FinanceGuy's Maintenance/Project thread -- 08 E70

[TheFinanceGuy]

I've been on the hunt for a good weekend use, family hauler car to replace my wife's Subaru Forester.
Now, the Forester, while a great car, has had many issues, including 5 recalls, 2 of while were engine management firmware upgrades. It wasn't exactly been a trouble free brand new car (leased with 7 miles on the ODO).

With that in mind, the lease is up in a few months. I have no intention of buying the car. So, the hunt was one to find something else.

I present to you a 2008 MONACOBLAU X5 3.0SI N52B30 (N52k common name)

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j464/TheFinanceGuy/2008%20X5/Front_zpsd886eb5d.jpg

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j464/TheFinanceGuy/2008%20X5/Side_zps109248f4.jpg

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j464/TheFinanceGuy/2008%20X5/4DBCA653-140A-4EF8-9D1F-F603E8626913png_zpsed36d6d7.jpeg

I'll be picking the car up this Friday. The inspection II should be completed today, and full detail is scheduled for Tomorrow. Both interior and exterior detail with Charlie's favorite task of paint correction in spots.

Details:
Mileage: 106,000
Nevada Beige Leather
02/6/2008 build date
Factory Nav
Backup camera
5+2 seating option (3rd row!)
Lights package (xenon lights)
Premium package
Cold weather package
Rear entertainment system

1 owner car maintained by BMW of Bridgeport, CT.

Plans for the car include minor coding work from BWMhatt app, a few small exterior details, and a Turner Motorsports software upgrade (to get the most out of the little 3.0 engine).


Known Maintenance Performed:

3,888 2/6/209 Oil Change (BMW of SF)
12,340 8/11/2009 Oil Change, Cabin Filter replaced, ECU checked (BMW of Bridgetport)
14,468 9/11/2009 Serviced (though, I don't know what was serviced)
19,534 12/10/2009 Cabin Filter replaced, Brake fluid & power steering fluid replaced, Computer module reprogrammed, Oil Changed
26,541 2/4/2010 Oil Changed
47,752 5/27/2011 4 tires replaced, oil change
58,309 11/30/2011 Oil Change, Brake fluid changed
72,251 9/19/2012 Battery replaced, Computer reprogrammed - Inspection I completed
72,926 10/23/2012 Boost Control Solenoid replaced
78,379 3/5/2013 Oil Changed
83,089 7/16/2013 Power steering & brake fluid changed, cabin air filter replaced. General BMW inspection/CT inspection completed
86,902 9/10/2013 Oil Changed, Brakes replaced
94,714 3/19/2014 4 new RF tires
xx,xxx 8/5/2014 Oil Changed
106,000 1/7/2014 Oil Change, Inspection II complete (AT serviced, front and read diff's serviced, coolant flushed, brake & power steering fluid changed)

[ELCID86]

I can't see the pic (firewall), but congrats!

[fredo]

Well done. This e70 seems to be in good shape.

[danewilson77]

Awesome. Nice pickup.

"No flamesuit required"

[johnrando]

Woot!

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[TheFinanceGuy]

Picked up! Love it so far!

17341


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[cakM3]

Very nice Patrick!!! Can't wait to get a ride in it :thumbsup

[danewilson77]

Nice Patrick.....Congrats!

[TheFinanceGuy]

Thanks. I freakin love this thing. So far anyway.

17343


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[ELCID86]

Thanks. I freakin love this thing. So far anyway.

17343


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What's the little lady think of it?

[TheFinanceGuy]

What's the little lady think of it?

My wife loves it so far! Says it reminds her of my 540.
Daughter seems to like it too. Keeps asking to come with me in mamas new auto.


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[ELCID86]

Happy family :-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[Ryans323i]

Nice acquisition!

[TheFinanceGuy]

Nice acquisition!

Thanks. I'm enjoying it. Let's see how often I can drive now.


