Greydog

Have you got the correct contact ring with the steering wheel and is the loom fitted between the gearbox and steering column. I take it your car is Auto?

It depends on whether your Navigation is CD based Mk3 or DVD based Mk4? Is your Nav computer working? Just wondering why no disc? If you look at the front of the Nav unit a Mk4 will have a DVD logo clearly visible. The Mk3 CD based unit will only have UK maps and cant be upgraded to allow Post Code search etc due to capacity, as far as I am aware. The DVD based systems will be full European maps plus can be upgraded to Post Code search speed cameras etc. If your buying OEM Nav Discs make sure they are the "High" version not Professional if your looking to upgrade there are a number of sources but I would take care the DVD Nav units don't like copied or cloned discs and some it is claimed have contributed to failure of the DVD Laser head. The Mk3 (up to 2002) and Mk4 (2002 0n) Nav computers were used across the BMW range, all models including the Mini. So your disc wont need to be X5 specific. As for the CD Changer cartridge my first X5 had spare Nav computer and CD Changer loose in the boot when I brought it. The Nav computer has a new home already but if you want the CD changer your welcome to it it is complete but I don't know if it works, it.s been sitting in the garage for 3 years or so. You cant be to far away in Hampshire, PM me if your interested.

Hi Wow just reading your post the dealer sounds an arrogant ****!! They (Dealer & BMW) have not full filled your original order yet he gives a "take it or leave it" option with the threat of lost discount if you reject the car, words fail me. I have read on other forums that heated rear seats are a fairly easy retro fit (well on the E53) as all the looms are there it's a case of getting the seats switches and relays. The big issue would be finding seats which match your interior (colour and condition) but why should you risk warranty etc. A question I would ask is, why can't your dealer get the seats direct from BMW and retro fit them ?? After all it is a !Removed! up by them (Dealer and BMW) all they would be doing is full filling your original order. I personally would put as much pressure on the Dealer as possible including being prepared to walk away with your money, plus seek compensation for delay, distress etc etc, and remember it's the end of the month and they won't want a big hole in their sales target and fat commissions (probably the reason for the cavalier take it or leave it).

Could be exhaust sensor pre-cat or after act if you have them

Have a look at this it may help to decide what or where the noises are http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/BMW_M60_M62_M62TU_Engine_Scary_Noises.htm

Checked under the spare wheel? Checked the Cubby on the right side? and might sound daft but checked both back seats are located and locked in place?

Hi Neil My 4.4 started to develop problems with the Nav and TV module, the remedy would have been to replace both units. Even sourcing from Ebay the cost looked to be in the order of £500, the cost of replacing with an aftermarket unit was around £400. I looked at both units as I wanted to retain as much as possible the OEM look. I used a Hualigan unit which looked good the only fiddle was a long interface cable loom is required if you have the 16.9 screen with Nav etc which I did. It runs from the boot to the front of the car worse for me as I had LPG so the OEM radio connections are under the tank in the boot. Once fitted the headunit is a straight swap, I found extension adapters for the Antennas and used the cars built in antennas to keep the OEM look as much as possible. The unit gave Bluetooth (Phone and A2DP) CD/DVD, Radio, DVB TV, Ipod connection, SD card, USB the list goes on. So how did it compare? well generally the unit performed really well easy to use with a simple user interface. Downside? the radio receiver was not the best with flaky reception in some areas of the UK and you loose the OBD for temp, fuel. etc. As I understand it these units have come a long way in just the last 3 years so may be the radio issue has been fixed now? Plus some one will come up with an interface I am sure to let the unit communicate with the I-bus so the OBD function can be retained My current X5 has the OEM set up and it all works so no need to consider a change or an upgrade but if there were problems or issues where cost of repair outwayed the cost of a replacement then I wouldn't hesitate. Likewise if I had a Business CD radio set up with no screen it really is plug and play. Hope this helps

Take care taking the outer cover off the clips can be broken easily !! The rest is fairly straight forward some have just "reshaped" the trigger arm on the limit switch. Good Luck

Do a search on You Tube there are several Videos on how to dis-assemble and fix the door mirrors A fiddly job mine was one of the mounting pins broken I drilled it and glued a replacement in place been fine for 6 months. If one mirror is broken it affects both

