Should've removed the front stiffening bar on top of the radiator to gain access to the belts and pulleys, if you need more room the radiator fan comes off easy, but anyways love the videos, big fan from Mexico Saludos
You buy an SUV from a simple reason: Because you like it 🙂 If you like it ,end of story ,no need to question someone's taste ,people are different. Keep it up 👍
The rear seat indentations looks like they had a car seat. My newest project, 2011 BMW 335i had similar indentations. I used a heat gun and rubbed the marks with my hand and now the seats look new. Just make sure to not get the leather too hot and keep the gun moving (don’t concentrate in one spot very long).
Is it a N55 engine? If so, may I ask you what's the issue with it? I thought the n55 was way more reliable than the n54, I'm currently looking for a 335i E92, but I specifically want a post LCI one because of the N55 engine (thus making it harder to find, not to mention the prices which went absolutely mad up for no reason for the past year), so I'd be curious to have your take on this engine and reliability.
@@BXtremP I bought a 2011 335i M Performance Edition. It has 79,000 miles and is in really great condition. I am bringing it back to oem+ condition. The N55 is very reliable. This is my third one. I also had a F80 M3, which is based on the N55. I don’t have any engine issues, just cosmetic and maintenance. I have changed oil, plugs, air and cabin filter. Also will be changing rotors(R1 Concepts drilled and slotted , pads, painting calipers, just waiting on warmer weather. I am getting the front bumper and hood painted and a paint correction, with new roundels and M sport oem grills. Lastly, I have new wheels and tires on order. The E90/E92 is a great daily, fun car with fantastic steering feel. Good luck finding one! Sorry Sreten, I didn’t mean to hijack your post. Any chance of you restoring a E90/E92 335i or M3? That would be a lot of fun to watch!
@@chuckehrlich Good luck on your project, yea the e92 is an amazing car, and I vouche to see one in Sreten's hands one day, of course the 335i would be the best, cause M3 is a v8, that's a cool car but kinda a blasphemy for a M3, and Sreten looks like he's having his fair share of V8 lately, lol.
@@chuckehrlich honestly, I am waiting on a channel to treat an 335i with the same level of care that Sreten has for his bmw's. I always liked the ideea of the owning the platform but not being mechanically driven I feel like I would get extorted by shops everytime a check lights in the dash. I feel like the car is still a bit too new and not that much of a challenge, like it's not at the point where you would have to do exhaustive restoration unless the previous owner was a knob.
A couple of other common things on the E70 to look out for. 1) The rear door seals (on the vapor barrier) tend to leak like a sieve. This results in water accumulating in the rear foot wells, which obviously can cause a lot of bigger issues if left unrepaired. 2) The interior door handles. The "inside" of the handles (facing away from the passenger) have some sort of rubberized "comfort grip" that breaks down after a few years and turns into sticky goop.
One high quality garage left a long screwdriver bit under the bonnet of my old S6 - so I'm fully on board with checking for screws, random lumps of metal etc
23:47 To check for play/wear in that type of control arm ball joint (lower, load bearing, ball joint) you lift the car under the control arm. This is done to lift suspension without tensioning the ball joints. To check for wear you apply force from under the tire with a crowbar and look for play in the ball joints. Your videos are always a pleasure to watch! // TÜF inspector
most non accident cars from Dubai are very good return potential cars. often times they have easily fixable issues that Dubai mechanics cannot fix because they lack knowledge and experience to repair them. any serious car repair mechanics should definitely try their hand in Dubai import cars. you'll find some serious luxury cars that are very easy to flip. its a win win deal if you can deal with paperwork ;)
@@lordjaashin yesnt. A lot of them are abused with low mileage, after all ppl in dubai change cars much more often, particularly when we're talking about pricier rides. Most times Dubai imports are pretty problems, unless your country isn't a SOAB when it comes to tax imports (which Europe isn't very keen on).
@@rrs_13 of course they're abused and therefore sold because it has problems. otherwise why would you find such luxury cars for sale and for such price? lol use your brain and understand what I'm saying. yes Dubai cars have problems but they are nothing that a talented mechanic cannot fix and flip it for nice profit. even with import taxes there is still a fat profit margin to be made. you just have to be keen eye and only buy cars which have demand back in your home country. theres a reason why this market is growing and more & more people turning towards this peculiar source of "oasis" to make big bucks.
@@lordjaashin the only thing dubai cars have that pumps up their value besides residing in a rust-free climate is the residue of rich people drugs in the mirros, dashboard and upholstery. Other than that, they suffer the typical careless ownership of people with money to buy a new car like if it were a pair of shoes. Which, if you're a talented mechanic, you'll spot at a distance and avoid. Also, the "imported dubai car market is growing" is something I have heard ever since dubai got it's first skyscrapper, and I've heard it too many times now to ever believe it, particularly now that Dubai is entering stagnation and that oil money running out is becoming an ever increasingly closer event.
@@rrs_13 ah you're so desperate that you've started bringing in off topic tangents like oil money. lol what does it have anything to do with used car market? looks like you have some bias or some irrational hatred that is coloring your viewpoint to myopic opinion. thats cool. more money for the rest. most Dubai cars have oil burning/leak problems or head gasket issues. these issues are not repaired by mechanical engineers who come from poor countries like India or Pakistan. that is why these luxury cars end up cheap on used cars market. these type of issues are easily repaired by mechanics in first world countries who have access to better equipment like serdi and have technical know how to repair it according to factory specs. it doesn't matter if rich Dubai people change cars frequently or drive it hard. it just means more car options on used market. win win for people like me
He could even get a different brand vehicle, and i am still on board, because he is so funnny, but so thorough in doing any repairs. I hope to see him get married one of these day's, and introduce his girlfriend. I'm wondering if she has the same great sense of humor, and ocd lol. I do understand if he doesn't ever show her, you keep your prize close to your heart, and don't expose her to people who have no sense. God bless.
The actual airbag is the same between all steering wheels. If you pull out the airbag from the cover you'll be able to install it in the M steering wheel cover. It's also a good idea to check the sunroof drains before water kills the electronics in the tailgate
Excellent mechanic guy. I wish to train mechanics with him. For a German guy, he speaks good English. He is very organized, clean and he doesn't talk too much to explain anything. I will rate him with the 5 stars. Vielen Dank.
the oil burn will 100% make you not pass TUV, I would just fix the issues and try to pass tuv, because cats don't really make that huge of a difference as long as there are some.
I wish your videos were twice as long, as I wait impatiently for each one of them to watch the next BMW go back together properly while you keep us entertained at the same time. Top of the line channel. Great work.
