crofter

Hi and welcome. You will be sick of hearing it but get it serviced asap!! Great car though!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome mate, I agree, it's a great car, I sold mine in June this year because it was suffering from lack of use, I still miss it!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome cheers crofter

Hi Dribbler, don't think you can go wrong with that, Castrol's good stuff!! cheers crofter

Hi, i have exactly the same isue with my X5. I gave my mate who is a mechanic a lift the other day and before I mentioned anything he announced "you've got a droplink gone"!! He will be looking at it soon to identify what parts are needed so I will post details here, cheers crofter

I have just serviced my X5. The majority was plain sailing but the air filter was an absolute pig!! The service manuals advise that you remove the heater and bulkhead covers which are a nuisance to come off but are ridiculously awkward to refit. Instead of removing all of them, release the windscreen wash tank instead and either remove completely or get someone to hold it out of the way. Then, use a flexible jointed drive with an allen key bit. Push your left hand down the left side of the air filter housing. At the far left corner, just above the joint you will feel an allen headed screw.(When you are refitting the cover, make sure this is the first one you tighten, this makes sure the cover is located properly). Locate the flexible drive allen key by feel then release the screw. With all the other screws released (they are held captive in the housing so dont pull them out completely!!) and a bit of shoogling the cover will (eventually!!) come off. Replace the filter then do the same in reverse to refit the cover. A couple of magnetic pick up tools are very useful to hold the screws at full extension to stop them fouling the back of the housing until it seats fully. The first change took me about 2.5 hours of swearing, cursing and skinning knuckles. Doing it this way took me about 30 minutes!! Hope this is of use, cheers crofter

Hi and welcome. I think your right re no-one having a 335d. I have not driven one but what I can say is I have had my X5 with the 3.0d engine for 2 weeks now and I am really delighted with the performance. In previous posts you will see that I have never been a fan of either diesel or autogearboxes but the X5 has changed that. My engine has been chipped but given that it's an 02 and you are looking at much more recent models I would think they would fly!! Good luck with your purchase cheers crofter

Hi and welcome mate. Just the usual buying tips, ie FSH, no weird noises,leaks or fresh paint, ask about accidents/repairs and previous owners. An HPI can give some peace of mind too, mind you, as with most used buys, so can crossing your fingers!! Just go with your gut feeling and enjoy the car!! cheers crofter

I have just bought an X5 tiptronic. Until now I have never been a fan of auto's, "too slow, thirsty, boring". 1 week on I am converted!! When you are stuck in traffic, bung it in auto. On the open road I am delighted with the tiptronic but am still forgetting if its push or pull for up or down gear!! My beloved M-Tech 328i, which had most of M3 go faster mods ie suspension, intakes, exhaust and lsd rear axle, was magic with the M3 manual gearbox and I dont think it would have suited auto but the X5 really does so I suppose it depends on the car, (either that or I am getting past it!!) cheers crofter

Hi and welcome mate, hope new job and car just round corner for you!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome from a fellow hiccupper!!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome mate, cheers crofter

Hi and welcome, M3 will be worth waiting for!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome mate, I know what you mean about site, I am still trying to get to grips with it!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome Harry, cheers crofter

Welcome mate, what a beautiful motor, only 3 more sleeps till Friday!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome from a fellow newbie, lovely motor mate!! cheers crofter

Hi and welcome from a fellow newbie. All I can say is I sold my 328i, missed it like hell and have just bought an X5. Both rate as the best cars I have owned....... cheers crofter

Hi and welcome from a fellow newbie, cheers crofter

Hi, I bought an 02 last week and have done about 1000miles already, I love it. No problems so far touch wood, maybe because I haven't found out what half the buttons do yet!! I have an invoice in the history file for a "Superchip" fitted in 2008 by Formula 1, Albert Street, Newcastle at a cost of £499. The phone number is 0191 2610383. I dont know what a standard 3.0d feels like but this thing flies. Much quicker than BMW official specs and approx 30mpg mixed driving so far (1000miles) including lots of overtaking, hills and "seeing what it will do!!" hope this helps, cheers crofter

Hi, dont know about an 04, my 02 makes no sound until you are close to an object when it starts to bleep, increasing in frequency the nearer you get. I think it's only constant when, as described above, you have "parked by ear" and hit the wall!! cheers crofter

Hi from a fellow returning newbie, cheers crofter

Hi Daz, been off site for a while now since selling 328i but back with beautiful X5. Can you tell me how to pay membership? Went through whole process on link but then couldnt pay, message saying account already paid? Cant remember when I last paid but it was more than a year ago!! pps, anyone recommend a good oil for 3.0d engine, will Castrol GTX 5/30 fully synthetic be ok? cheers Rod

Oops, flaming laptop is too sensitive, sent post half way through!! Anyway, X5 3.0dSport, unbelievable!!, what a car, it has been remapped (invoice in file for £500) dont know what standard is like but this thing is amazing, feels almost as fast as my sorely missed M-tech 328i, and 31mpg!! 300miles home and no aches pains or tiredness, magic! Sorry for drooling and slevvering but I already love it. Pete, I am in the Highlands too so know exactly what you mean, wouldn't have dreamed of taking 328 out in even really cold weather, never mind snow, it went into the garage every October to April!! Looking forward to seeing how X5 behaves. Already bought waxoyl and underseal so full home service and new tyres will be next, cheers crofter

Picked up my X5 3.0D Sport yesterday. Bought it privately from a gem of a guy called Graham in Sunderland. What a pleasure to deal with a real gentleman, so unusual sadly nowadays.