New X5 M owner- Intro and project log

[dowster]

Congrats! Nice looking x5M, always love hearing them rip down the highway on my way to work sometimes.

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

I just noticed you are running a very nice looking front lip. Who makes that lip? Thanks and man your car is making me crazy for some 612 M Wheels.

PO made it out of a lip for an Audi R8. Don't know much about it aside from that, but it's pretty will done and I'm going to keep it. I'll be swapping the socket head bolts out for some button heads, but aside from that I think it's a really good look

Originally Posted by dowster

Congrats! Nice looking x5M, always love hearing them rip down the highway on my way to work sometimes.

Thanks! I am really loving it as a highway stormer. Great for road trips


I had a pretty productive morning today. Decided at the last minute to go ahead and tackle the vacuum pump to hopefully take care of the oil leak I was seeing on the passenger side rear of the motor. Started about 10:30AM and finished around 3:30PM, with a short lunch/beer break in between. Really not a bad job at all, I meant to take some more detailed pictures but didn't really work out. This was my first time pulling the cowling and heat shields on this car so I think if I had to do it again I could easily do this job in 2-3 hours.

Notice the oil leak on the valve cover in this picture. The valve cover bolt just ahead of the one pictured here had 1/2" of thread showing, so I'm fairly sure that was my oil leak. Also notice the picture of the vacuum pumps, oil looks to have been pooling the top cavity of the vacuum pump body then just leaking around. Either way, after replacing the pump and checking all valve cover bolts I'm pretty confident I'll be leak free.





I'm not a fan of wiring touching metal stuff so I did some zip-tie standoffs on the o2 wires.




A less great thing happened with the car today after this was all finished. When I returned from test drive/dinner later in the day, I heard what sounded like a pump cycling/running dry in the passenger side front after turning the car off. I think a couple things could have caused this- (1) I unbolted the coolant tank and moved it aside to get to some of the heatshield bolts, I could have moved some air up into the aux pump when I did this. Going to look into this tomorrow (2) I was laying over the front intake area at times to get at the vacuum pump, could have moved/cracked/bent some stuff. I can hear the fans running when I shut the car off, so that is encouraging. Hoping #1 is the cause and I can bleed the system to fix. Anyone have any ideas on this? I haven't done too much research on hose routing or aux water pump stuff yet, so if anyone has anything better than real OEM and google searches that would probably save me a little time

[boneca]

Originally Posted by Jb325is

PO made it out of a lip for an Audi R8. Don't know much about it aside from that, but it's pretty will done and I'm going to keep it. I'll be swapping the socket head bolts out for some button heads, but aside from that I think it's a really good look

oh wow, we were just talking about u front lip with @0-60Motorsports today, I thought I know all the lips available for X5M E70 and I assumed this was a custom job which it is but from R8 wow!

btw u mentioned u powerdome is from X6M, its actually from X6 Hybrid, not a biggy just wanted u to know (I upgraded my hood to powerdome couple years ago myself)

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Jb325is

PO made it out of a lip for an Audi R8. Don't know much about it aside from that, but it's pretty will done and I'm going to keep it. I'll be swapping the socket head bolts out for some button heads, but aside from that I think it's a really good look

Thanks! I am really loving it as a highway stormer. Great for road trips


I had a pretty productive morning today. Decided at the last minute to go ahead and tackle the vacuum pump to hopefully take care of the oil leak I was seeing on the passenger side rear of the motor. Started about 10:30AM and finished around 3:30PM, with a short lunch/beer break in between. Really not a bad job at all, I meant to take some more detailed pictures but didn't really work out. This was my first time pulling the cowling and heat shields on this car so I think if I had to do it again I could easily do this job in 2-3 hours.

Notice the oil leak on the valve cover in this picture. The valve cover bolt just ahead of the one pictured here had 1/2" of thread showing, so I'm fairly sure that was my oil leak. Also notice the picture of the vacuum pumps, oil looks to have been pooling the top cavity of the vacuum pump body then just leaking around. Either way, after replacing the pump and checking all valve cover bolts I'm pretty confident I'll be leak free.





I'm not a fan of wiring touching metal stuff so I did some zip-tie standoffs on the o2 wires.




A less great thing happened with the car today after this was all finished. When I returned from test drive/dinner later in the day, I heard what sounded like a pump cycling/running dry in the passenger side front after turning the car off. I think a couple things could have caused this- (1) I unbolted the coolant tank and moved it aside to get to some of the heatshield bolts, I could have moved some air up into the aux pump when I did this. Going to look into this tomorrow (2) I was laying over the front intake area at times to get at the vacuum pump, could have moved/cracked/bent some stuff. I can hear the fans running when I shut the car off, so that is encouraging. Hoping #1 is the cause and I can bleed the system to fix. Anyone have any ideas on this? I haven't done too much research on hose routing or aux water pump stuff yet, so if anyone has anything better than real OEM and google searches that would probably save me a little time

Great job on the DIY and thanks for the info on the lip. It looks great on the X5M. Might have to look into modifying an R8 lip if I get the time lol.

Looks like the Z-Art lip https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Z-AR...ceBeautifyAB=0

[boneca]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Great job on the DIY and thanks for the info on the lip. It looks great on the X5M. Might have to look into modifying an R8 lip if I get the time lol.

