Archive for the 'BMW E53 X5' category

E53 X5 – Bluetooth Music

The X5 was made in 2004, a time when BMW still felt it appropriate to habour a cassette deck behind the sat-nav screen. They were also generous enough to place a 6 disc CD changer in the boot. Nowadays all this is junk – I just want to play music from my phone without wires. […]  Read more »

X5 – Front Brakes Overhaul

Last week I overhauled the X5’s rear brakes. Today I did the front to match. Very satisfying! They were properly crusty and lipped. So I got to work. Quick blog post this. Brembo disks (complete with new retaining screw, which was nice) and Pagid pads. New sensor. £178.01 from ECP. I’m delighted to note twin […]  Read more »

X5 – Rear Brakes Overhaul

The X5 had three advisories on its recent MOT. One was a worn rear tyre, and those have already been replaced. The others were: The Park Brake has just met the required efficiency it appears the Brakes require service or adjustment Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) […]  Read more »

X5 – Tracking – Getting It Straight

When I test drove the X5, the only niggle that concerned me was that the steering wheel was slightly off centre when going straight. I knew the car had been standing and I could see that the tyre pressures weren’t right, yet I knew I’d need new rear tyres and factored a four wheel alignment […]  Read more »

X5 – Stance

To date, everything I’ve written about the X5 has been about fixing things that aren’t right with it. There’s a lot more to come. I mean, let’s be honest – an E53 X5 4.8is is going to give me a never ending stream of issues! Yet this post is about something more fun – the […]  Read more »

X5 – Corrosion Around The Battery Tray

Like many BMWs of its era, the E53 X5 has its battery mounted in the centre of the boot floor. It sits in a large, thick plastic tub, and the floor pan has a large rectangular cut-out for this plastic tub. It seems common for the floor pan to corrode around the edges of this […]  Read more »

2004 BMW X5 4.8is

I’d like to formally introduce my latest vehicle acquisition: a 2004 BMW X5 V8 4.8is. This story has its origin in July 2011, when I sold my M5. I miss that car. It looked like this, and had a big V8. The X5 looks like this, and has a big V8. Hmm, black grilles. Anyway, […]  Read more »

BMW Key FOB Battery Replacement and Car Association

The X5 came with two keys, both of which physically operate the locks and ignition, but only one of which communicated with the car remotely. Today I successfully managed to bring it back to life in two phases. First of all, I’ve replaced the battery. This involves cracking the key open, desolding the old battery, […]  Read more »

X5 Headlamp Refurbishment

I’ve recently acquired an X5. That decision and outcome probably deserves a blog post in itself, but for now I’d like to focus on the only MOT minor fault noted, which was “Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))”. Naturally I don’t have a great photo of the issue, but both headlamps were […]  Read more »