@@kurray10 It's the ZF8 automatic called "sport automatic" you have to code, affects both drivetrain, enables Sports+, and shows dash S1, S2, etc. You also have a different shifter and have to get paddles for the steering..
@@Roflmfaoftw I think the shifter from the sport automatic should work anyway, but I'm not 100% sure. Hasn't even been there a sport automatic ZF 6HP as well?!
The E70 is the best looking German SUV, 11 years after the last one was built its styling still looks current. Much better than the current offering by BMW. I OWN A 2013 e70 X5M. It’s unbelievable fast, stops on a dime, it will pass everything, but a gas station. But, I still love it.
Gosh how much I love this man and the videos, the humor always makes my day sooo much better! Also check out the xDrive transfer case, at this mileage they usually need a rebuild. Usual symptoms are that under acceleration the car tends to jerk and hesitate, feels like fuel cuts out. I have experience with an X5 F15 with 110k km, which is already on its third transfer case.
I had that same jerking under acceleration on my 2012 x5 and it was something with the front drive shaft idk what Bc I haven’t got around to fixing it yet I just took the shaft out and drove it without fwd
I've seen that its not always the valve stem seals with the N62 and its worth taking a look at the CCV system first, failing that if the seals have only just started going a shot of Forte seal conditioner in the oil can plump them back up again and solve the issue, it wont work immediately and you have to drive the car for a couple hundred K's to let it do its thing but it does work.
I’ve also had success with Forte seal stuff but it did come back after a few years, so maybe you need to keep using it. Sreten won’t be able to give it time to work anyway because it won’t pass TÜV.
Liqui moly Motor Oil Saver is another product. My X5 48i has 113,000 miles and I replaced the CCV system and all of its components. Keeping the valve stem issue at bay here. Also will be doing very regular oil changes.
I have the same car as you , vacuum leaks cause it to suck oil into the manifold and burn it. Its probably cause by your vacuum pump seal leaking; it was on mine. Before you do the valve seals fix that leak and smoke test it. I'll watch your future video's with interest. Good Luck
Had an 2007 version of this beast. Fantastic… crazy how such a large car can move so fast and effortlessly. One of the best v8 sounds. Looking forward to the rebuild vids
As a e70 owner myself, I'm really looking forward to this project! I am hoping that you will try and tackle the interior rattles and squeaks, so I can replicate myself.. it's driving me nuts. :)
As always, a pleasure to watch an Episode from M539 Restoration Channel! Every single seal will be maintained! Especially when you preparing an SUV for a person who you love and take care of! Hello from Ukraine!
Great work, as always! And I really want to thank you for normalizing eye and hearing protection. Too many people place some weird toxic machismo over being able to hear anything past age 30.
I really like my 2018 X5; it tows our trailer, hauls our kid, dogs, mountain bikes, surf boards, skis. Great for road tripping, makes it through snowy days. Doesn't handle as well as a station wagon, but those aren't common in Canada and dent have the same tow rating here. It's comfortable and sporty enough.
Ive been following this channel for years and always loved the content. Last month I bought an E70 X5 that needs pretty much the exact same things that you're doing to yours! Finding this in my news feed this morning was a pleasant surprise :D
Definitely from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Ours had exactly the same faults. The brittle rubber seals on the plastic valances in the engine bay were a throwback. Everything plastic or rubber became brittle and the soft touch material on the inside of the door pull handles melted so I had to remove it with panel wipe. Lost a lot of money on the car but we did love it while it lasted.
I think you’ll be surprised with the view counts on this series. Looking forward to watching the progress. Please do a nice sounding quality exhaust on this one !
Hi Sreten, love your content. Ever since i started watching your channel i stopped watching the other car 'build' youtubers because they feel so amateur when it's a 25min video about fitting bumpers haha. Keep up the good work. looking forward to the alpina getting resurrected.
My 740i had the transfer cooling pipe leak from the water pump drain hole, used the Bimmerfix stent repair, no more issues, car had done 250,000 miles, never fixed the valve stem seals,, was a great V8 E65.
I was hesitating between a E39 touring and a X5 E53 but found first a really good X5. Cargo area is almost the same but the split tail gate is the best feature about the X5 especially when you have to load 25 kg cement bags or bring a M20B20 block to the machine shop. I was not fond of SUV's but to be honest I start liking my comfortable X5 a lot !!
I did an engine (4.4 V8)swap out on an X5 (E53).........they are very well made, and a pain in the a$$ to pull apart. Especially craning the engine out, since the sump is nestled on top off and around the steering rack. Kudos to Mathias!
My wife said that the the X5 was her dream car. When we were having a look for a car for her she got on line and found one that she liked. I met her after work to have a look... and it was an Audi Q7 🤦♂️ I told her this is not a BMW but an Audi... she said "are they different?"
for first i have an e60 u are great mechanic the only mechanic in yt that actually fix bmw i understand this consept and really i look forward for the x5 omg you vs the x5
Having E70 X5 myself with S63. Looking forward to this project and learning. Love the exterior and interior color combo. By the way, in some cases, smoke after long idle is caused by faulty CCV system check valves. Good luck!
There are videos out there separating the airbag from the plastic and then reattaching the actual airbag to your new sport plastic cover. Hopefully that helps. Fellow American M57 E70 owner here!
Put a tow bar on the X5 and buy yourself a trailer so you can pick up your future projects yourself and take us on the journey with it! That would be cool!
Would be a great excuse to have a big SUV in your fleet. But there is potentially a risk your girlfriend could get some crazy ideas if she finds out her car can pull a heavy trailer, such as a horse box
Veeeeery interesting and a nice change too. Plus, we get to see how different they are from the usual fare. I really want to clean that engine bay and intakes to get rid of that desert sand!
Finally, FINALLY! Have been hoping, praying you might get an E70 as a project. Never EVER thought it would happen. Too much against type for you. My wife has had hers for 5 years and I get to do all the wrenching on it. I will SERIOUSLY be taking DETAILED notes on this project. THANK YOU.
I have the same car and had nothing but repairs on this car. Replaced just about everything in it, well over 100 service visits over its life time. If you plan to own one of these babies ;), plan to have a friend with a body shop or $$$$$ for some repair bills. I love it too much.
I recently bought a X5, with regards to the rattling issue you mentioned. If it's coming from the boot area there is a simple solution, just adjust the latches that hold the lower boot door closed. I did it and all the rattles from the rear disappeared. Here's the link to the clip that shows tou how to do it. m.ua-cam.com/video/B7Q1wf1lfxs/v-deo.html
I just did a ton of preventative maintenance on my wife's space grey 4.8, including the dreaded oil cooler gasket, alternator, water pump and thermostat, valve cover gaskets etc. Once the cross brace and radiator fan are out there is plenty of room at the front to work with. The most difficult part for me was getting the valve covers off - they need to be rotated along the horizontal plane towards the centreline of the car to get them over the valvetronic sensor electrical socket, especially on the passenger's side. I'm sure you'll have no problems with it all. Next job - transmission mechatronic seals!
