Greydog

Your Chinese switches will be probably have 3 wires the function of the 2 wire switch in your original mirrors registers the parking position at extent of travel only back to the mirror controller. If you are very lucky you may by testing discover if you can get the same signal function by trying combinations of two wires on the new mirrors but without knowing what spec the switch is it would be speculation. As would swapping switches from the old mirrors to new, mounting will probably be different. I brought micro switches which matched the original switches from Maplins, I know they are gone now but radio shack or similar will surely help. My switches were £3 each back when I brought them, I did have a problem with a broken mounting pin in the mounting cover I fixed that by drilling and a small screw and some super glue as insurance. As I said I also added a small circuit with 2 relays and a timer relay which gives me fold on lock and unfold on unlock.

The display isues you speak of are they with the new head unit or the OBC functions in the binacle between the rev counter and speedo. If your putting the mid back it's the little one that goes to the mid, it needs extending so it will reach the glove box feed it through and plug the mid back in you should then be able to reset the time/date and the other functions will be back in the binacle.

It depends on your starting point if you have the basic Business radio set up there will be a large quadloc connector behind the radio with a small spur to the mid these need extending so the Mid can be moved to the glove box. If however you have the screen and Nav up front then the Quadloc is in the boot under the spare wheel you will need an extension to conect your new Head unit to the speakers power etc. I downloaded pinout drawings from the internet for the mid and the quadloc in the boot then used some of the redundant head unit wiring to connect the mid I will see if I can find the pinouts for you

Morning Steve I assume you have the hand books and are trying to find a repair manual. There are no Haynes manuals but there is the Bentley Manual which you may find for sale they tend to be expensive though. However there are some superb websites you can use for free and download and print information as you need it or as I do sit the laptop on the bench and read from the screen. (1) www.realoem.com If you aren't already aware this is an online BMW parts website, put the last 7 digits of your Vin Number into the search box and it will bring up your model then just search for your part it has small exploded drawings plus the important part number for replacement. (2) www.newtis.info This is an online BMW Technical Information site the same as used by Dealers plenty of "how too's" and drawings as well as pictures (3) www.pelicanparts.com This is a US site so the steering wheel will be on the wrong side but some well documented "how too's" with pictures at each stage. The only thing you won't find is anything on the Diesel engine the Yanks think Diesels go in lorrys. Its frustrating that due to the different laws in the US they get all this information that BMW guard in Europe still good old Google gets over that issue. Good Luck enjoy your X5 Dave

First I have owned this X5 for 10+ years and in that time suffered 1 puncture and that was a slow puncture, so my experience is that a puncture with modern tyres is fairly rare. I went to the tyre shop and the fitter said "sorry mate we can't repair it as it is close to the edge" as my car has the complication of being 4x4 and a staggered wheel set up plus having suffered the consequence of mismatched tyres on my previous X5 what to do? Do I buy 1 tyre (tyre fitter happy to sell 1) or 2 either choice may give rolling radius issues and cause transmission damage? Do I buy 4, that would please the fitter. Or do I put the goo in and inflate the tyre which I am told is scrap anyway. Yep I put the goo in and it covered another 5k before I had to change all 4 due to wear. I think the biggest danger to tyres is side wall damage from damn potholes (current favorite hobby horse) we have section of road locally which is like a plowed field, it has cost a neighbour 3 tyres and no compensation as the holes are marked!! You just can't see them when it has rained and they look like a puddle? I have seen the plug repair kits but have never tried them so can't comment, but I do know the goo worked for me that was about 6 years ago now. I do tow a horse trailer and go mildly off road so my tyres do get proper use and this is the second set since the "puncture" I guess we all read as much as we can to gain information and then make our decision that is all we can do Dave

Have a look at www.pelicanparts.com it is an American site but apart from the steering wheel being in the wrong place their how too's are great with photographs. Also look at www.newtis.info it is a BMW Technical Information site, the same information used by dealers. Dave

I put a Dynavin unit in my 4.4 when I had that and lost the OBC I read up that others with the standard set up (ie no screen up front retained the MID unit which allows the OBC to function as normal. My 4.4 had a screen with CD Nav and TV units in the boot which became redundant like yours. I got a mid unit from Ebay then spliced it into the loom left up front and left it in the glove box Dynavin worked great and I could still use the OBC. If I can find it I will post the wiring diagram

Space saver spare is restricted speed and only a limp to a garage job and as your car is rear wheel drive it wont matter as long as it meets the spec in your hand book. My fat X5 I carry a couple of cans of tyre goo and a small compressor (BMW actually do the same as a kit) Mine cost about a 1/3rd of their price.

My sons "man flu" yesterday was alcohol induced on Saturday night 🤑

Morning Steve My X5 is real old tech so I my Ipod is connected through the Aux input by a wire!! However if you can download the Spotify App it doesn't make sense it is restricted, unless the car download is somehow a short version not the full app? I would delete and try again have you tried asking Spotify/Apple if they know why they may have a work around. Dave

As previous did you check pressures?