We initially were looking for a large 4x4 to tow a horse box, so looked at quite a few in our local area. Range Rover, Discovery's, Toyota Amazon, X5 plus many others. We narrowed the list and I went online and searched and researched the forums just looking for the common faultsand read the buyers guides. We settled on a 4.4 X5 with LPG and my advice is this. Mechanically check the history if its BMW you can talk to them and verify (I did) don't assume that if the book is stamped that a full service has been done it may have just been an Oil Change ( I budgeted for a service after delivery and used it to negotiate) Take the car for a really good test drive while your doing it make sure all gearbox functions (Sport Manual) work as they should smoothly any strange noises or vibration walk away. Make sure all accessories work, and I do mean all these are complicated cars and fixing things can be costly and drive you insane (just read some of the forums) If the seller tries to tell you "its a simple fix" ask yourself why they haven't done it? Check the tyres carefully they are not cheap to replace so get on your knees and make sure wear is even. When we brought the first X5 the Garage offered "to service the car before delivery" I suggested they knock the price down and I would get it done at a BMW specialist with this and a few other bits and bobs we got £800 off the asking price. The car was brilliant (not perfect) but did everything we wanted and more until January when a 100' Cedar fell on it, definitely broke it!! After our initial X5 experience we replaced it with another this time a 4.6is still very happy with our Beemer. So do your research take your time and be prepared to walk away if its not right or working. Good luck and enjoy driving it (by the way there is very little difference between 3.0i and a 4.4 in mpg)

I know, can I get the wife to hoover it properly??? even brought an extension lead, the things I have done for that woman!! I have learned that close supervision hurts!!!

A friend has a 2010 M3 and has the same issue you have??? In my E53 I use an FM transmitter for my I-pod which works OK but obviously no control from the headunit. Considering my cars technology is 11 years old that is to be expected and if I wanted too can be upgraded. Frustrating as our neighbours son has a 2007 Peugeot that has BT streaming as standard????? BMW strike again!! John with the M3 suggested looking at this thread he found http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/92049-easy-bluetooth-a2dp-streaming-music-mod.html

I thought you had A2DP in your model? I am sure I have read somewhere that there is an option in the Bluetooth menu for Audio try doing a Google search?

We were looking at the weekend 2145 Mirrors out 1938 mirrors in is what we were told, that is about 7ft and 6ft 6 in old money. So its a couple of inches wider than the E53 mirrors in or out.

Sounds like a result. While your waiting for the kit to arrive have a look on ebay for a storage holder for the tow hook when its not in use mine has a clamp that holds it on the left side of the spare wheel well. Also I would check out you tube for fitting videos I did that when upgrading to bluetooth some excellent how too's on there. Good luck Dave

As I understand it most of the wiring is done and in place there should be a black connector up against the front of the spare wheel well. There is a little black relay/box that disconnects the rear parking sensors when the electrics are plugged in it should be in the kit for Witter or Westfalia or any decent manufacturer. There should be a removable center piece in the back bumper on the E53 so no cutting required. Both mine were fitted when I brought the cars as towing was the reason for having the X in the first place.

I brought the X5's to tow a horse box so both have had tow bars fitted the first had a fixed Witter tow bar the current one has the OEM removable one. I believe it's made by Westfalia, I prefer the removable having had both, its tidier when not needed. Tow ball height has been fine on both cars ( I have to admit I never gave it a thought until this post? ) What I can vouch for is the X makes a very competent tow car in my experience.

You are right the design is rubbish, it should have had doughnut at each end with a full length drive sleeve in the Transfer box. I hope you get it sorted without to much financial pain. Welcome by the way

It will probably be the chain in the transfer box that seems to be the culprit if your getting a grinding noise. If you have the transfer box down open it up and have a look.

I have read about a shaft with an extended spline but they have all been talked about on the US forums. I believe the company is in California What symptoms are you getting?

Try Googling BMW 1.4.0 scanner for about 20 euro you can get yourself up and running on a lap top, you can read all your codes and reset if necessary. All errors have a straight forward explanation so easy to understand I use one myself and even though I use a BMW specialist it is useful to know what the issue is before I get there (he is starting to believe I am a BMW guru) There are many small things that I do my self PDC repairs for one.

Do you have the business radio with tape or CD above, or the 16.9 screen with Nav? If you have the former there are several companies who do pixel repairs for the radio and instrument cluster. Or check out Ebay for replacement if you want to stay OEM. The alternative is a replacement head unit Dynavin, Hualigin or similar which will give DVD/CD Nav, TV, Bluetooth etc.

Not all were fitted with an external amp and sub woofer, though the wiring is in place in most if you look in the rear right hand cubby you will see a blue plug this is for the sub.

