Greydog

Hi Ian Bmw have for years fitted either "square" wheels sets ie: same rim size all round and a "staggered" set up wider rear rims narrower fronts which started with the "M" cars. X3's were offered with both set ups. The rim size is stamped on the inside of each wheel your hand book should give wheel/tyre sizes and inflation information. As an example my X5 runs 20" rims running 275x40 front and 315x35 rear most of the "advantages" are cosmetic however it is essential that when replacing tyres the front and rear rolling radius is within a few mm if not damage to the transfer case is almost certain. BMW have agreements with "approved" manufacturers who produce star* rated tyres to ensure that when staggered set up is used the tyres are within tolerance. Non rated tyres can be used but you should take care that they match as closely as possible. First signs of transfer case damage will be jerking when on full lock particularly when reversing. I had this I put a chalk mark on the front tyre where it met the road same on the rear then got my son to roll the car forward one revolution while I watched there was 20mm difference in distance front and rear, may not seem much but when you multiply that by a few thousand revolutions the reason the transfer case gears get screwed up is clear.A square set up is more forgiving particularly if the tyres are all from the same manufacturer. All 4x4's have the same issues regardless of the Manufacturer needing correct tyres that match front and rear, if your current tyres are mismatched across axles or front to rear it will end in tear for your wallet. Normally tyre size if they are correctly inflated will have little effect on performance, your engine should feel quite lively as it is a diesel clogged EGR valves are common which strangle performance Dave

Welcome Gemma Pictures paint a thousand words !! Dave

The code is a Generic OBD code which can often identify the symptom but not necessarily the cause.You really need a BMW Diagnostic tool that can narrow down the search. What general condition is your engine, was it running well smoothly before? What mileage has it covered? As you have swapped sensors and the issue remains have you checked the Vanos solenoid on that camshaft? It's job is to advance and !Removed! the cam if the cam is out of position that could be your culprit. A missing tooth while not impossible I would doubt,.have you done any other work that may have triggered the fault code My starting position would be fix the other issues leaks, cooling etc then either by a BMW specific diagnostic tool (Carly, BMW 1.4.0, INPA, etc) or find a good Independent that has them. Without it you could throw a lot of money at the problem in parts and labour in the hope of fixing it. Dave

Morning Robert My engineers logic says yes, as the mechanism will be an assembly of parts from several suppliers, how ever if the assembly has been constructed using crimped joints and pipe unions it may be more complicated and costly than a replacement. Is there enough room to fit a joining piece in the pipe? if there is that may be the answer is there a way to replace any lost fluid? I would check www.realoem.com its an online BMW parts list put the last 7 digits of your Vin in the search box it will bring up your model, in the parts lists there are exploded drawings which will help. Also have a look at www.newtis.info this is the same technical information that BMW Dealers use. There are hydraulic specialists who repair plant on site such as Pirtec but what the cost would be and whether it would be economical, like the old radio programme "sorry I haven't a clue" Hope this is some help. Dave

Assuming Trevor isn't right about misfuelling I have 3 thoughts 1st have you checked the MAF try unplugging it, 2nd possibility is the throttle body when they fail they give similar symptoms the fault will read something like "throttle position sensor", 3rd turbo issues sticking actuator or split pipe somewhere. I did read some years ago that there is a seal between the boost pipe and the turbo which can be dislodged which causes power loss? I would go back carefully over the work done in case something is dislodged or loose. When you cleaned the MAF what with as they can be easily damaged. Hope this helps Dave

Hi Ian Welcome to the Forum All Manufacturers all like to put up a Myth that their cars are only serviceable by themselves and that only spares from their stores are going to fit and work !! Don't forget they brought those parts from someone? The X3 mechanically is quite simple the clever part is in the electronics. However it doesn't make them difficult to work on they just require a good diagnostic tool and a little more thought when fixing issues. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill available through the Forum and other sources. Diagnostics: I use BMW 1.4.0 which is loaded onto an old laptop along with other diagnostic software which I keep in the garage just for the cars (current stable are Subaru Outback, Toyota Avensis and my BMW X5) other folks use Carly for BMW, INPA,Autologic and others we pay our maoney and make our choice. It is important to have a BMW diagnostic as it can interrogate each control module for an issue rather than just getting a general code. BMW 1.4.0 explains the issue in English and the program is available for a few pounds so not a wallet buster I also use a BMW parts web site and BMW technical site both free which provides the same information as the Dealers use. The X3 mechanically has a front diff a centre transfer case at the back of the gearbox and a rear diff as long as the engine gearbox and the rest of the drive train are serviced regularly they are pretty tough. Suspension is conventional with rubber bushes needing service/replacing as and when. Tyres on 4x4 cars are critical as the rolling radius across axels and front to rear have to be within tolerance to avoid destroying the transfer case.there are to many 4x4 of all makes which are sold on with damaged transfer cases through having mismatched tyres fitted. The early small N43 diesels have some well documented issues but later N47 engines are much better, the six cylinder petrol and diesels are pretty much bomb proof. So bit long winded but don't be scared off thinking they are complicated they actually self diagnose a lot of issues, remember computers are binary and work in a logical fashion, if we also use simple logic they are not much different to a series 1 or 2 Land Rover just a hell of a lot more refined and fun to drive. Dave

