAD Spare wheel
S945A BERUECKSICHTIGUNG PREISABHAENGK. Dummy-SALAPA



https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/webetk/images/minus.gif Standard equipment

S249A MULTIFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD Multifunction f steering wheel
S2KBA LM RAEDER V-SPEICHE 130 BMW LA wheel, V spoke 130
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Windscreen, green-tinted upper strip
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S661A RADIO BMW BUSINESS Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692A CD WECHSLER I-BUS VORBEREITUNG Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic fasten seat belt reminder
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version, English
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number-plate attachment

You should have an AUX input in your radio - activate the AUX (cable $10-70), get yourself a BT dongle ($10-25), and stream Pandora all day long...

I love the X5's, don't get me wrong, but that E30 does it for me too. Nice ride!

I also have 04, X5, your wired for cellphone bluetooth but probably don't have the module, buy one on Ebay.

You can wire an aux hook up for pennies if your handy, search for instructions.

Ebay for pixel fix,
BMW Mid Unit Pixel Repair Fix 5 Series x5 M Series | eBay

The E30 looks great. What brakes are on there?

Thank you guys! I'll look up for the aux, I think I'll go with what TerminatorX5 suggested cause it seems like the best option for what I want. Or maybe I'll do the Dice Mediabridge so I can also use my steering wheel controls, haven't decided yet.

And thank you for the e30 comments, I've been thru a lot with this car. I've wanted to sell it on couple occasions but then I'll drive it and change my mind right away. Currently the brakes on the front are 316mm rotors from an e38 with custom aluminum hats and Brembo 4 piston calipers also from the 7 series, rears are 298mm from e39 with the stock e39 calipers. My plans are to go 345mm on the front with 4 piston Brembos from Evo8 and 325mm on the back with 2 piston Brembos for the Evo8 again. I know it might be an overkill but I can never get enough of big brakes :)

Wow. What size wheels are those then? They don't look very big. What brackets did it take to get the 7er calipers on the front and the 5er on the rear?

Sorry, I know this isn't e30tech haha. I am just so interested as I want to do bigger brakes on mine and am not sure which way I want to go. I have not heard of this setup before.

This weekend the weather was really nice so we decided to make a trip to Itasca State Park. Total trip was a little bit over 300 miles and I was able to get 20mpg average which I thought was pretty good considering that on the way back most of the time I was going 80-85mph. Now a question that I have is can someone tell me how I can reset the mpg on the dash? I looked over the whole owner manual and did not find anything about it.

Joshdub you've got PM.

here's couple pictures from the weekend:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/...868b6415_b.jpgUntitled by alex_at

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/...e21523aa_b.jpgItasca State Park visit with the X5 by alex_at

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/...667d6461_b.jpgItasca State Park visit with the X5 by alex_at

you hold down the odometer reset button while your driving (i think until it blinks?) - it clears the trip odometer and also the average mpg.

if you hold it for 10 seconds you can access another menu which shows numerous onscreen features and allows you to test your instrument cluster.

Thank you, I'll try that!

Now a question I have is, have any of you guys tried something like this for their X? Winters here get pretty cold and I'm looking for something I can do to help the X start in the morning.

Kat's 150 Watt Silicone Pad Heater — Model# 24150 | Engine Heaters Blankets| Northern Tool + Equipment

I just picked up a 250W heater for the oil pan. The car will see its share of short trips in the winter. At the next change I'm going to drop the pan and check for metal/plastic and install the heater. Also bought a programmable timer/switch to be able to have it on/off at the right times. The key will be making sure my wife unplugs it before driving away every day....

Not sure where I'll route the wire though. The thought of a gross plug out the front isn't appealing. I'll figure something out.

Would you mind sharing the links for the products you got so I can take a look at them?

I have migrated though all the Dice products as they were offered. I bought the Mediabridge right after it came out. I have never had a problem with it. The install took some time but it wasn't difficult. It works seamlessly with existing controls. I also purchased the Sirius accessory.

I seem to recall resetting average MPG was accomplished by using the BC button to switch to the MPG display and then pressing and holding the BC button until it reset.

Congrats! Welcome :)

For some reason their website won't let me drill to the product. Hopefully this link works. Its a Polar Pad 250W stick on heater.

Search Results Page | Canadian Tire

I have it and plan to install it within 3,500km - I'll post results of the install.

Don't mean to bring up an old thread but do you happen to know if the PO bought the X from Corwin Toyota? I remember driving down to Fargo from Minot in 2012 to pick up a black X5 but when I got there the dealer already sold it (still ticked off about that since I told him that I was on my way). Luckily they had the silver 3.0i that I got for a lower price. Funny if this was the X5 I was supposed to get lol.

looks sweet, I like the wood trim