As they say here in Texas: "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy. If Poppa ain't happy, don't nobody care." As such, great find in that clean X5 for your lady. True, SUVs don't drive like cars, but from previously having one in my home - my mom's 2012 Toyota Highlander - I can tell you they have their uses. Still, always good to have something that can beat the SUV blues like your M5 or my six speed 328i.
Maybe a controversial opinion, but I absolutely love the “Shark Finn shifter” and the newer ones. I find it quick and intuitive, while not needing as precise movements as a “regular automatic gear selector”. The Shark Finn is probably the best Shift by wire gear selector, Volvo’s shift by wire isn’t as good recurring that you push it two times to go from Drive to reverse.
@@danielmarginas4650 yeah, but that is what it is when it is electrically controlled and there is no mechanical connection, "by wire" (referring to the electrical wiring). Shift by wire, drive by wire (electronically operated throttle) and brake by wire are all examples of were the mechanical linkages has been replaced be electronic controls.
Streten love the way you treated Matias. For me it showed how down to earth and a nice guy you are. If you ever come to Portugal would love to buy a beer.
SUVs are not my first choice either, but this is one good looking car. Looks powerful and robust. My dad has an SUV and when i ocassionally change the driver seating position from my nailed to the ground C class, it feels refreshing not gonna lie. Hope this car is back on the road and running flawlessly!
I have an e93 320. Bought it new in 2007 in exactly the same color combination. Space Grau, Sattelbraun sport seats and wood trim. I still love it endlessly!
True Story: Inspired by you, I decided to fix up an abandoned Hero Honda Passion Pro 2012 model in February 2024. With my 11-to-8 job in India, I could only work on it during weekends, so it took about six weekends to finish(me and my brother). In the end, I spent around $215 USD, which is approximately $970 USD less than the cost of a new bike. The bike is now running like new and has a starter, eliminating the need to kickstart it every time. I'm thrilled with the success of the project!
Nice looking X5! Looks like a good purchase, considering the price too. You should definitely include some footage of you guys driving it for the first time after you tight things up with the car and do a small vlog maybe with it? This car begs for adventures :)
Can totally agree with the remarks about SUVs. I am a station wagon person (530dx currently - has 4wheel drive though) and never get the size argument.
Weirdly enough its very helpfull in the big cities. Most of my time the car gets parked halfway on a curbwalk. Its also a very different sensation sitting higher while in heavy traffic.
Other than the abysmal fuel economy, I think you're going to fall in love with that E70. I bought mine with 135k miles on it and absolutely fell in love with the comfort, and even the performance. Mine has adaptive sport suspension, and it has absolutely no right to handle corners the way it does and given its weight. The ridiculous inflated car market here in the US convinced me to keep it despite needing a full engine out service at 195k miles. I plan to keep for another 100k if I'm lucky.
@@lovellmills7959 That used to be true where I am too, but everything is over inflated now. I love the X5 and would recommend one but I would also recommend steering clear of a high mileage V8 unless the prospect of an engine out service doesn't scare the begeezus out of you. Failed valve seals and alternator bracket seals are not only common, but inevitable often well before 130K miles. I checked out half a dozen great looking units before finding mine and all had the valve seal/blue smoke issue, which is immediately a $3500 -$5000 repair at a competent BMW indie shop. I got away with 50K miles over 3 years before mine became a major issue.
I notice you have adaptive light failure warning. I have it on my e60. It’s super annoying because it always pops out. Mine is due to the defective light module (mine is the lci so the adaptive headlight module is integrated with the LCM), and it’s stupid expensive to replace, I think around €700 or so. I decided to live with the warning because I really dont need the headlights to turn with the steering wheel. I don’t know if e70 uses LCM or FRM. Also, since the car is from dubai, you may wanna check the wires inside the headlights. BMWs from this era is known for cracking wire shielding, which may cause shorts. Otherwise congrats on the purchase. Gotta love the 4.8is.
@@danielmarginas4650 Yes I read it’s possible to code it out. I’m currently looking for a shop that can do it in my area. I’m illiterate when it comes to coding 😅😅 I used carly to disable AHL but I guess it didnt work 😅
I don't like big suv's either, but a lot of people like the BMW E70-X5, and you might as well get your girlfriend driving one. She is lucky, because you will give it to her in good condition. The jeans just don't look like you, so used to the black i guess. I never noticed any oily clothes, but i never was looking for it either. I own a lot of black, because it washes out cleaner than white. People would ask me why my clothes are always black, or dark blue, and i would tell them all the stuff i used to do, and then they perfectly understand. Any project is a good one. God bless.
good to see you supporting small businesses my rule of thumb in car stuff if they do a good job and let yo watch like that guy or any thing period i'll support them and pay more if i have to for mobile projects or even detailing
you can use popsickle sticks around the fingers of the airbag cover, slip about 20 of them in one behind each finger and you can remove the airbag form the cover and swap it over, i did that when i upgraded my e 70 wheel to the msport
Bought a 2010 BMW X5 E70 30 X-DRIVE N52N Engine as a project car for $2.5k back in December of 2021. The exterior and interior is in great looking condition. However, this vehicle has mechanical issue and maybe electrical issues being that the previous owner tried to code new DME, CAS, and Immobilizer, whereas, she stated that the car started after those modules were replaced with used parts, and then it died. A visual inspection of the engine bay reveals broken belt, disassembled alternator, and correction of the DME harness plug and others. One last thing is that once I got the X5 back to my garage at home I parked the X5 outdoors, and it had rained over night to find out that there was water leaking inside the X5 as per the common issue of the sunroom drains are clogged (I also have several E83 X3's. Dried it all out, and taped synthetic roofing underlayment to the exterior of the roof as a temporary fix until I make room to pull it in the garage for restoration. There's not a lot of videos out there for the N52N X-DRIVE ENGINE (Formally called the si engine) platform for the X5 E70. I will keep watching to see what your finished product looks like.
Honestly, I started to hate cars with low clearance after owning an SUV and then switching to a coupe. Suddenly I realized how crappy the roads are and how limited the visibility is out of these things. I'm now looking for a nice X5, probably E53 chassis with 4.8 V8
Same here, only thing I went for X3 being more compact and having pretty much the same clearance. No going back, as far as daily goes, especially since I'm 6'5, or 196cm tall. Only mistake I made is not going for 3.0sd/35d.