You are welcome Jim, don't be a stranger Dave

There was a sadly fatal accident here in the UK a few years back stationary traffic a truck driver was changing music on his phone and he "didn't see" the standing traffic.One of the first things the police here do now is check phone history for the period just before the accident, apparently a text. Facebook etc are the most common distractions. While it's illegal to use your phone for a call without hands free, having it in a mount and checking Text and Facebook people seem to think is OK. My fellow humans scare me sometimes. Fingers crossed for your daughters speedy and complete recovery kid's are resilient. I think the bags are "head on" or "side impact" (no need for a test) as you discovered pretensioners work every which way. Hers to a speedy recovery for all of you Dave

WOW, Eric that is a really solid hit glad to hear that you and the family are OK That must have hurt a few days later I bet, when the bruises start to come out!! Dozey so and so I hope he was well insured Dave

Morning Martin and Welcome to the Forum See my reply to your questions in your other post, one thing conventional tyres will give you is a much better and wider choice of tyres. Dave

Morning Martin You can run conventional tyres on the rims you have without issue not sure about them giving your rims any protection from pot holes though!! some of them around here will cripple a JCB!! 1. As your car is rear wheel drive you can run run flats on one axle and conventional on the other. Cars with X drive are very sensitive to variation in rolling radius front to rear which can cause serious problems for the transfer case. 2. I wouldnt bother with the spare I carry a couple of cans of tyre goo and a small compressor (tempt fate time) and seriously can't remember the last time I had a puncture. 3.My X5 runs 255 fronts and 315 rears so as above no spare but if you read your handbook it will show what size was originally recommended 4. See 2 above the spray inflators dont give correct tyre pressue so the small compressor is required in my opinion. Convertable 3 series very nice, Good Luck Dave

Hi Richard There are some well documented issues with the early cars with N43 engines so look for one that has the N47 engine which is reputed to be better. M-sport spec is the one to go for it has most of the bells and whistles. Good luck with the hunt Dave

Morning Scooby Welcome to the Forum Good luck with your project, there a few websites that will help www.realoem.com this is a BMW online Parts List it is the same as Dealers use. It has small exploded drawings which help with location and how things fit plus of course the important Part Number so that you know you have the right part. Just put the last 7 digits of your Vin into the search box and away you go. Then there is www.newtis.info This is a BMW Technical Information site again the same as BMW Dealers use lots of information and how too's. Finally www.pelicanparts.com This is an American site and there will be little on diesels (the Yanks still think it's for big trucks only) but they have excellent how too's with pictures very useful. For Diagnostic tools I use BMW 1.4.0 loaded onto an old dedicated laptop running Windows 7 others use INPA or Carly for BMW or one of the many others now available. You will need a diagnostic tool to read the specific BMW faults Generic readers dont access all components and will give general fault codes which some times are difficult to interpret. Good Luck Dave

Sad you have made the tough decision to off load your car, good luck with whatever you decide to go with remember where we are. Sadly in the UK and Europe the major manufacturers hide all sorts of things with out a consequence, maybe a slapped wrist, at worst a dip in sales. Finding information is difficult as often a part swapped under warranty by a dealer is returned to the manufacturer so evidence disappears. Also in the UK and Europe Dealers are made aware of issues by "Technical Bulletin" and told to check and correct items at next service so issues are hidden this of course assumes that all their cars are serviced in their dealer network and excludes those who aren't. Example Vauxhall (GM) fuel delivery failures resulting in fire, it took TV programs before a recall was issued. BMW have had similar issues technical bulletin said possibility of a thermal incident ??? With the world wide recall for airbags Europe was last to issue the recall as a result we still have a hell of a lot of cars that are driven on the road every day where the owner has no idea that there is s safety issue. Go across the water to the USA and it is a different story the fear of a "class action" that could cost big $$$$$ makes manufacturers far quicker to respond to all sorts of issues Good luck for the future with whatever you buy Dave

