BMW X5 question

Anybody have experience working on a 2007 X5? A friend is asking me to change the valve cover gasket and spark plugs on his, and I've never even cracked the hood on a BMW SUV.

So, should I be "too busy" to help, or is it not that big of a deal?

Thanks for any info

Modern BMW? Be afraid!

Essentially a lifted E39 from what I understand.

Which engine? That could have an inline 6 or V8 installed. Either engine will have variable valve lift which makes for a slightly more difficult valve cover removal/install. The V8 is significantly more tricky.

I believe its the 3.0

In reply to Aeromoto:

That uses the N52 with the variable valve lift. They absolutely suck to do in a 3 series (5 hours). The X5 lists it at 3.5 hours, so you have a little better access. They require replacement of all the aluminum bolts and to do it properly you need to reset the variable valve lift adaption. If it has the plastic valve cover, good chance it can break during disassemble.

I'd say don't do it. If your friend wanted a new, expensive X5, let him pay the dealer to properly maintain it.

Spark plugs aren't a big deal. You could always do them and then get a good look at what is involved for the valve cover while in there. BTW- you'll also need a BMW scantool to reset the spark plug maintenance in the CBS system.

Book rate on that is 3.5 hours, there's nothing particularly special about the job, just pulling/installing the cover which can be tricky as a result of tight clearances.

Cone_Junky wrote: I'd say don't do it...

GRM Board says: "Buy a BMW, they're affordable if you can DIY!"

but then is all like

"But I'm not going to help you work on it - if you want an expensive car, pay the dealer to maintain it."

If it was his car, then we'd tell him to DIY it See the "Am I expecting too much of non-car people" thread...

I am starting to see X5s that have dropped into the affordable range.

I think you can see why now, Woody. Modern (since 2005) BMWs are a pain to work on. I can't imagine what the next generation is going to be like

nderwater wrote:

Cone_Junky wrote: I'd say don't do it...

GRM Board says: "Buy a BMW, they're affordable if you can DIY!" but then is all like "But I'm not going to help you work on it - if you want an expensive car, pay the dealer to maintain it."

You are absolutely correct. BTW-the OP said he was asked to do it, not help.

The definition of DIY is "Do it Yourself" right?

Yes, MY GRM tendencies are to do it myself. But I also wouldn't recommend some one else to go buy a 25 yo rodent and restore/race it if you can't do your own work. Do you have any idea how many Bimmer owners I run across everyday that bitch/whine about the cost of repairs? Unless you can actually do it YOURSELF, if you couldn't afford the car when it was new, you can't afford a used one.

Thanks for the advise, everyone. I think I need to weasel out of this one.

BMW is not the only one on this. I need an upper torque arm on my Volvo. The dealer wants to sell me the complete arm for $85... but I can buy just the bad bushing online for $15... guess which route I went?

mad_machine wrote: BMW is not the only one on this. I need an upper torque arm on my Volvo. The dealer wants to sell me the complete arm for $85... but I can buy just the bad bushing online for $15... guess which route I went?

You scrapped it? DIY is hard.