Not enough information ? What year is your X5 ? What system the Business Radio or Screen with Nav? First is to check with a meter if you have output at the speakers themselves. If there is output then the speakers are probably at fault (you have checked left right balance settings?) If there is no output then it could be the radio module BM24 or newer BM54 there are several companies who now repair and upgrade the radio units. This may help with checking connections and wiring. X5 Radio Module and Amp Information 2002 and newer Radio Module - w/Nav Pin No. / Wire Color / Function Large Black Plug x18126 1 / Blue-Black / Right Rear + output to amp (twisted with 5) 2 / Blue-Red / Right Front + output to amp (twisted with 6) 3 / Yellow-Red / Left Front + output to amp (twisted with 7) 4 / Yellow-Black / Left Rear + output to amp (twisted with 8) 5 / Blue-Black / Right Rear + output to amp (twisted with 1) 6 / Blue-Red / Right Front + output to amp (twisted with 2) 7 / Yellow-Red / Left Front + output to amp (twisted with 3) 8 / Yellow-Black / Left Rear + output to amp (twisted with 4) 9 / White-Yellow bands / I-bus? 10 / White-Brown / Mute from phone? 11 / White-Green / ? 12 / Brown / Ground 13 / White / Remote on-off to amp 14 / Grey-Red / Dash illumination (dimmer) 15 / Red-Green / +12v from battery (not switched) 16 / Violet-White / +12v from ignition (ACC and RUN) small white plug x13598 Pin No. / Wire Color / Function 1 / / No function 2 / White-Brown / Audio common from 6CD player 3-7 / / No connection 8 / White-Red / Audio Left Channel from 6CD player 9 / White-Blue / Audio Right Channel from 6CD player 10 / / No Connection 11 / NAV / TV Audio + 12 / NAV / TV Audio - NEW Small black plug: x13649 plug Pin No. / Wire Color / Function 1 / Tape left + 2 / Tape left - 3 / Left Connection for AUX Input 4 / Right Connection for AUX Input 5 / NAV / TV Audio + 6 / White-Black / Phone audio + Positive 7 / Tape right + 8 / Tape right - 9 / No connection 10 / AUX Input Ground 11 / NAV / TV Audio + 12 / Brown-Black / Phone Audio - Groundv2000 - 2001 Radio Module - w/Nav Pin No. / Function 1 / Speaker - Front Left (+) 2 / Speaker - Front Right (+) 3 / Speaker - Rear Left (+) 4 / Telephone Mute 5 / +12v from ignition (ACC and RUN) 6 / Speaker - Rear Right (+) 7 / DAC - i-bus 8 / Speaker - Front Left (-) 9 / Back Up (?) (terminal 30 - Fuse F56) 10 / GAL - speed signal 11 / Speaker Front Right (-) 12 / Speaker Rear Left (-) 13 / Nighttime Illumination Signal 14 / Speaker Rear Right (-) 15 / Ground 16 / Auto Antenna - diversity 17 / Not Used (LAC) x18805: Pin No. / Function 1 / Audio Cassette Right (+) 2 / Audio Cassette Right (-) 3-4 / No connection 5 / Low Frequency Signal (-) - Nav Control Module / Video Module 6 / Audio Cassette Left (+) 7 / Audio Cassette Left (-) 8-9 / No Connection 10 / Low Frequency Signal (+) - Nav Control Module / Video Module x01037 Pin No. / Function 1 / Low Frequency Voltage Signal CD Changer Left 2 / Low Frequency Voltage Signal CD Changer Right 3 / Shield - audio shield 4-5 / No Connection 6 / Low Frequency Voltage Signal CD Changer Left 7 / Low Frequency Voltage Signal CD Changer Right 8-10 / No ConnectionThe following link is diagram of the X5 hi-fi amplifier (non-DSP). You will need the Adobe SVG plug-in to view it.http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/crew/u...0000014774.svg Or you can piece together these three images: Image 1 Image 2 Image 3In case you are not familiar with the German colors BR brown GE yellow GN green OR orange VI violet GR grey SW black WS white RT red BL blue TR transparent In the diagram the module N9 is the radio (or the Business CD unit), H55 is the left front midrange speaker, and H54 is the right right front midrange speaker, both being on top of the dash. Signals TLH+/- are for the rear left woofer Signals MTHL+/- are for the midrange speaker/tweeter, rear left Signals TLV+/- are for the front left woofer Signals HLV+/- are for the front left tweeter Signals HRV+/- are for the front right tweeter Signals TRV+/- are for the front right woofer Signals MTHR+/- are for the midrange speaker/tweeter, rear right Signals TRH+/- are for the rear right woofer

I believe one reads lower levels the other higher (don't have a clue why) I also believe one is easy the other a real pig to change. I read a post on another forum. Have a look on www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your chassis number in and it will bring up the spec for your car, at least you will be able to see where they are and how they fit. If you know someone with a BMW scanner get the codes read that may identify the guilty part with more accuracy.