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Hi Lee Welcome to the Forum as Trevor has said first change the Pads and Sensors. While you are in there check the ABS sensors and reluctor rings are clean. At 2005 your car is at the change point for AWD and Xdrive does your car have the 5 or 6 speed gearbox? If it's 6 speed you will have xdrive so check the fuses no 44 or 45 can't remember which check your manual. If the fuse is blown or missing you may well have a transfer box issue. With regard to HDC (Hill Descent Control) it is only active at less than 35kph (22mph) when the car is moving down hill it will reduce the cars speed to around 8kph (3mph) you can adjust speed with the =/- on the Cruise control or you could have a fuse gone?. There is also a program in the Gearbox which will select a lower gear when travelling down hill to maintain speed it works at around 30mph. DSC is a stability program that is linked to ABS not clear if you have the DSC symbol on the dash between the clocks illuminated and tried to turn it off or whether you have tried the switch? Have you disconnected the battery recently? This will illuminate the DSC symbol on the dash driving slowly forward turning lock to lock should clear the light. Rear suspension increased camber will be the lower ball joint/ rose bushes a straight forward job just remember to pull the fuse for the air suspension (right hand cubby in the boot) if the air suspension is charged you will not be able to find any movement. BMW say about 80k for the bushes is their life and they are right. when I did mine I changed I also changed the upper arms as I brought a kit. Also consider changing the bushes on the lower swing arms (2 to each arm) BMW will try to sell you a complete arm. The old swing arm bushes I pushed out using a couple of suitably sized sockets and a piece of stud, to put the new bushes in they need to be compressed I used a couple of jubilee clips to do the job then used a couple of big washers and a socket to pull them into place.Also worth checking the rear subframe bushes while your at it. Once done the ride handling is completely different.plus it will save a fortune in tyres. Dave

Morning Eric A quick check on www.realoem.com shows the 2008 E90 328i and 328xi as using the same front disc 312 x 24 PN 34116792219 If you log on to www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin number in the search box it will bring up your actual model just in case I looked at the wrong one. Dave

Morning Dereck Have you checked www.realoem.com it's a BMW parts list put the last 7 digits of your vin in the search box and it will bring up your model then search away. It will list the parts BMW supply so if the bits you want are available they will show. However BMW in their wisdom supply certain components as assemblies and don't list parts.As an example the rea suspension swing arms on the X5 are sold as an assembly, so if the £20 bushes start to wear or fail BMW want to supply a complete swing arm at £300+ Also look at www.newtis.info this is a technical site same information used by BMW Dealers lots of information and "how too's" you may find help there Another possibility is www.Pelicanparts.com it is an American site but technically very good. Particularly their how too's which have step by step pictures just that the cars they work on have the steering on the wrong side. Good luck with the search I hope you find a fix that isnt a wallet buster Dave

Morning Oneel First port of call, you need the gearbox codes read to know if it is actually a gearbox issue or something else. A ZF agent or good Independent with Autologic software a BMW Dealer or Specialist with dedicated software.will be able to read all Gearbox functions, at 40k a gearbox service is almost due so consider that also. It could be as simple as a sensor not reading intermittently or a software upgrade without the codes it is a guess which could end up with £££ and parts being thrown at the problem. Dave

Hi Peter I may be wrong but I thought the car needs to have the adaptive suspension package for you to be able to change settings. I believe you can still see the selection but nothing will change unless the full adaptive package is fitted. As to changing on the move my next door neighbour works for BMW UK his car can but then it is an auto 440 with all the bells and whistles. Dave

Morning Chris When selling set your price with a little wriggle room as with all the car shows on TV everyone will want to knock the price down Good Luck with the sale Dave

Morning Harry Have a look at www.gov.uk/check mot if you haven't already, you may be able to find the MOT station. Or at least see what sort of life its had/having. Good Luck with the search Dave

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Commiserations water in places it shouldn't be is a real pain and if it gets into looms and electrics !!! The only way I know is the hard way get a set of trim removal tools look on www.realoem.com for part numbers and get the trims then www.newtis.info for how too's Lets hope you get some dry weather to allow replacement Dave

Welcome Richard Very nice and a serious pocket rocket 😈 Enjoy Dave