Greydog

Morning Charlie Check the MOT on the Government web site https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history You will be able to check ALL MOT's plus any outstanding recalls. Quite probably a Part Exchange car. With regard to checking an engine, even a brand new motor can have mechanical failures so there can never be any concrete guarantees, however the car has covered a fairly light mileage for it's age so with a good service history and receipts for work done it seems a reasonable buy to me. Remember to still haggle, tyre condition interior condition carpets etc over mats anything that will allow you to save a bit of your hard earned Good Luck Dave

Hi Gus An intermittent fault seems more likely to be a leak somewhere, I would start with all the vacuum lines before the pressure side. Have you blanked the EGR? if you did make sure the actuator line is plugged. All the vacuum lines can be prone to cracking with age so check very carefully Good Luck Dave

Hi Charlie Welcome to the Forum Private or Dealer? Always remember you get more protection (Sale of Goods Act) buying from a Dealer No matter where you buy, service history and receipts are essential, check the MOT history a well sorted and looked after car will have few if any advisories. Make sure everything works as it should there are no "only £5 on ebay mate fixes" if there were why haven't they been done? If it still looks good then as they old saying goes "we pay our money and make our choice" Good hunting Dave

Hi Rob Welcome to the Forum Does your car have Business or Professional audio set up? To be sure look at BMW Vin Decoder put the last 7 digits of your Vin into the search box and it will bring up the build sheet for your car. Then look at www.newtis.info This is a BMW Technical information site (BMW Dealers use the same information) Vin time again then you should be able to find all you need for Test Replacement and Repair. Use www.realoem.com to find the correct part numbers for all components if you are replacing stuff. Often you will be told that items need "coding" don't be scared off. Parts will still work you will just get a tamper dot in the display you probably have one already from the aftermarket CD Changer (I take it you mean a 6 CD changer mounted in the boot) a BMW specific diagnostic program will find the problem without guess work and you can also program units to your chassis. I use BMW 1.4.0 on an old laptop it only cost about £10 and I find it invaluable. Dave

Morning Ben As the CD loads the issue is likely to be the Radio/Mid unit, if you have lost the functions normally shown in the instrument cluster when the button on the end of the indicator stalk is pushed I would say the unit is toast. Choices then are find a replacement unit Google is your friend, though for some reason even second hand BMW stuff is dear but it will keep it all OEM. Or upgrade to one of the many double din units now available, I did this in my 4.4 after 2 replacement units failed I chose a Dynavin unit (there are many others available) as it looked OEM and gave Nav, Radio, CD/DVD, Bluetooth phone and streaming etc etc.Great unit I was happy with, it gave many more modern functions Ipod connectivity on top of those mentioned. Big plus for me it looked completely OEM.no cutting or shutting just plug and play. Good Luck Dave P.S. I have pinout drawings for the loom if you ever need them

Morning You may not see to many of us as most members are UK based Keep well Good Luck Dave

Hi Ben Do you have the Nav screen or is it the Business setup ie 2 units Mid Display and CD unit If you have the Nav Screen up front then the Radio BM54 unit is in the boot under the floor If it is the Business setup it sounds like the Mid Display unit has failed possibly the CD as well, there is a company called Cartronix that I know repair and upgrade the BM54 units so a possibility for repair Or check the auction sites and BMW specialist breakers for a replacement The final option is to do what I did with my 4.4 and take out the CD/Radio set up and replace it with a Dynavin unit modern Bluetooth, Radio, CD/DVD Nav Etc Etc Dave

Morning Susan Can you smell man cow droppings!! Their own Technical Information system gives instructions for the fitting repair etc of the Comfort access Sadly Dealers vary as do their personnel my local Dealer is pathetic yet the Dealer in Guildford is great both part of the same group! Maybe start escalating to BMW UK if this fix doesn't work Good Luck Dave

Not sure what you are expecting here Yegor as cars built by BMW in the USA use the same robotic systems as they do in Germany with the same parts. Human intervention is reduced to a minimum in all car plants around the world. Positioning cameras and lasers on robots ensure parts are correct in position and all fixings tightened so assembly standards shouldn't vary. The quality of the OEM equipment and Parts are the weak point if suppliers are changed but this generally is seen across ranges no matter where they are assembled or by whom Short answer the County of origin is in the bottom left of the Vin plate if it is a concern don't buy one that says USA Dave

Afternoon Paul Welcome to the Forum I would think it has something to do with the CD player not heard of this issue before, I think you may need a diagnostic session by someone with the correct software a BMW Specialist or Dealer may be able to help. Dave

Apart from the steering wheel being in the wrong place (but that may not worry you Yegor) all parts are BMW manufacture or OEM supply the plant is assembly only so very little difference.in quality. My first 2 AMG Mercedes were assembled/manufactured in the AMG plant at Affalterbach, the last was assembled on the Mercedes production line and quality suffered Remember it is only the X3 X4 X5 ranges built in the USA Dave

Morning Yegor Welcome to the Forum Normally bottom left of the Vin plate will say Country of Manufacture The USA Manufacturing plant is in Spartanburgh South Carolina I believe it assembles X5 X4 X3 models Dave

