Greydog

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.

Have a check on www.realoem.com you can search the 3.0i X5 engine and other models so you will be able to make better comparison. It is only my opinion but I would guess that the basic engines are the same but the mounting of ancillary's will differ model to model. Do you need a complete engine or can you rebuild the one you have? I hope this helps, good luck with the project

Those stilts would do it DazH, just leave the roof open!!

Unless its to late to add to your order or worse extends the delivery!! Good luck and enjoy the new car

How weird that the mirrors don't show on the option list !! I guess you have asked BMW, crazy I have a friend who has just taken delivery of a new (2014) F25 X3 (with power folding mirrors) and a new (2014) Mini Cooper without folding mirrors ?? The BMW Dealer and BMW UK told him you have to have power memory seats to have power folding mirrors he asked how much the seats were for the mini and was told "Oh we don't do those for the Mini" crazy. He has however found a kit online which allows folding of the mirrors from the key fob??? As has been said earlier this is something that's pretty much standard on cars costing less than a third of the price of a BMW. So come on BMW wake up!!

Check the drop links?

A cautionary note ! My first X5 (and my first used car for many years) had a full Dealer history (80k) yet when it was serviced at a trusted BMW specialist the oil filter was jammed in the housing with thick black sludge, clearly it hadn't been changed for some time!! When buying a used car always assume the worst then you will get few nasty surprises service indicators can be reset without doing any work at all. Your car has missing stamps in the book the last owner may have been meticulous or not there is little way of telling. My advice is to assume nothing has been done and carry out a full inspection 2 service then you know where you are coming from. If servicing yourself keep all receipts in a folder as proof when selling on.

If you have the service book look at the last few pages they will tell you what is checked/changed at each service. There will be clues as to how the car has been maintained, what colour is the oil on the dip stick ? If its clean chances are it was at least given oil changes, if its thick and black !!! It depends on how handy you are with spanners or whether you need some support from a good local garage (BMW independent) I would go for a full level 2 service and change all filters and oils in diffs and transfer box at least then you know where you are starting from (remember a stamped book means its been in a garage/dealers but is no guarantee work has been carried out to the correct standard) Suspension will need a good check bushes need changing at around 80k or so tyre wear is the main symptom www.realoem.com will let you see drawings to help enter the last 7 digits of your chassis number to see your specific model Good Luck

Have a look at www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your chassis number in then open "engine" then "Lubrication system" that will bring up the spec for your car so can be sure. I just pulled up this in a general search could it be item 2 ?

!Removed! Kids !!