2001 BMW X5 3.0i - Soft-Roading on the Cheap

[*insertusernamehere*]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see it in person soon, I've never been in this gen X5 and always wanted to!

It is, quite literally, an E39 Touring on stilts. Not a terrible place to sit. The original speakers are kinda blown but have enough left in 'em to blast It's Raining Men at full volume with no distortion. Will be perfect for our trip.

Hallelujah!

[Jake]

The turn signals were both out, I think because they were old bulbs and I messed with them a bunch. I swapped the left tail light for the OEM unit and plan to do the same with the right side, once I acquire bulb holders. The cheap smoked aftermarket units look okay but don't match the front of the car (front has amber corners) and the wiring adapters are chintzy.

Managed to get a complete set of working bulbs and I now have functional turn signals and brake/running lights! Took the X5 to a friend's place for dinner last night and it drove well to and from. It is amazing how heavy the steering is - just typical BMW of the era, really - and I can see why Karen McLexus wanted something with lighter effort for daily driving to soccer practice and Orangetheory.

[JPolen01]

I love that you bought this to beat up on the trails and are driving it casually to dinner.

[.RJ]

well how else is he supposed to get his no whip soy mochachino?

[JPolen01]

well how else is he supposed to get his no whip soy mochachino?

On an electric scooter he finds on the sidewalk blocking the door of his apartment building. Duh

[ScottyB]

I love that you bought this to beat up on the trails and are driving it casually to dinner.

plot twist: the trail challenge was a cover, he just wanted to nurse another broken BMW back to health.  this process is how he derives his powers

[SlimKlim]

It is amazing how heavy the steering is - just typical BMW of the era, really - and I can see why Karen McLexus wanted something with lighter effort for daily driving to soccer practice and Orangetheory.

If they're the same as the E46/39, there was a technical update around 03-04 to make the PS unit more powerful and reduce the steering effort, I remember intentionally choosing the older one for my E46.

[.RJ]

I love that you bought this to beat up on the trails and are driving it casually to dinner.

plot twist: the trail challenge was a cover, he just wanted to nurse another broken BMW back to health.  this process is how he derives his powers

[Jake]

It is amazing how heavy the steering is - just typical BMW of the era, really - and I can see why Karen McLexus wanted something with lighter effort for daily driving to soccer practice and Orangetheory.

If they're the same as the E46/39, there was a technical update around 03-04 to make the PS unit more powerful and reduce the steering effort, I remember intentionally choosing the older one for my E46.

It's the same as the E39 with nearly every other drivetrain component so you're likely correct... I drove a LCI 4.8is that would have had the newer PS unit but this was years ago so I just remember thinking it was pretty because of the big wheels and fender flares.

[Jake]

I've been driving the X5 to work all week. It's been mostly pleasant and the heady "old BMW smell" really makes me feel like I'm back in the shitboxes of days long gone.

Naturally, the right rear window regulator failed when I got to work this morning. New Dorman unit is on the way from Amazon.

[.RJ]

the heady "old BMW smell" 

i want to bathe in it

[Senor_Taylor]

the heady "old BMW smell" 

i want to bathe in it

+1

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Jake]

Y'all can bathe in it while changing my O2 sensor and window regulator...

[.RJ]

I'm in. IMMERSE MY SENSORIES IN OLD GERMAN LUXURY

[Jake]

Well the old regulator came out in about ten minutes. Door panels pop off easily, clips don't break, and regulator is held in with three bolts. I got the window glass shoved back up in the tracks so it's "closed" and should be fine just sitting under my apartment parked.





The little piece off on its own (attached to the cable) I believe gets clipped to the bottom of the window glass. Or something. I have no idea how this stays together. In any case, I bought the new regulator and clips. The regulator is stamped 03/01 so it is original to the car. Might as well replace it while the whole thing is apart, even if it turns out the issue is just with the clip.

[Jake]

SO I leave for my trip on Thursday afternoon. Haven't updated this thread in a little bit, but here we are.

Window regulator got fixed and that window now shoots up and down like a fine slap-chop. The others all work okay, though I wonder which one will go next. I also got the AC blowing cold again with a can of AC Pro. When my friend Jack and I hooked the can up the first time, the gauge showed it was at "caution" levels of pressure and to not add any juice. I tried again on Saturday and it was in the "empty" zone, so I shot the whole can in the system and it's cold now. I'm sure there is a leak somewhere, but in the spirit of "this only has to last me six days," then I think it's fine.

Driving to work today, I noticed a few instances of steady throttle application leading to a complete, very brief drop from 2500 rpm or so down to idle and then back to the desired RPM. Tom had noticed some transmission fluid leaking when we first worked on the X5, so I dropped it off at the little Exxon service center near my client site this morning and asked them to check and top off the trans fluid. It's a GM 5L40E so hopefully they can throw some Dexron in it and party on.

Someone on the X5 forums mentioned the DISA valve could be failing, so I ordered one of those for same-day delivery from Amazon today. Hopefully between the two items, she can hold together for the trip.

[Apoc]

The 911 does that throttle thing under load, almost always when in second gear. I've had it to three different shops, including an old Porsche guy who could diagnose most problems over the phone, and no luck determining the cause.

[Jake]

The 911 does that throttle thing under load, almost always when in second gear. I've had it to three different shops, including an old Porsche guy who could diagnose most problems over the phone, and no luck determining the cause.

Interesting, especially given you're with a manual trans and throttle cable. This is drive by wire which adds a layer of complexity. 

If nothing else, the trans fluid check is good for my peace of mind.

[Steve85]

 I also got the AC blowing cold again with a can of AC Pro. When my friend Jack and I hooked the can up the first time, the gauge showed it was at "caution" levels of pressure and to not add any juice. I tried again on Saturday and it was in the "empty" zone, so I shot the whole can in the system and it's cold now. I'm sure there is a leak somewhere, but in the spirit of "this only has to last me six days," then I think it's fine.

The leak stop in that stuff is legit, both daughters are going on two years of functional AC since using it.

[Jake]

Well, we're home! What an epic weekend. I am putting a full video together of our adventures, but here's some teasers until then.

$1500 AWD cars:

• 2001 BMW X5 3.0
  
• 2005 Volvo XC90 V8
  
• 2001 Subaru Forester S
  
• 1995 Subaru Legacy 5-speed
  
• 1994 Chrysler Town & Country AWD
  

Support vehicles:

• 2004 Land Rover Discovery II 
  
• 2001 Toyota Tacoma 2WD + Diff Locker
  
• 2005 Lexus GX470
  
• 2011 Jeep Wrangler
  

We ran Flagpole Knob on Friday and Peters Mill Run on Saturday. Flagpole was pretty simple, and Peters Mill was not. It was rocky, muddy, and washed out in places. With that said, every vehicle completed both days of the journey under their own power and we never once deployed a tow rope. The Legacy was riding on some WRX wheels with teeny-sidewall tires, and eventually busted one on Saturday. They completed the trail on a donut spare. The Town & Country's (third) transmission had enough by the end of Saturday, and the owners drove it 45 minutes to dinner on I-81 stuck in 3rd gear. Once cooling down, it found all the other forward gears again.

The X5 did very well, even on Walmart-special Black Lion tires. I think with some actual all-terrains, it would be pretty capable. We had one mud pit that was a huge challenge toward the end of Saturday's trail, and the van and I elected to go around instead of through. It worked but we got some pretty solid hang time. More to come soon. Also, I'm selling a 2001 X5.