Looks like the Z-Art lip https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Z-AR...ceBeautifyAB=0

If Ali sales it for $1350, I can only imagine how much OEM would cost that's in case if there is one!
You might as well buy OEM M Performance for about $1600 which also doesn't look that bad

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by boneca

If Ali sales it for $1350, I can only imagine how much OEM would cost that's in case if there is one!
You might as well buy OEM M Performance for about $1600 which also doesn't look that bad

Yes oem performance one is the plan for now

[philly42]

Nice job tackling the vacuum pump. The area is tight so it was somewhat of a pain to replace.

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

btw u mentioned u powerdome is from X6M, its actually from X6 Hybrid, not a biggy just wanted u to know (I upgraded my hood to powerdome couple years ago myself)

Is that in the US only? Because when I was shopping around for an X6M, all the 2013 models have the power dome here in Canada

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

Is that in the US only? Because when I was shopping around for an X6M, all the 2013 models have the power dome here in Canada

I'm not totally sure to be honest but the reason for PowerDome hood was the engine compartment on Hybrid that actually needed it.
Since X5M and X6M engine compartments are exactly the same I don't see the reason why the X6M would have them.

Now don't get me wrong it looks great and that's why I have it too

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by boneca

I'm not totally sure to be honest but the reason for PowerDome hood was the engine compartment on Hybrid that actually needed it.
Since X5M and X6M engine compartments are exactly the same I don't see the reason why the X6M would have them.

Now don't get me wrong it looks great and that's why I have it too

I believe it was standard on the 2014 (last model year of e71 Models).

Maybe they had leftover hybrid hoods

[boneca]

Originally Posted by Naz24

I believe it was standard on the 2014 (last model year of e71 Models).

Maybe they had leftover hybrid hoods

hahaha sounds about right, especially that last year of X5M E70 was 2013 so in 2014 were only E71 made

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Naz24

I believe it was standard on the 2014 (last model year of e71 Models).

Maybe they had leftover hybrid hoods

Probably this because I've seen a few X6's here recently with the powerdome.

[Jb325is]

Just an update. Up to 95,500 miles now, oil change due this week and I'm going to tackle an auxillary water pump as well (I have this noise on shut down- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka4B7exVxF8)

BC's are coming off this week and I just picked up a set of used KW's on ebay for what I feel is a pretty good deal. The KW's are for a standard e70, so springs and adjusters in the rear, but that's what I already have with the BC's so no worries there. I cross-referenced the part numbers on the dampers themselves and they match the X5 M kit. I need to look into options for the EDC delete, and aside from that I think I'll be happy with the suspension finally (assuming the KW's ride as well as everyone says)

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Jb325is

Just an update. Up to 95,500 miles now, oil change due this week and I'm going to tackle an auxillary water pump as well (I have this noise on shut down- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka4B7exVxF8)

BC's are coming off this week and I just picked up a set of used KW's on ebay for what I feel is a pretty good deal. The KW's are for a standard e70, so springs and adjusters in the rear, but that's what I already have with the BC's so no worries there. I cross-referenced the part numbers on the dampers themselves and they match the X5 M kit. I need to look into options for the EDC delete, and aside from that I think I'll be happy with the suspension finally (assuming the KW's ride as well as everyone says)

Good plan, Damn it those wheels look so good on the E70 X5M. Still havent found a set but i shall not give up looking lol.

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Good plan, Damn it those wheels look so good on the E70 X5M. Still havent found a set but i shall not give up looking lol.

Thanks! I'm considering getting rid of them for some 20's if the KW ride quality isn't a huge improvement. I would want some pretty nice/wide aftermarket 20's in exchange though.

My wife has decided she won't commute in the X anymore because of the ride quality and has commandeered my e39 M5. Need to get the suspension/ride sorted on this thing so I can drive the m5 whenever I want again

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Jb325is

Thanks! I'm considering getting rid of them for some 20's if the KW ride quality isn't a huge improvement. I would want some pretty nice/wide aftermarket 20's in exchange though.

My wife has decided she won't commute in the X anymore because of the ride quality and has commandeered my e39 M5. Need to get the suspension/ride sorted on this thing so I can drive the m5 whenever I want again

Im sure it'll improve with the KW's. If it doesn then yes get some nice fat 20s and lower the car to the right height and it'll still look great. and ride even better.

[0-60Motorsports]

Did you install the KWs? Hows the ride if you installed them.....

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Did you install the KWs? Hows the ride if you installed them.....

They'll be here tomorrow, going to pull the BC's off today

[cncmastr]

Gotta say, truck looks awesome with those wheels. I might borrow that idea.

I too have an E53 4.8is with 175k Miles...

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by cncmastr

Gotta say, truck looks awesome with those wheels. I might borrow that idea.

I too have an E53 4.8is with 175k Miles...

Thanks! I like the look for sure but considering going back to 20's for ride quality- the roads are terrible here. I definitely wouldn't be happy going back to stock 20's after these though, it would have to be something special.

I don't think I'll ever get rid of my e53, I bought it from a family friend who had owned it for a really long time and it's just been an amazing vehicle. I use it as a mtb/dog hauler now since the e70 is pretty useless for anything practical

[Jb325is]

Don't have the KW's installed yet, but have a look at the rear springs:

2018-10-25_07-31-24 by Jonathan braswell, on Flickr

BC vs. KW. Someone did some math and someone didn't

[do_0b]

i thought the all X5 Ms had rear air suspensions? Which is why the H&R lowering kit comes with the rear links.