I love the X5. Have a E53 3.0i with the 20" wheels, it is not a perfect car at all but I have never owned a BMW that I liked more that was more fun to drive for me. The 4 wheel drive has saved me a couple of times and that car is more capable off-road than I ever expected. Can't help it, might not be reasonable but I just love my X5 :) BTW: my other one is an Alpina B10 3.3 E39. However, that E70 is a beautiful car. Excited to watch the video. And it is nice to read in the other comments that there are quite a few people here that like the X5.
im from the netherlands and i learn alot from u as a mechanic in college Working as a mechanic at 19 Years old BMW is also my no1 car i own one a e87 120i and maintain it myself and i also maintain my dads car the 330i F30😁 So BigShoutout to YOU👊🏽
Oh man! Still working on the Alpina B7 and a new one already in the oven! Today I was driving towards the airport and thought about him. I overtook an Alpina B12 (E38) on the motorway. The thing was in nice external condition and was tempted to make signals to the driver and ask him if he was taking offers on his car... I guess this nice channel is kind of an inspiration for me! (Unfo got no time to dedicate to cars like this)
I just finished doing the valley coolant pipe and fixing leaks on steering rack and vacuum pump on my 07 4.8X5. All I can say is HAVE FUN! Make sure to video yourself laying full length on the engine getting the connectors off the back of the intake. Oh I have a good mod for the AC belt tensioner especially if you have the big fat adaptive sway bar. I hope you do retrofit seat heaters, I need to do that too.
The quintessential modern German car made for America. I think this will be a good series. I would like to see you do an X3. Over here they sell more X3s than 3 series, so much so that it's the best selling bmw. Also you should definitely find an old airbag pre-recall, install it, and just shrug your shoulders when the dealer says the airbag recall was already done.
Finally X arrived in your dojo! I have E53, which my wife is driving (instead of me) and almost have (will soon have) E70 and they are great cars, but with great headache (sometimes). Wish you will like this one and at some point we will see an E53 4.6is with amazing Alpina engine! Good luck!
My wife used to have one of these. It was plagued with the infamous valve stem seal, front and rear valve cover leaks, and the rear main seal leak. The car drove great, but the repairs for the three will exceed $10k. Therefore, we got rid of it fairly fast.
We had a 50i. Bought it after my E60 M5 when child 3 came along. It was a great car. The fuel consumption was nearly double that of a diesel, but it was much better than the E60 M5. 5.5s to 100km/h in an SUV was fun and it sounded great. Then it was stolen.
Regarding the oil leak: right under the vacuum pump sits the oil pressure sensor. Just take off the connector and see if there is oil in it. Very confusing to replace all parts that could leak (valve cover seals, vacuumpump seal, alternator bracket seal and all oilcooler lines o-rings) and still have an oil leak. The leaking oilpressure switch caused the complete front and bottom side of the engine covered in oil over time. Good luck!
I'm driving exactly the same,just a different colour ( Monacoblau ) and beige Nappa leather. It's a nice car with the very known problems valve cover gaskets leaking,etc.
Every time this guy bought a new car, the manager of the parts section on the BMW dealer gets a new house.
😆
😹😹😹
I personally think BMW dealers are the last ones who will make money out of Sreten. He is using people like he is... individuals and small businesses.
Same with my M3 at the moment 😂
Yes stupid prices for BMW , my friend just paid £5000 for gearbox , crap cars I would sooner buy a DONKEY !
Should've removed the front stiffening bar on top of the radiator to gain access to the belts and pulleys, if you need more room the radiator fan comes off easy, but anyways love the videos, big fan from Mexico
Saludos
Exciting! Definitely needed a break from the sad times with the B7. Your girlfriend is one lucky lady 😎
You buy an SUV from a simple reason:
Because you like it 🙂
If you like it ,end of story ,no need to question someone's taste ,people are different.
Keep it up 👍
The rear seat indentations looks like they had a car seat. My newest project, 2011 BMW 335i had similar indentations. I used a heat gun and rubbed the marks with my hand and now the seats look new. Just make sure to not get the leather too hot and keep the gun moving (don’t concentrate in one spot very long).
Is it a N55 engine? If so, may I ask you what's the issue with it? I thought the n55 was way more reliable than the n54, I'm currently looking for a 335i E92, but I specifically want a post LCI one because of the N55 engine (thus making it harder to find, not to mention the prices which went absolutely mad up for no reason for the past year), so I'd be curious to have your take on this engine and reliability.
@@BXtremP I bought a 2011 335i M Performance Edition. It has 79,000 miles and is in really great condition. I am bringing it back to oem+ condition. The N55 is very reliable. This is my third one. I also had a F80 M3, which is based on the N55. I don’t have any engine issues, just cosmetic and maintenance. I have changed oil, plugs, air and cabin filter. Also will be changing rotors(R1 Concepts drilled and slotted , pads, painting calipers, just waiting on warmer weather. I am getting the front bumper and hood painted and a paint correction, with new roundels and M sport oem grills. Lastly, I have new wheels and tires on order. The E90/E92 is a great daily, fun car with fantastic steering feel. Good luck finding one! Sorry Sreten, I didn’t mean to hijack your post. Any chance of you restoring a E90/E92 335i or M3? That would be a lot of fun to watch!
Same issue with my E39 rear bench. Did the same.
@@chuckehrlich Good luck on your project, yea the e92 is an amazing car, and I vouche to see one in Sreten's hands one day, of course the 335i would be the best, cause M3 is a v8, that's a cool car but kinda a blasphemy for a M3, and Sreten looks like he's having his fair share of V8 lately, lol.
@@chuckehrlich honestly, I am waiting on a channel to treat an 335i with the same level of care that Sreten has for his bmw's. I always liked the ideea of the owning the platform but not being mechanically driven I feel like I would get extorted by shops everytime a check lights in the dash. I feel like the car is still a bit too new and not that much of a challenge, like it's not at the point where you would have to do exhaustive restoration unless the previous owner was a knob.
A couple of other common things on the E70 to look out for. 1) The rear door seals (on the vapor barrier) tend to leak like a sieve. This results in water accumulating in the rear foot wells, which obviously can cause a lot of bigger issues if left unrepaired. 2) The interior door handles. The "inside" of the handles (facing away from the passenger) have some sort of rubberized "comfort grip" that breaks down after a few years and turns into sticky goop.
You can easily remove that sticky stuff with oven cleaner or acetone and you have some plain plastic afterwards ;)
@@felixrester4637 i remove that crap and spray it with a plastidip type paint. Good as new!