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[TheFinanceGuy]

Had a POST purchase inspection done on the X5. I didn't have time to have a proper Pre-Purchase inspection done, nor was the dealer going to allow me to take the car across state lines on his dealer plate (understandable).

Inspection yielded the following:
*Alternator belt and tensioner failing. Replace within the next 1,000 miles
*Passenger side thrust arm bushing has a hair line crack. Monitor for now
*Transmission pan gasket was wet on fill side (important). Also found a shop rag stuffed next to/near the transmission pan cover.
*Cowl trim missing its 'bolts' to hold it together. Looks like when the tech took it apart to change the plugs, he broke the little plastic pieces.

Spoke with the dealer I bought the car from today. Normally, he would have asked me to drop the car off and he would repair everything. However, I live 100 miles away. He has offered to cut me a check for the parts cost plus labor for all of the items above except the thrust arm bushing. Logic here is, even my tech said it doesn't need replacing yet.
I am happy with this. I'd rather have my tech do the belt + tensioner, and repair the cowl pieces.

The transmission pan was replaced before I purchased the car. Dealer said after test driving it, they found the oil level to be low, so they topped it up. Sounds like the tech didn't clean up after himself from the overflow.
Dealer was also appealed to see such sloppy work with both the cowl, and the shop rag being left.

I've put a good 600 miles on this car already.

[ELCID86]

^ sounds like a good dealer to work with. Very compromising.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[TheFinanceGuy]

Wicked nice guy. 100% would buy from again.


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[TheFinanceGuy]

New Battery today.

[Johal E32]

Congrats, and what an awesome dealer to cover you for the repairs, that is good customer service!

[TheFinanceGuy]

New air bags going in tomorrow morning.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/25/ae02a48270cedb1b839e43e1ed400b47.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/25/92fa5d7d17554c3d9128e9ecb0ec145d.jpg


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[danewilson77]

New air bags going in tomorrow morning.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/25/ae02a48270cedb1b839e43e1ed400b47.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/25/92fa5d7d17554c3d9128e9ecb0ec145d.jpg


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Because.......

"No flamesuit required"

[cakM3]

Very nice Patrick!


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[TheFinanceGuy]

Because.......

"No flamesuit required"

Rear end keeps deflating overnight.


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[danewilson77]

Rear end keeps deflating overnight.


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10-4

"No flamesuit required"

[TheFinanceGuy]

Finished up the install this morning. I think the car rides better, hits the potholes a bit softer. Much better rebound, however it could be all in my mind.
The true test will be to see if they stay inflated.

If they continue to deflate, I'll need to look into the valve block. Easy access, but expensive part.

[TheFinanceGuy]

Tint installed today.

Before
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/a5b5d4c7918dfc9ce88f94f36415c4a8.jpg

After
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/bc064fdc193b18e715e7cd74a1ba6754.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/3ba09e09ebddf6cad065f4d3b59b216f.jpg


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[cakM3]

Much better! :thumbsup

[NoVAphotog]

Tint installed today.

Before
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/a5b5d4c7918dfc9ce88f94f36415c4a8.jpg

After
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/bc064fdc193b18e715e7cd74a1ba6754.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/27/3ba09e09ebddf6cad065f4d3b59b216f.jpg


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Sweet!! :thumbsup

[johnrando]

Nice

[JupiterBMW]

Wow, not sure how I missed this thread, but congrats to another E70 owner! They are awesome vehicles, when all is in good order of course. How hard was the airbag install? Expensive parts? Ours seem to be holding up just fine, but I noticed that they are slightly uneven, the driver's side has a touch more squat than the passenger side. I know there's something about the adjustable links in the back, but I'm not 100% sure how/where I should be looking. I suppose I should research online for 5 minutes.

Anyway, love the X, Monaco Blue is a great color, same color William has on his '08 E70... Great looking truck and let me know if you want to purchase some piano black interior trim, I'd love to swap mine out. :thumbsup

[TheFinanceGuy]

Thanks fellas!

