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      03-12-2017, 04:03 PM   #1
JoeyBimX5din
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Joey's X5 xDrive50i Journal

updated 11/17/17

So I think the thing to do is to write down the status progress and ideas for my truck, as other quality forum members have done.

So I will start with my truck, by first starting with the story of how I came to owning a BMW X5.

I was browsing autotrader one afternoon after work, with a basic search of V8 equipped vehicles under 100k miles. This kind of search brings up a lot of different vehicles, and I have an affinity for V8's, so I typically buy more vehicles with V8s then any other kind of motor. I came across this black on black BMW X5, I browsed it a little, and something really caught my attention. I thought it was an error, so I began my research, a twin turbo v8. Sure enough it was true, 2011 to 2014 for the e70 body style. I stalked the truck almost all that week, then began my research on how they drive. The only thing reputable I seem to come up with was Car and Drivers long term test of a BMW X6 xDrive50i they did a long term road test to. So I read every installment of that, and read some reviews on the x6 with the xDrive50i package. I was sold. I took a Sunday, went to the dealer, and drove the truck. I liked it, I was super hesitant, and skeptical at the same time, but could not find much evidence to not buy it. So I began loan approval, received loan approval. Talked super briefly with my wife about it (She was on board, thought it was a good idea for me to DD an AWD truck with a baby on the way). So the day after my birthday, I went down with loan approval, and took it on a substantiation test drive. Still sold, purchased the unit, took it home.

Passing MSI


So I was assured that "it passed VA inspection, there should be no reason for it to fail Maryland inspection. I took it to a Mr Tire within walking distance of my house, and it failed for two easy things. Window tint at 18% on the front doors and windshield strip, and front brake rotors just a tick under throw away spec. So I ordered up my front rotors, paid a shop $50 to remove the tint, because I thought that was a fair trade for 3 - 6 hours of messy time in my life. So then I went back, had them check it real quick, and tada, I am passed.

http://www.leesburgautoimport.com/20...-20175/6087165
we shall see how long this stays up.


What's Already Been Done

Repairs
-Front Rotors
-Bank 2 Sensor 2 o2 sensor
-Front drive shaft recall (BMW of Rockville, MD - 4/3/17)
-Bank 2 Boost Sensor P#13627585492
-Powerstop Ceramic Pads (11/16/17)

Maintenance Completed
Oil Change @ 90787 miles BMW TwinPower 5w30 (4/8/17 By Me)
OEM Bosch plugs @98k (7/22/17 by me)
Oil Change @ 101660 (9/17/17 by me)

Add-ons
--61120440812 iPod Control Cord (3/16/17)
--Switched the Running boards out for the side rockers (4/15/17)
--Cut the rear muffler off ran a tailpipe into the stock tips (7/10/17)
*The tailpipe was completed by Jones Auto Care in Finksburg, MD
http://www.jonesautocarellc.com/
--Black kidney grills (11/5/17ish)
--BMS Stage 1 Piggyback (Installed 8/2/17)
--A baby in the backseat (Installed 8/28/17)


BMW Based Improvements I Want To Do
-Update Maps
-Trailer hitch
-DVD in motion

Future Mod Plans
-Catless DP's
-Catch Can
-Some kind of intake
-Snow tires
-HID Angel Eyes
-The bumpout fender flare things they sell whenever big wheels go on
-Lowering springs
-20s or 22s


Fuel Mileage tracking

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2011 BMX X5 Xdrive50i - 127K - No muffler, BMS Stage 1
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
1995 Ford Thunderbird 4.6 V8 LX - A bunch of mods BMW guys don't care about
1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter

Last edited by JoeyBimX5din; 11-17-2017 at 03:30 AM.. Reason: updating journal
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      03-13-2017, 10:41 AM   #2
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Congrats on the two new additions!

"Talked super briefly with my wife about it" lol...this is me, you have to plan out the conversation with the wife explaining why your current car is unsafe or crap and why you need this car. The safety of AWD is always a good reason, especially up north.

You got a good price, but be ready for some maintenance in the near future. Hopefully a lot was done before it was traded in.