That plastic rubberish surface coating uses is really bad. Bmw really made a bad choice there.
Yeah the vapor barrier is also a thing on X3 E83.
@@darenzy my sisters e83 has an issue with hers.
"We will remove the oil pan anyways to check for plastic, nails, the usual stuff" lmao what's more funny is that your right hahaha
Everybody who have followed the channel and seen all the episodes know about The Nail. 😊
*you're
😂
One high quality garage left a long screwdriver bit under the bonnet of my old S6 - so I'm fully on board with checking for screws, random lumps of metal etc
Is it really that easy to remove the oil pan gasket on the E70 N62’s. No subframe removal like it’s i6 sisters?
23:47
To check for play/wear in that type of control arm ball joint (lower, load bearing, ball joint) you lift the car under the control arm. This is done to lift suspension without tensioning the ball joints. To check for wear you apply force from under the tire with a crowbar and look for play in the ball joints.
Your videos are always a pleasure to watch!
// TÜF inspector
Lucky you getting a clean car! You're definitely overdue for some good fortune!! Looking forward to you servicing the E39 M5!
most non accident cars from Dubai are very good return potential cars. often times they have easily fixable issues that Dubai mechanics cannot fix because they lack knowledge and experience to repair them.
any serious car repair mechanics should definitely try their hand in Dubai import cars. you'll find some serious luxury cars that are very easy to flip.
its a win win deal if you can deal with paperwork ;)
@@lordjaashin yesnt. A lot of them are abused with low mileage, after all ppl in dubai change cars much more often, particularly when we're talking about pricier rides. Most times Dubai imports are pretty problems, unless your country isn't a SOAB when it comes to tax imports (which Europe isn't very keen on).
@@rrs_13 of course they're abused and therefore sold because it has problems. otherwise why would you find such luxury cars for sale and for such price? lol use your brain and understand what I'm saying. yes Dubai cars have problems but they are nothing that a talented mechanic cannot fix and flip it for nice profit.
even with import taxes there is still a fat profit margin to be made. you just have to be keen eye and only buy cars which have demand back in your home country.
theres a reason why this market is growing and more & more people turning towards this peculiar source of "oasis" to make big bucks.
@@lordjaashin the only thing dubai cars have that pumps up their value besides residing in a rust-free climate is the residue of rich people drugs in the mirros, dashboard and upholstery. Other than that, they suffer the typical careless ownership of people with money to buy a new car like if it were a pair of shoes. Which, if you're a talented mechanic, you'll spot at a distance and avoid.
Also, the "imported dubai car market is growing" is something I have heard ever since dubai got it's first skyscrapper, and I've heard it too many times now to ever believe it, particularly now that Dubai is entering stagnation and that oil money running out is becoming an ever increasingly closer event.
@@rrs_13 ah you're so desperate that you've started bringing in off topic tangents like oil money. lol what does it have anything to do with used car market? looks like you have some bias or some irrational hatred that is coloring your viewpoint to myopic opinion. thats cool. more money for the rest.
most Dubai cars have oil burning/leak problems or head gasket issues. these issues are not repaired by mechanical engineers who come from poor countries like India or Pakistan. that is why these luxury cars end up cheap on used cars market. these type of issues are easily repaired by mechanics in first world countries who have access to better equipment like serdi and have technical know how to repair it according to factory specs. it doesn't matter if rich Dubai people change cars frequently or drive it hard. it just means more car options on used market. win win for people like me
I just wanted to let you know how much i appreciate your work on this YT channel. Thank you for the entertaining you're providing us for free.
Sreten dont worry, its not about the cars its about you working on them! Love your vids!
He could even get a different brand vehicle, and i am still on board, because he is so funnny, but so thorough in doing any repairs. I hope to see him get married one of these day's, and introduce his girlfriend. I'm wondering if she has the same great sense of humor, and ocd lol. I do understand if he doesn't ever show her, you keep your prize close to your heart, and don't expose her to people who have no sense. God bless.
I completely rebuilt a E53 4.8is. Runs and looks like a new vehicle. Watching you do rebuilds inspired me keep it, and restore.
The actual airbag is the same between all steering wheels. If you pull out the airbag from the cover you'll be able to install it in the M steering wheel cover. It's also a good idea to check the sunroof drains before water kills the electronics in the tailgate
I really, really, REALLY HATE SUVs. But I still enjoyed this video. That is a testament to the quality and style of your presentation.
6:25 sounds like our old friend, crank damper pulley. Great find with the interior, I love the saddle brown in my E91.
Excellent mechanic guy. I wish to train mechanics with him. For a German guy, he speaks good English. He is very organized, clean and he doesn't talk too much to explain anything. I will rate him with the 5 stars. Vielen Dank.
the oil burn will 100% make you not pass TUV, I would just fix the issues and try to pass tuv, because cats don't really make that huge of a difference as long as there are some.
Burning oil can also damage the cats.
@@LancerFIN yep burning oil can destroy the cats. Even a faulty 02 sensor can kill it
@@LancerFIN this is what I was thinking the whole time. The oil has clogged the cats.
I can't imagine that BMW would bother fitting less effective cats than required at home for other markets
There are some additives which you pour in the gas tank that clean cats, after you resolve the oil burning you should try some
It’s great that there are such wonderful people like Matthias in the world. Looking forward to more videos on the X5.
I wish your videos were twice as long, as I wait impatiently for each one of them to watch the next BMW go back together properly while you keep us entertained at the same time. Top of the line channel. Great work.
Best looking X5 by far
And, one of the first BMWs to use double wishbones at the front, the proper suspension scheme
I love the E70. you should retrofit 2TB style transmision the sporty shifter looks better and having paddle shifters on steering is a nice touch
What is this? Trans unit or just shifter kit?
@@kurray10 It's the ZF8 automatic called "sport automatic" you have to code, affects both drivetrain, enables Sports+, and shows dash S1, S2, etc. You also have a different shifter and have to get paddles for the steering..
@@Roflmfaoftw this is a pre lci e70, these dont have the zf8, they have a zf6. ZF8 came on the 2011+ 35i & 50i
@@FailofWar127 You are right, the looks fooled me thinking it was a LCI
@@Roflmfaoftw I think the shifter from the sport automatic should work anyway, but I'm not 100% sure. Hasn't even been there a sport automatic ZF 6HP as well?!
I owned a E70 for 5 yrs and I loved it. It was alpine white with the saddle interior. Reliable when they're well maintained.
I was curious about theese cars, was cathing my eye lately. Looking forward to videos of it.
Şu adamı rahat bırak Hocam ya..:)
All dead. Better than e53, but hard to find one before 500000 km. Expensive to hold.