Morning Martin Did you check the tyre pressures? Run flats have strengthened side walls so may not visibly look as though they are flat. The software can be fickle so regular tyre pressure test are the safest in my opinion.

Clearly from your answer you know what your doing and I don't. So crack on son with your cheap Chinese mirrors that won't work unless yo modify them may as well have searched a little and brought new micro switches for the old mirrors? As an old fool who knows nothing I changed my micro switches and by adding a small circuit (my design) so my mirrors open on unlock and close on lock but still have the button function if needed.but then I did do that 10 years ago when I added CCFL halo's and see you home lights as well

Cant hear anything (but then I am old and the wife recons I only hear what I want to!!) Is the noise in the engine bay or under the car ? Dave

Hi Mark Welcome to the Forum Dave

Mornin Brime Welcome your screen is telling you there is a fault, the engine management has put the car in restricted performance mode to protect it. You need the codes read and the cause of the problem sorted to avoid damage to the car. The smoke is quite probably over fueling when you plant your big right foot. As restricted performance (limp mode) can be triggered by many issues such as but not restricted to, throttle body, MAF sensor, Fuel pressure, Injector issue, cam sensor, crank sensor, EGR, DPF, even gearbox issue the list goes on. The only way to be certain is to get the codes read, BMW Dealer (obviously the most expensive option) BMW specialist, Independent Garage with the correct software (autologic or similar) There may even be a Forum member near you who is willing to run a diagnostic for you. Without the codes we are all guessing and if you start down that road you will need a fat wallet. Dave

Have you tried simply reversing the polarity on the micro switches?

Hi Paul OK it is an X5 so in front of the gear stick you will have a switch for the parking sensors when you have the beep is the green light on the switch flashing? If it is push it and it will stop, there is a fault with 1 or more of your sensors (unplugging them just makes the control unit think they are broken). If you just want to disconnect them under the spare wheel and under the compressor housing (2 bolts and 2 nuts) lift/tilt it up you will find the battery, radio (BM54) TV etc between the back of the car and the radio unit you will see a control unit with 3 connectors on the top that is the parking sensor control unit unplug the plugs. If you have a tow bar there will be 3 connector if not 2 connectors 1 for the front 1 for the rear. As you say if you sit on the tailgate it stops bleeping I suspect a short/broken wire. Have a look at www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin in the search box and it will bring up a parts list for your car. Look in the sections it will give small exploded drawings which will help plus part numbers if you need spares BMW a Dismantler or that well known auction site. Also look at www.newtis.info you will find a load of stuff there to help, if you don't already have a BMW specific code reader I suggest getting one as working on an X5 will become a bankruptcy starter kit with out the right information I use BMW 1.4.0 on an old laptop it only cost £15 from the well known web site As an example my code reader tells me I currently have a fault with my "centre right" rear sensor Good Luck

Morning Anthony realoem is a parts list the prices are in US Dollars and are just an indication. Laws in the US mean companies like BMW have to make information available that they can hide in Europe/UK So my thinking was get the BMW part number for the X3 then cross reference it with other models, 3 series, 5 series X5 etc. As BMW don't make wiper motors they just buy them If you can get the manufacturer then try their web site (probably Bosch or Magnetti) The mechanism may be more difficult though

Hi Paul when you say you have deactivated the parking sensors what have you done? Deactivated them in the software or unplugged the parking sensor control unit? The fact that if you load up one side of the tailgate (open I assume) it stops would point to a broken or shorted cable in my mind. First thing I would do is unplug the control unit if you still have the noise I would start tracing cables to find the short. By the way all BMW's beep it is a wallet alert Dave

One last shot! Have a look at www.realoem.com if you aren't aware it is a BMW online parts list get the part number for your model then cross reference it with other models see if there is an alternative in there. Like all manufacturers a lot of parts are used across the ranges of vehicles. Dave

Morning Mark Have a look at www.realoem.com it is a BMW online parts list when the site opens click the classic section then you can put the last 7 digits of your vin number in the search box and it will bring up your model look in the trim section for the parts you need. Once you have the part numbers you can search different models Coupe, Convertible etc for common parts. A lot of parts are still available from BMW and I believe classic's get a discount plus you can try the BMW specialist dismantlers. I have used Quarry Motors in Sheffield before very helpful guys. Welcome aboard Dave

Welcome Sam Tidy car with what is one of the great engines in the world ENJOY Dave

Worth a try, BMW are brilliant aren't they even Mercedes were willing to sell me parts. I had the rear diff go BMW response "its a sealed unit sir we only supply a complete diff exchange" (so the evidence disappears) I managed to find a rebuild kit from the USA but that took some searching. Have you tried any of the BMW specialist dismantler's I have used Quarry Motors in Sheffield before and found them very helpful but there are several around the country. Dave

Try Cotswold BMW they have come up trumps for me in the past cant remember the parts guys name just google Cotswold BMW parts