2002 e53 X5

[m20b25]

Always wanted an e53. Started with buying a 4.8iS around 2 years ago with a cooling issue (first mistake) for next to nothing and full Bmw SH. That went straight to a specialist who seemed reputable but went bust. Couple that with moving house and having our second child, it was put on hold. It’s sitting on a farm near me looking sorry for itself.

I subsequently bought a Range Rover L322 (4.4 tdv8 with the 8 speed) but sold that recently.

Enter my 14th BMW: A green e53 X5. I’d been looking for one and being green and manual I took a punt.

Bought unseen, next to no service history, chequered MOT history, filthy dirty, 179900 miles.

First thing I noticed was how much more involved the drive was over the l322, this suited me much better. Gradually the job list got bigger:

The jobs list:
- blower fan (probably FSR). Update: not the FSR. It was the blower fan - changed during the dash/interior swap
- battery drain. Update: old FM transmitter in the boot. Stripped it all out and sorted.
- low power/bogs down until 2k rpm. Replace crank case vent with the vortex type.
- possibly also linked to the above: bodged EGR delete. The pipe had been bent back rather than removal and blanking. Soot everywhere.
- no cabin filter, presumably in an attempt to allow some heat through when moving. Sorted.
- pierberg MAF from a merc. Old one has probably never been replaced
- polish out the hazy headlights
Cut back the paint - poor condition
- bushes / ball joints - handling is all over the place
- alignment
- wheels /tyres (4.6iS wheels if I can find some plus arch extensions)
- door key spins and doesn’t unlock. Done!
- interior swap. Done!

Here it is. Oxford Green II, 3.0d Manual:

Edited by m20b25 on Saturday 2nd April 08:36

Edited by m20b25 on Saturday 2nd April 08:38

[GrantD5]

Bookmarked.

[sprouting]

Is there a big difference in size between this and the L322.

[m20b25]

It feels smaller than the L322 but that may be because it’s more like a car- e53 definitely sits lower and corners better

[m20b25]

Ticked off a few jobs.

1 - really sluggish below 2k rpm. Found that this is a 25k serviceable item so replaced with a revised part. Apparently the old style was phased out a while back to certainly needed doing:




Also completed the EGR delete which someone had bodged. They removed valve and just bent the pipe back! Spot everywhere. Removed this pipe and fitted the blanking plate:



Result: loads more power. Actually drives now

[Court_S]

I’ve got a soft spot for these X5’s.

An uncle had a black 3.0 petrol which was a lovely thing. It drove really well and felt like a massive step on compared to the V8 Grand Cherokee’s he had before.

[Lozw86]

I didn’t know they made manual X5’s

[Carlososos]

Nice buy. One of the bmw golden ear cars. Oxford green ftw it polishes up real good.

[m20b25]

Did an interior swap and sorted the blower fan issue at the same time. The blower wasn’t coming on at any speed - tried the FSR first but no joy.

Dash, carpet, door cars, seats (heated front and rear black napa retrofitted)

Aside from a few minor bits of trim it was done in around 6 hours which included taking it out of the other car and driving home with it sorted.

This was taken about 2 in the afternoon with roughly 2 hours of light left and the old carpets still in!

Will take a picture of the finished article

Edited by m20b25 on Monday 31st January 14:46

[GrantD5]

Oh that looks a fun job

[m20b25]

Wife and kids away this weekend. Long list of jobs but instead serviced the car

Engine, filter, rear diff, box and transfer box:

Gearbox:



Transfer box:



Also gave it a clean and wax last weekend - still looking good a week on. Oxford Green is a great colour:

[Carlososos]

Those wheels are lovely especially compared to the old tiger claws. Good work.

[skullandbiscuits]

m20b25 said:

Always wanted an e53. Started with buying a 4.8iS around 2 years ago with a cooling issue (first mistake) for next to nothing and full Bmw SH. That went straight to a specialist who seemed reputable but went bust. Couple that with moving house and having our second child, it was put on hold. It’s sitting on a farm near me looking sorry for itself.

I subsequently bought a Range Rover L322 (4.4 tdv8 with the 8 speed) but sold that recently.

Enter my 14th BMW: A green e53 X5. I’d been looking for one and being green and manual I took a punt.

Bought unseen, next to no service history, chequered MOT history, filthy dirty, 179900 miles.

First thing I noticed was how much more involved the drive was over the l322, this suited me much better. Gradually the job list got bigger:

The jobs list:
- blower fan (probably FSR). Update: not the FSR.
- battery drain. Update:
- low power/bogs down until 2k rpm. Replace crank case vent with the vortex type.
- possibly also linked to the above: bodged EGR delete. The pipe had been bent back rather than removal and blanking. Spot everywhere.
- no cabin filter, presumably in an attempt to allow some heat through when moving.
- pierberg MAF from a merc. Old one has probably never been replaced
- polish out the hazy headlights
Cut back the paint - poor condition
- bushes / ball joints - handling is all over the place
- alignment
- wheels /tyres (4.6iS wheels if I can find some plus arch extensions)
- door key spins and doesn’t unlock
- interior swap

Here it is. Oxford Green II, 3.0d Manual:

Is that Teals farm shop near Haynes? Super nice e53 :-)

[m20b25]

The very same!

[m20b25]

Ordered new sachs non-sport dampers and H&R springs. Can’t wait for them to arrive

Machine polishing with a das DA polisher and various cutting pastes. The wing was completely gone - not sure what happened but it was very dull:

Before:



After:



Polished and not polished:



And in the sun:

[Court_S]

Looks cracking after a bit of TLC.

Any pics of the interior now?

[Waynester]

m20b25 said:

I like these, and that’s a great colour. I currently have an E63 but keep coming back to the X5. Not sure what I’d prefer though, the V8 or the diesel..

[m20b25]

Cheers, they’re really good cars and the design of it really satisfies me!

Diesel is the least problematic even more so with a manual. I was quoted 6.5k to rebuild the n62 in the 4.8iS (including new cam shafts if required) which is why it’s still sitting there doing nothing. Hoping to have that sorted later in the summer.

Will get an interior shot once I’ve cleaned my daughters foot prints off the dash..

[SiT]

Always loved these, a friend used to have a Le Mans edition in blue with the cream leather and I loved it! Had to borrow it a couple of times and felt proper special.

Would consider another one for horse duties looking at the price of them currently.

Keep this updated - looking forward to seeing the interior, you did well to find a heated rear interior!!

Si

[helix402]

Good project. I’d refit the egr. In my experience these old M57s run better with it fitted. Better mpg and more power with it fitted.

I’d recommend removing the inlet manifold and seeing if it still has swirl flaps, bin them if it has. With manifold off change all vacuum hoses for silicon. I have a spare M57 335d inlet manifold with blanks fitted. You are welcome to it-manifold and flaps may or may not fit. PM me if you want it.

Edited by helix402 on Saturday 2nd April 08:27