Hop on it. Get one now! E70’s is aging like Benjamin Buttom. Looking better and younger than it’s new siblings imo
The E70 is the best looking German SUV, 11 years after the last one was built its styling still looks current. Much better than the current offering by BMW. I OWN A 2013 e70 X5M. It’s unbelievable fast, stops on a dime, it will pass everything, but a gas station. But, I still love it.
Gosh how much I love this man and the videos, the humor always makes my day sooo much better!
Also check out the xDrive transfer case, at this mileage they usually need a rebuild. Usual symptoms are that under acceleration the car tends to jerk and hesitate, feels like fuel cuts out. I have experience with an X5 F15 with 110k km, which is already on its third transfer case.
I had that same jerking under acceleration on my 2012 x5 and it was something with the front drive shaft idk what Bc I haven’t got around to fixing it yet I just took the shaft out and drove it without fwd
There is no better channel for a BMW lover than this one.
I've seen that its not always the valve stem seals with the N62 and its worth taking a look at the CCV system first, failing that if the seals have only just started going a shot of Forte seal conditioner in the oil can plump them back up again and solve the issue, it wont work immediately and you have to drive the car for a couple hundred K's to let it do its thing but it does work.
I’ve also had success with Forte seal stuff but it did come back after a few years, so maybe you need to keep using it. Sreten won’t be able to give it time to work anyway because it won’t pass TÜV.
Liqui moly Motor Oil Saver is another product. My X5 48i has 113,000 miles and I replaced the CCV system and all of its components. Keeping the valve stem issue at bay here. Also will be doing very regular oil changes.
I have the same car as you , vacuum leaks cause it to suck oil into the manifold and burn it. Its probably cause by your vacuum pump seal leaking; it was on mine. Before you do the valve seals fix that leak and smoke test it. I'll watch your future video's with interest.
Good Luck
Had an 2007 version of this beast.
Fantastic… crazy how such a large car can move so fast and effortlessly.
One of the best v8 sounds.
Looking forward to the rebuild vids
As a e70 owner myself, I'm really looking forward to this project! I am hoping that you will try and tackle the interior rattles and squeaks, so I can replicate myself.. it's driving me nuts. :)
mine has 300k and not a rattle or squeek
@@jussayinmipeece106948i engibe?
@@Trinibad718 N54 30i non turbo.
@@jussayinmipeece1069 what year
As always, a pleasure to watch an Episode from M539 Restoration Channel! Every single seal will be maintained! Especially when you preparing an SUV for a person who you love and take care of! Hello from Ukraine!
Great work, as always! And I really want to thank you for normalizing eye and hearing protection. Too many people place some weird toxic machismo over being able to hear anything past age 30.
WHAT?? SPEAK UP SON.
I really like my 2018 X5; it tows our trailer, hauls our kid, dogs, mountain bikes, surf boards, skis. Great for road tripping, makes it through snowy days. Doesn't handle as well as a station wagon, but those aren't common in Canada and dent have the same tow rating here. It's comfortable and sporty enough.
Ive been following this channel for years and always loved the content. Last month I bought an E70 X5 that needs pretty much the exact same things that you're doing to yours! Finding this in my news feed this morning was a pleasant surprise :D
Definitely from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Ours had exactly the same faults. The brittle rubber seals on the plastic valances in the engine bay were a throwback. Everything plastic or rubber became brittle and the soft touch material on the inside of the door pull handles melted so I had to remove it with panel wipe. Lost a lot of money on the car but we did love it while it lasted.
I think you’ll be surprised with the view counts on this series. Looking forward to watching the progress. Please do a nice sounding quality exhaust on this one !
I think you will end up liking this car more than you think. As an owner of an e39 m5 and an e70X5M, I like both equally.
Hi Sreten, love your content. Ever since i started watching your channel i stopped watching the other car 'build' youtubers because they feel so amateur when it's a 25min video about fitting bumpers haha. Keep up the good work. looking forward to the alpina getting resurrected.
My 740i had the transfer cooling pipe leak from the water pump drain hole, used the Bimmerfix stent repair, no more issues, car had done 250,000 miles, never fixed the valve stem seals,, was a great V8 E65.
I was hesitating between a E39 touring and a X5 E53 but found first a really good X5. Cargo area is almost the same but the split tail gate is the best feature about the X5 especially when you have to load 25 kg cement bags or bring a M20B20 block to the machine shop. I was not fond of SUV's but to be honest I start liking my comfortable X5 a lot !!
I did an engine (4.4 V8)swap out on an X5 (E53).........they are very well made, and a pain in the a$$ to pull apart. Especially craning the engine out, since the sump is nestled on top off and around the steering rack. Kudos to Mathias!
My wife said that the the X5 was her dream car. When we were having a look for a car for her she got on line and found one that she liked. I met her after work to have a look... and it was an Audi Q7 🤦♂️ I told her this is not a BMW but an Audi... she said "are they different?"
Lol.
You need to trade her in…
for first i have an e60 u are great mechanic the only mechanic in yt that actually fix bmw i understand this consept and really i look forward for the x5 omg you vs the x5
Having E70 X5 myself with S63. Looking forward to this project and learning. Love the exterior and interior color combo. By the way, in some cases, smoke after long idle is caused by faulty CCV system check valves. Good luck!
There are videos out there separating the airbag from the plastic and then reattaching the actual airbag to your new sport plastic cover. Hopefully that helps. Fellow American M57 E70 owner here!
Put a tow bar on the X5 and buy yourself a trailer so you can pick up your future projects yourself and take us on the journey with it! That would be cool!
Would be a great excuse to have a big SUV in your fleet.
But there is potentially a risk your girlfriend could get some crazy ideas if she finds out her car can pull a heavy trailer, such as a horse box
Great SUV project for us older X5 owners in Canada. Thanks Sreten.
Veeeeery interesting and a nice change too. Plus, we get to see how different they are from the usual fare. I really want to clean that engine bay and intakes to get rid of that desert sand!
Finally, FINALLY! Have been hoping, praying you might get an E70 as a project. Never EVER thought it would happen. Too much against type for you. My wife has had hers for 5 years and I get to do all the wrenching on it. I will SERIOUSLY be taking DETAILED notes on this project. THANK YOU.
You can code oil temp gauge into your instant fuel consumption gauge.
Do elaborate. I’ve an M135i without an oil temp gauge and it drives me nuts.
@@o0julek0o lol same
Can you tell me how? :)
@@khaliladli1542 Search for perfect toolbox 0.2b, its free and very easy to use. Search YT instruction video and it's done in 1 minute.
How??