Morning Richard Welcome to the Forum 1st. Change your garage simply clearing the light is quite frankly incompetent 2nd. You need a diagnostic read of the car by someone with a BMW specific scanner so that the problem can be identified and fixed If the issue were EGR related you would feel a drop in performance, it could be a combination of things combined with the EGR what ever it needs fixing How has it gone through it's MOT with an EML showing? Dave

Hi Susan Welcome to the Forum I have never heard of this issue with the newer cars, however with my 16 year old X5 all the access functions are enabled/disabled by a check box program within the cars control modules. My logic follows that if say "Comfort Access" is checked but the module isn't present would the control module think it was in fault and trigger the light? Probably way off but it seems logical. Of course you could suggest that to make it an easy fix they just give you Comfort Access (emphasis on GIVE) Good Luck Dave

Morning Clive There is a register of BMW Specialists try https://the-bmw-specialist-register.com/ I have only used my local guy in West Sussex Dave

Welcome Shane Good news thanks for the Information Dave

Morning Alp Welcome to the Forum Condition Condition Condition A well looked after car is generally a sign of someone caring for it, not a guarantee but an indication. Check the service history Check any MOT history, make sure everything in the car works as it should (there are no "only £5 on ebay quick fixes) then test drive. First before you start the engine make sure it is cold look underneath for any sign of leaks, check the levels oil, water etc. Now start it and let it idle no smoke or odd noises if happy test drive it. Buy with your head not your heart there are lots out there so take your time. Good Luck with the search Dave

Morning Philip Just done this very job with one of our sons friends he brought Cree 80w 6000k LED lamps from Ebay very easy fit and look really good Dave

Whoop Whoop great result Nick in another 30 years you will have caught me up getting older does have some benefits £340 on the X5 4.6is £248 on my wifes heavily modified Perrin Subaru 3.0 Outback And yes I still feel 18 at times 😂😂

Morning Claudio Welcome to the Forum Diagnostic readers can be a boon or a PITA while they can all read fault codes as you have discovered some really are not that helpful. You need a BMW specific reader such as INPA or BMW 1.4.0 The first thing they will explain what the issue is, example my Parking sensors were intermittent BMW 1.4.0 doesn't give just a code it shows Sensor rear centre right as a description. I have 1.4.0 set up on an old laptop that I use just for diagnostics BMW 1.4.0 only cost about £10 when I got it Now your problem, a lot of SRS issues are caused by the seat occupancy sensors and connectors particularly after a car has had a few years of "bums in seats" If you haven't already check www.realoem.com a BMW online parts list put the last 7 digits of your Vin in the search box it will bring up your model. This will give 2 things 1 a small exploded drawing so you can see how things fit 2 part numbers so you know your getting correct replacements. Also look at www.newtis.info use your Vin again or just search the model info. This is a BMW technical information site that will give you the same information as a BMW Dealer to allow repair and fault location. Hope this helps Dave

Not heard of that one before Stu Mind I try to avoid bouncing off rocks and stuff !! More a leisurely stroll with the dogs

Morning Breck When I ran the Mercedes estates I used a piece of cord carpet that I stuck to the under side of the boot liner so that when I opened the boot it could be folded out to protect the bumper when the dogs hopped in and out. The carpet came as an offcut from Carpet Right and they hunted around and found some black to match the carpet colour in the car. I fixed it in place with double sided carpet tape. We use the same system with my wife's Subaru Outback. Or you could check www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin into the search box it will bring up your model. Then search to see if one is available. Dave

Morning Tony It's amazing how they get there isn't it, we don't have any trees close by but I still get leaves and debris there?? I use a crevice tool on the hoover and a soft 1" paint brush seems to work well Dave

Yes he is it's a Fiesta 😂

Hi James On my X5 (earlier E53) if I turn on the ignition with the expansion cap off ( tested mine by putting the car in D so I could turn to the engine run position with out cranking) the Auxiliary pump circulates water into the expansion tank. I would guess that if yours isn't doing it then you may have a faulty Auxiliary pump. The procedure they show in Newtis for your model is, Venting cooling system: Brake bleeding procedure is maintained automatically for a set period of time. During this time, marginal conditions are continuously checked and the brake bleeding procedure is automatically terminated in the event that these are violated. The following preconditions are continuously monitored by the DDE and must be adhered to in order to maintain the brake bleeding procedure: Automatic transmission in position "N" or "P". Manual gearbox clutch not operated. Engine at idle (presses on accelerator are possible). driving speed is less than 3 km/h. Coolant temperature on engine start <50°C. Starting the brake bleeding procedure: Switch on ignition. Set heater to maximum temperature and turn blower down to lowest speed. FES (driving experience switch) must not be in ECO PRO! Press accelerator pedal for 10 seconds to floor. Start the engine within 30 seconds. If the engine is not started within 30 seconds, the function is reset. If the brake bleeding procedure needs to be performed again (e.g. in the event of a leaking cooling system), allow DME to fall completely (leave ignition key removed for approx. 3 mins) then repeat from point 1. Once the function has been started, a counter runs (10 minutes) whilst the aforementioned marginal conditions are satisfied. Once this period has expired or in the event that the aforementioned marginal conditions are violated, the function switches automatically to normal operation. Then adjust fluid level in the coolant expansion tank to maximum. I guess you are following those instructions ? So a code read is needed to let you know if your Auxiliary pump is working Dave