You can check out the invisihitch group buy that's going in the classified section if you don't want to cut your bumper. I don't think blacking out everything will look terrible; start with the reflectors! I'm normally all about BMS, but the tunes for N63 are not plug and play, higher boost requires E30, and you have to buy BCM/Bluetooth to get it all. It comes out cheaper to buy ESS flash tune. I don't think you'll be satisfied with the stage 1 so don't bother unless you're 100% sold on the JB4 and see it as a down payment on the upgrade. I'm eager to see you're progress!
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      03-14-2017, 02:22 AM   #3
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There was no convincing required here for the purchase oddly enough. I told her I found something, showed her a picture, she said she liked it, and that was that. I've been driving hoopties for the past 5 years so she was almost eager to have me in something respectable. My last three daily drivers have been as follows; 1984 Ford F-250 V8 diesel, 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8, 1995 Ford Thunderbird V8 (see a pattern here?), she hasn't hated them but has always advocated for something newer.

I bet I'll have less maintenance on the X then my past vehicles so I'm not sweating this lovely temperamental beast. Also a note on me, I'm a professional heavy diesel truck mechanic by trade (currently working as a lead on heavy equipment) but cut my teeth in the car world. Keeping up with the X should keep me entertained for at least a while.
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      03-16-2017, 09:54 AM   #4
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/291088230448...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This is the ipod connectivity cord as mentioned above. Part number 61120440812, this ones obviously cheaper then the OEM BMW or even some of the aftermarket ones from ESS or any other reputable BMW supplier. Those more expensive cords may be nicer, but this one will probably work fine for years, and even if it doesn't, I have 2, so when the first one dies, just switch it out.

The connectivity has a bit to be desired, every time you restart the car, you have to select "random" in the settings as on restart, it will play the songs in the unshuffled order they are in the ipod, even if the ipod is on random. This seems silly to me, but its better then running it through the aux input and having to control song changes on the ipod itself. I dig wheel controls
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-16-2017, 09:59 PM   #5
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Did your X5 have both the USB and the AUX In ports in the arm rest? I have both, but can connect my old iPod classic using just the USB port, and can control the iPod using the iDrive controller. Also used tried using an old iPhone 5 thru only the USB and it can be controlled thru iDrive as well. I don't think you needed the y-cable.
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      03-17-2017, 01:54 AM   #6
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nice pick up and an amazing price. Though, E70s are abundant out there, I would have waited and picked a 2012or 2013 50i with sport package and 20 inch wheels.

Regardless, great car
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      03-17-2017, 03:06 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S4vant View Post
Did your X5 have both the USB and the AUX In ports in the arm rest? I have both, but can connect my old iPod classic using just the USB port, and can control the iPod using the iDrive controller. Also used tried using an old iPhone 5 thru only the USB and it can be controlled thru iDrive as well. I don't think you needed the y-cable.
I did try that way, and no such luck. Maybe mine is older, maybe your iDrive is more up to date, I dont know for sure. Its working now, sounds great, I am going tomorow to have my maps updated or something, so we shall see what my bimmer buddy Kevin tells me, but he uses the same thing for his wife's old E70 X also.
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-17-2017, 03:08 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Ace View Post
nice pick up and an amazing price. Though, E70s are abundant out there, I would have waited and picked a 2012or 2013 50i with sport package and 20 inch wheels.

Regardless, great car
20s or 21s means tires will cost more, so I wasnt even in the market for one of them. I also wasn't keen on having the risk of having the bottom half of my truck sandblasted from the big wheels/tires, per what I read on the m-sports. The truck feels solid enough for me. If I want more I could just drop it on some springs and see what other upgrades I could go about.
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-17-2017, 03:10 PM   #9
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of course, to each his own. I'm just saying, personally, I prefer the sport package looks
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      03-17-2017, 03:11 PM   #10
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for those who would like to know. I am impressed, I was expecting and planning for worse.

Updated above in main post also
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      03-17-2017, 09:09 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyBimX5din View Post
I did try that way, and no such luck. Maybe mine is older, maybe your iDrive is more up to date, I dont know for sure. Its working now, sounds great, I am going tomorow to have my maps updated or something, so we shall see what my bimmer buddy Kevin tells me, but he uses the same thing for his wife's old E70 X also.
It might be. I just got mine 3 weeks ago as well, a 2013 X5 50i as well.