I have the same car and had nothing but repairs on this car. Replaced just about everything in it, well over 100 service visits over its life time. If you plan to own one of these babies ;), plan to have a friend with a body shop or $$$$$ for some repair bills. I love it too much.
I recently bought a X5, with regards to the rattling issue you mentioned. If it's coming from the boot area there is a simple solution, just adjust the latches that hold the lower boot door closed. I did it and all the rattles from the rear disappeared. Here's the link to the clip that shows tou how to do it.
m.ua-cam.com/video/B7Q1wf1lfxs/v-deo.html
I just did a ton of preventative maintenance on my wife's space grey 4.8, including the dreaded oil cooler gasket, alternator, water pump and thermostat, valve cover gaskets etc. Once the cross brace and radiator fan are out there is plenty of room at the front to work with. The most difficult part for me was getting the valve covers off - they need to be rotated along the horizontal plane towards the centreline of the car to get them over the valvetronic sensor electrical socket, especially on the passenger's side. I'm sure you'll have no problems with it all. Next job - transmission mechatronic seals!
I always liked the X5. It will clean up nicely in your hands.
As they say here in Texas: "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy. If Poppa ain't happy, don't nobody care." As such, great find in that clean X5 for your lady. True, SUVs don't drive like cars, but from previously having one in my home - my mom's 2012 Toyota Highlander - I can tell you they have their uses. Still, always good to have something that can beat the SUV blues like your M5 or my six speed 328i.
Maybe a controversial opinion, but I absolutely love the “Shark Finn shifter” and the newer ones.
I find it quick and intuitive, while not needing as precise movements as a “regular automatic gear selector”.
The Shark Finn is probably the best Shift by wire gear selector, Volvo’s shift by wire isn’t as good recurring that you push it two times to go from Drive to reverse.
Agreed.
I don’t think it’s a shift by wire , rather electric 😅
@@danielmarginas4650 "Shift by wire" is electric.
@@danielmarginas4650 yeah, but that is what it is when it is electrically controlled and there is no mechanical connection, "by wire" (referring to the electrical wiring).
Shift by wire, drive by wire (electronically operated throttle) and brake by wire are all examples of were the mechanical linkages has been replaced be electronic controls.
@@klaspeppar5619 oh right, I’m sorry, now i got it
Streten love the way you treated Matias. For me it showed how down to earth and a nice guy you are. If you ever come to Portugal would love to buy a beer.
This is definitely going to be an interesting project for sure! Looking forward to looking into it deeper
SUVs are not my first choice either, but this is one good looking car. Looks powerful and robust.
My dad has an SUV and when i ocassionally change the driver seating position from my nailed to the ground C class, it feels refreshing not gonna lie.
Hope this car is back on the road and running flawlessly!
I love the E70 look. I had 2 E53’s… should’ve kept the last one since I rebuilt the top end of the motor. Plus I love the M54 it had
I have an e93 320. Bought it new in 2007 in exactly the same color combination. Space Grau, Sattelbraun sport seats and wood trim. I still love it endlessly!
Gotta say that the gear selector aged really really well. Its really nice and easy to use. 2009 just think what Citroen or Volvo were using.
Yeah but it looks so cheap and clunky
True Story: Inspired by you, I decided to fix up an abandoned Hero Honda Passion Pro 2012 model in February 2024. With my 11-to-8 job in India, I could only work on it during weekends, so it took about six weekends to finish(me and my brother). In the end, I spent around $215 USD, which is approximately $970 USD less than the cost of a new bike. The bike is now running like new and has a starter, eliminating the need to kickstart it every time. I'm thrilled with the success of the project!
Should have bougt one with 3.0l diesel m57. Much more appropriate for SUV, nice torque and nice consumption
You won't see a diesel in my fleet 😅 That being said, yes, that would be a sensible choice :)
Even 35d with the bi turbos..
Finally!!!! I’m a proud owner of a First gen e53 3.0 I’ve been waiting this soooo much!! Congratulations
Same, proud e53 3.0 owner, love this car
Nice looking X5! Looks like a good purchase, considering the price too. You should definitely include some footage of you guys driving it for the first time after you tight things up with the car and do a small vlog maybe with it? This car begs for adventures :)
one of my favourite channels on YT. Thanks so much
Careful Sreten, next comes the matching horsefloat. 😂
Either that or a car trailer for hauling broken BMWs to and from the Dojo.
Can totally agree with the remarks about SUVs. I am a station wagon person (530dx currently - has 4wheel drive though) and never get the size argument.
Weirdly enough its very helpfull in the big cities. Most of my time the car gets parked halfway on a curbwalk.
Its also a very different sensation sitting higher while in heavy traffic.
When I read oil burner, I immediatly thought of "diesel" and thought, oh my god!
Other than the abysmal fuel economy, I think you're going to fall in love with that E70. I bought mine with 135k miles on it and absolutely fell in love with the comfort, and even the performance. Mine has adaptive sport suspension, and it has absolutely no right to handle corners the way it does and given its weight. The ridiculous inflated car market here in the US convinced me to keep it despite needing a full engine out service at 195k miles. I plan to keep for another 100k if I'm lucky.
They give them away at my local auction here in California lol. Was thinking about getting one, I miss my Volvo.
@@lovellmills7959 That used to be true where I am too, but everything is over inflated now. I love the X5 and would recommend one but I would also recommend steering clear of a high mileage V8 unless the prospect of an engine out service doesn't scare the begeezus out of you. Failed valve seals and alternator bracket seals are not only common, but inevitable often well before 130K miles. I checked out half a dozen great looking units before finding mine and all had the valve seal/blue smoke issue, which is immediately a $3500 -$5000 repair at a competent BMW indie shop. I got away with 50K miles over 3 years before mine became a major issue.
I notice you have adaptive light failure warning. I have it on my e60. It’s super annoying because it always pops out. Mine is due to the defective light module (mine is the lci so the adaptive headlight module is integrated with the LCM), and it’s stupid expensive to replace, I think around €700 or so. I decided to live with the warning because I really dont need the headlights to turn with the steering wheel. I don’t know if e70 uses LCM or FRM. Also, since the car is from dubai, you may wanna check the wires inside the headlights. BMWs from this era is known for cracking wire shielding, which may cause shorts. Otherwise congrats on the purchase. Gotta love the 4.8is.
It’s a FRM
On your e60, you can code out the option for adaptive lights and get rid of the warning..
@@danielmarginas4650 Yes I read it’s possible to code it out. I’m currently looking for a shop that can do it in my area. I’m illiterate when it comes to coding 😅😅 I used carly to disable AHL but I guess it didnt work 😅
@@jegerm6752 carly isn’t really enough 😅
You need NCS Expert..