Joop: So far I love it! I still have a few things to sort out, but for average person, they wouldn't spot these items. I have the optional 3rd row :) I honestly LOVE to have the wood grain trim GONE, but my wife likes it. Says it reminds her of the BMW's she grew up in. Which is exactly why I'd like to swap them out. It's really her car, so her wish.

The airbags were very easy. Hardest part of the whole thing was re-installing the airbag into the upper perch. You have to do this 'blind' then twist 1/4 turn. Drivers side popped right in 1st try. Passengers side, I struggled to find the hole like a high school on his first date. Took me a good 15 minutes to finally get it.
I took my sweet time and did everything including putting tools away, taking pictures, and being nervous about being under a 2.5 ton car in 2.5 hours. Was as hard as changing oil and a flat tire (because you do need to take the rear tires off).
The bags I got from OEMbimmerparts for $190/each. They are made by Arnott. You can buy them directly from them at $205/each plus shipping. OEMbimmerparts had free shipping. :shurg:

I think the X5M has the active steering, which might impact some of what I said above. I think just a different part, however I'm not sure. The process stays the same.
I liked this write up the best: Xoutpost (http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/90460-e70-rear-air-strut-airbag-replacement-diy.html)

[TheFinanceGuy]

Transmission leaking....

[TheFinanceGuy]

111,400 miles
Front and rear diff flushed and filled
Transfer case inspected, oil found to be in good condition leading to us believing it was changed at some point. Will still change, but delaying until Jan 2016 (next scheduled oil change)
Transmission pan is leaking. Appears the pan/gasket was installed incorrectly and needs to be replaced. Fun times...

Taking the car in tomorrow AM to have the tires road force balanced. I am having an issue with vibration in the rear seat.

[TheFinanceGuy]

112,000 miles,

Starter died while at work. I have to park in the basement of the parking garage, three floors underground. That makes it hard to two a heavy AWD SUV out of...
AAA sent a low clearance wrecker to recover it out of the garage. The X5 proved to be a bit too heavy for the wrecker, but he did his best anyway. It struggled the entire 21 miles to the shop.
The add insult to the injury, my normal preferred shop, where I get special treatment from all the damn money I've spent there, was on vacation and closed. Tried out a new shop with the ZHP about a week prior to this. Called him up, and even through he was booked solid for the next two weeks, took it in. Had it repaired the next day.

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j464/TheFinanceGuy/2008%20X5/29A0F06E-E5BB-4ED9-8B61-F213CDE56810_zpsgqzpxf6z.jpg (http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/TheFinanceGuy/media/2008%20X5/29A0F06E-E5BB-4ED9-8B61-F213CDE56810_zpsgqzpxf6z.jpg.html)

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j464/TheFinanceGuy/2008%20X5/5F3F82E9-1D5F-46B2-BD92-73154E681D6E_zpsxq41ycab.jpg (http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/TheFinanceGuy/media/2008%20X5/5F3F82E9-1D5F-46B2-BD92-73154E681D6E_zpsxq41ycab.jpg.html)

[TheFinanceGuy]

Here is another small update on this beast-
-Transmission fluid changed
This was the result of a rough/hard shift between first and second gear. The tech ran every diagnostic he could to ensure that the TCU was functioning correctly. We ended up concluding that it was 1 qt low on fluid, resulting in low pressure between the valves in the valve body allowing second gear to be picked up.
6 quarts of fresh fluid, a filter, and new pan gasket and it shifts like new. Too bad it had new fluid in it at 105k miles.

-Lifter tick upon first start
Switched to liqui-moly oil and the tick is gone. I am thinking one of the hydo lifters has a slight leak allowing the oil to leak out over night. This is evidenced by the black soot found on the tailpipes indicating a small amount of oil being burnt. Not enough to add oil between changes, but it was slightly low upon draining.