Don't forget that you can check for updates to your iDrive connectivity firmware as well.

Go to www.bmw.com/update and put the last 7 digits of your VIN to see if there is an update available.

Then check to see if it matches the version that iDrive displays on screen. You may be able to update. I was, and it helped when connecting phones and ipod as well.
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      03-18-2017, 06:31 AM   #12
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I am going to hang out with my buddy today, shameless plug alert (http://www.aktivautomotive.com/) I will plug it into the computer before he hooks me up to his machine to update maps to see.
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-18-2017, 06:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S4vant View Post
It might be. I just got mine 3 weeks ago as well, a 2013 X5 50i as well.

Don't forget that you can check for updates to your iDrive connectivity firmware as well.

Go to www.bmw.com/update and put the last 7 digits of your VIN to see if there is an update available.

Then check to see if it matches the version that iDrive displays on screen. You may be able to update. I was, and it helped when connecting phones and ipod as well.
just tried it right now, my iDrive doesn't have the 'software' update selection in the iDrive. So I'll get it done today I guess.
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
1995 Ford Thunderbird 4.6 V8 LX - A bunch of mods BMW guys don't care about
1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-18-2017, 07:10 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyBimX5din View Post
I am going to hang out with my buddy today, shameless plug alert (http://www.aktivautomotive.com/) I will plug it into the computer before he hooks me up to his machine to update maps to see.
Btw, if you are getting charged for map update, don't overpay!
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      03-18-2017, 03:49 PM   #15
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My truck did not need much in the way of updates. My map update has to be built for me, but its not to bad.

I also knocked out the downstream o2 sensor today. It was coding for bank 2 sensor 2. Once I figured out everything I had to remove to get at it, wow, kind of gravy. It seems to go that way often when wrenching on BMW. I have no idea why I always heard how hard these were to work on, they are not. Not even a little.
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      03-18-2017, 03:58 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Ace View Post
of course, to each his own. I'm just saying, personally, I prefer the sport package looks
there is a lot to be said about the inconspicuous look of a black on black BMW sav riding around on 18s, little do unsuspecting victims know, there's 400hp lurking. Like a wolf in puppy cloths.
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      03-20-2017, 10:29 AM   #17
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I am receiving a reduced engine power warning in my iDrive. Truck runs great other then that coming up occasionally. I guess I will have to duplicate the issue with a scan tool hooked up, and then begin my diagnostics. I think with as well as the truck runs, it will probably end up being a vacuum leak, or some sensor that isn't to hateful, but we shall see.
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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      03-24-2017, 09:45 AM   #18
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My reduced engine power finally populated a check engine light. I will have to pull the code and see what kind of information I can get from that. I am thankful it has happened this way.
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      03-26-2017, 07:34 AM   #19
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Code is for boost pressure sensor. I believe this is the MAP sensor. I guess I will buy one, replace it, see how she runs. I can duplicate the concern by idling for a few minutes, then run her super hard. It usually pops then.
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      04-15-2017, 05:02 PM   #20
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Did the side rockers, looks good huh?

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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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      04-15-2017, 05:19 PM   #21
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Got my drive shaft recall completed. Next thing to tackle, boost sensor. Once I am confident the limp mode will stay away (not that it comes often at all its maybe once every week and a half it will pop) we may jump in to a tune. So I have a decision on that to make, JB4 or TTFS, since TTFS is so close to me.
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2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
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1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Bilstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, Catback, Short shifter
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      04-18-2017, 07:57 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyBimX5din View Post
Got my drive shaft recall completed. Next thing to tackle, boost sensor. Once I am confident the limp mode will stay away (not that it comes often at all its maybe once every week and a half it will pop) we may jump in to a tune. So I have a decision on that to make, JB4 or TTFS, since TTFS is so close to me.
Driveshaft recall completed already? I haven't even received the letter yet!

I'll be seeing Frank as well for tune on my 35d, I saw the results on his wife's diesel - amazing results! I also have his tune on my M5, love it no issues over the past 3 years
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