I don't like big suv's either, but a lot of people like the BMW E70-X5, and you might as well get your girlfriend driving one. She is lucky, because you will give it to her in good condition. The jeans just don't look like you, so used to the black i guess. I never noticed any oily clothes, but i never was looking for it either. I own a lot of black, because it washes out cleaner than white. People would ask me why my clothes are always black, or dark blue, and i would tell them all the stuff i used to do, and then they perfectly understand. Any project is a good one. God bless.
Shouldn't this have been Project X Wife?
good to see you supporting small businesses my rule of thumb in car stuff if they do a good job and let yo watch like that guy or any thing period i'll support them and pay more if i have to for mobile projects or even detailing
900 Euros a decent deal :D, this exact car costs 130.000 Euros in Turkey :(
why that expensive
@@_Nosferatu_ import taxes
@@_Nosferatu_ taxes and inflation
you can use popsickle sticks around the fingers of the airbag cover, slip about 20 of them in one behind each finger and you can remove the airbag form the cover and swap it over, i did that when i upgraded my e 70 wheel to the msport
Quick Question: How do you determine which vehicles to buy sight-unseen? Do you pay a local company to do a PPI?
Bought a 2010 BMW X5 E70 30 X-DRIVE N52N Engine as a project car for $2.5k back in December of 2021. The exterior and interior is in great looking condition. However, this vehicle has mechanical issue and maybe electrical issues being that the previous owner tried to code new DME, CAS, and Immobilizer, whereas, she stated that the car started after those modules were replaced with used parts, and then it died. A visual inspection of the engine bay reveals broken belt, disassembled alternator, and correction of the DME harness plug and others. One last thing is that once I got the X5 back to my garage at home I parked the X5 outdoors, and it had rained over night to find out that there was water leaking inside the X5 as per the common issue of the sunroom drains are clogged (I also have several E83 X3's. Dried it all out, and taped synthetic roofing underlayment to the exterior of the roof as a temporary fix until I make room to pull it in the garage for restoration. There's not a lot of videos out there for the N52N X-DRIVE ENGINE (Formally called the si engine) platform for the X5 E70. I will keep watching to see what your finished product looks like.
Honestly, I started to hate cars with low clearance after owning an SUV and then switching to a coupe. Suddenly I realized how crappy the roads are and how limited the visibility is out of these things. I'm now looking for a nice X5, probably E53 chassis with 4.8 V8
Me driving Corvette with 5cm ground clearance 👁👄👁
Same here, only thing I went for X3 being more compact and having pretty much the same clearance. No going back, as far as daily goes, especially since I'm 6'5, or 196cm tall. Only mistake I made is not going for 3.0sd/35d.
@@darenzy yeah, diesels are great, but almost impossible to find where I live
That’s the definition of a true MASTER TECH!
I love the X5. Have a E53 3.0i with the 20" wheels, it is not a perfect car at all but I have never owned a BMW that I liked more that was more fun to drive for me. The 4 wheel drive has saved me a couple of times and that car is more capable off-road than I ever expected. Can't help it, might not be reasonable but I just love my X5 :)
BTW: my other one is an Alpina B10 3.3 E39.
However, that E70 is a beautiful car. Excited to watch the video.
And it is nice to read in the other comments that there are quite a few people here that like the X5.
im from the netherlands and i learn alot from u as a mechanic in college Working as a mechanic at 19 Years old
BMW is also my no1 car i own one a e87 120i and maintain it myself and i also maintain my dads car the 330i F30😁
So BigShoutout to YOU👊🏽
Excited about this project as I bought my 2011 e70 a year ago, and I am very happy with it. Don't miss my e39 the least bit..
Oh man! Still working on the Alpina B7 and a new one already in the oven! Today I was driving towards the airport and thought about him. I overtook an Alpina B12 (E38) on the motorway. The thing was in nice external condition and was tempted to make signals to the driver and ask him if he was taking offers on his car... I guess this nice channel is kind of an inspiration for me! (Unfo got no time to dedicate to cars like this)
These regular videos from M539 are amazing!
I hope we get to see her in a vlog someday, she should have her own channel to. Live that youtube life bro if you can. Great project.
Just bought an E70 X5 yesterday (2013) diesel. So some similar and some different headaches to deal with. I’ll be following along !
You are one of the only UA-camrs who reaches more views than subs in every video. I don’t get why more people subscribe honestly
I just finished doing the valley coolant pipe and fixing leaks on steering rack and vacuum pump on my 07 4.8X5. All I can say is HAVE FUN! Make sure to video yourself laying full length on the engine getting the connectors off the back of the intake.
Oh I have a good mod for the AC belt tensioner especially if you have the big fat adaptive sway bar.
I hope you do retrofit seat heaters, I need to do that too.
The quintessential modern German car made for America. I think this will be a good series. I would like to see you do an X3. Over here they sell more X3s than 3 series, so much so that it's the best selling bmw. Also you should definitely find an old airbag pre-recall, install it, and just shrug your shoulders when the dealer says the airbag recall was already done.
Finally X arrived in your dojo! I have E53, which my wife is driving (instead of me) and almost have (will soon have) E70 and they are great cars, but with great headache (sometimes). Wish you will like this one and at some point we will see an E53 4.6is with amazing Alpina engine! Good luck!
My wife used to have one of these. It was plagued with the infamous valve stem seal, front and rear valve cover leaks, and the rear main seal leak. The car drove great, but the repairs for the three will exceed $10k. Therefore, we got rid of it fairly fast.
Valve stem seal no big issue. That’s the attitude!
I'm Russian, I love your channel,
I study English with you! Thanks!
We had a 50i. Bought it after my E60 M5 when child 3 came along. It was a great car. The fuel consumption was nearly double that of a diesel, but it was much better than the E60 M5. 5.5s to 100km/h in an SUV was fun and it sounded great.
Then it was stolen.
I wish I had that interior!!!!
these X5's sell so cheap at my local auction here in California, been thinking about getting one, now I know about the stem seals! Thank you Sreten!
Regarding the oil leak: right under the vacuum pump sits the oil pressure sensor. Just take off the connector and see if there is oil in it.
Very confusing to replace all parts that could leak (valve cover seals, vacuumpump seal, alternator bracket seal and all oilcooler lines o-rings) and still have an oil leak. The leaking oilpressure switch caused the complete front and bottom side of the engine covered in oil over time.
Good luck!
Best channel on UA-cam!
I'm driving exactly the same,just a different colour ( Monacoblau ) and beige Nappa leather.
It's a nice car with the very known problems valve cover gaskets leaking,etc.