2004 Titan Silver X3 3.0

[Gizmo]

Jiggy dropped off his X3 with me this morning for a water pump replacement and full service. Seeing as its my first X3 to work on besides my wife's one I thought I should do a in-depth thread on it. I found it easier to work on due to having more room around the engine bay in comparison to a M54 E46. I got some 50 pics so bare with me here...






Hood insulation has shrunk.



Removed.



The engine has been sprayed with that horrid dust attracting silicon spray.:thumbdo:


The snorkel part on the X3 is quite different to the E46, must try find the correct snorkel for my wife's X3.




Draining oil.


Not serviced often enough.


Powerflow Edenvale's decat work.

---

Jiggy got these rubber linings for the X3 boot, now I want some too for the X3 and the touring.




Demon dogs had to test the linings.


Old air filter dated Dec 2009.


Although it doesn't look that dirty alot of grit came out of it...


Remains of a previous filter, from before Dec 2009.


Was that so hard?


Gaining access to the belts.




Electric fan is quite similar to the E46 one.


Belts need replacement.


Original water pump out, had excessive play in the bearing and was leaking.


New OEM water pump and new belts.


New OEM air filter going in.


New OEM oil filter going in.



Old spark plugs out, note the 3 different types of Bosch coils.


New spark plugs greased and going in.


Torqued to 28nm.


Old pollen filter was nasty!



7lt of the good stuff.

---

Fitting new wipers.



Engine bay nice and clean/dust free.


Missing a carpet clip.


Not anymore.



All finished up, service book has been filled in and ready to go back home.



Peter, expect to see her in the new year for vanos seals.:coolShake:

 

[Radyn]

Really good work you are doing.

You should open shop in Cpt i would not think twice about taking my car to you for work.

Great job keep it up

 

[Peter@AEW]

I thought you said there were 50 pictures you liar

 

[Gizmo]

There are 50 pics you sceptic!

 

[Gizmo]

Speaking of sceptics, the condition of the gearbox and how the engine looks through the oil cap lead me to believe that the car may have alot more than just 125 000km, I could be wrong though. The gearbox sometimes holds the gear instead of up shifting, I don't know auto boxes so I'm unsure if it just needs a service or if it just needs a firmware update or both. The car will be also giving Nico a visit at ZF Services in Meadowdale for the auto box issues.

 

[moranor@axis]

did you get it on the lift for the oil change or just crawl under there

 

[Gizmo]

^ my days of crawling under cars has long past, if I cannot stand under it then I don't go under it.

 

[Peter@AEW]

Do the box service yourself
All they do is change oil and filters

 

[Gizmo]

There is only like 10cm between the x3 roof rails and the roof trusses with the lift at full extension.

---

Peter, you mean we are going to do the gearbox service. Will make sure Yolanda gets your beluga caviar, truffles and quail eggs, will also arrange Leonard's manicurist to be on hand.:chef:

 

[Jiggy]

Thanks Warren for the fanatic service and professionalism around the vehicle. Your attention to detail is incredible and I will not service my car anywhere else.

So I made a few calls this morning regarding the gearbox:

1. ZF told me that this auto is made by GM (not ZF) and they cannot service it. They did mention that it’s extremely strong and reliable and I shouldn’t have problems with it (expect the transfer case which is known problem).They also gave me a contact at AEC Gearbox in Malboro to chat to about servicing and firmware.
2. Called AEC and the spoke to an older, I think Italian, gentleman and he mentioned that I should not touch the gearbox if it’s working fine. He said that it comes with lifetime oil, but I still believe that it should be changed. Spoke to him about the car keeping gear on slight up-hills and he says it’s perfectly normal and the engine needs to maintain torque for ascending roads. Also asked about slippage and he told me I would feel it only on the higher rev range when you put your foot flat and the car revs without engaging gear – which doesn’t happen now.

Also, ZF told me that your wife’s gearbox is different to mine (2.5i vs. 3.0i) and they have different ‘characteristics’ (i.e. quicker, shorter changes) to match the 2.5i power and torque curves. Guessing that’s why it felt different (maybe more sluggish) to mine as the gears are longer...

Thanks again Warren!

 

[Kyle]

Damn I wish I had a BMW just to send it to you :crazylaugh:

Awesome workmanship

 

[car_fanatic]

Great work :clapper:

 

[andre320D]

Now on to my vehicle[WHITE SMILING FACE]

 

[Gizmo]

I call BS on AEC.

Now on to my vehicle

Busy on Zayd's m3, it's been here for months. Squeezing your car in at the end of the week.

 

[Peter@AEW]

Thanks Warren for the fanatic service and professionalism around the vehicle. Your attention to detail is incredible and I will not service my car anywhere else.

So I made a few calls this morning regarding the gearbox:

1. ZF told me that this auto is made by GM (not ZF) and they cannot service it. They did mention that it’s extremely strong and reliable and I shouldn’t have problems with it (expect the transfer case which is known problem).They also gave me a contact at AEC Gearbox in Malboro to chat to about servicing and firmware.
2. Called AEC and the spoke to an older, I think Italian, gentleman and he mentioned that I should not touch the gearbox if it’s working fine. He said that it comes with lifetime oil, but I still believe that it should be changed. Spoke to him about the car keeping gear on slight up-hills and he says it’s perfectly normal and the engine needs to maintain torque for ascending roads. Also asked about slippage and he told me I would feel it only on the higher rev range when you put your foot flat and the car revs without engaging gear – which doesn’t happen now.

Also, ZF told me that your wife’s gearbox is different to mine (2.5i vs. 3.0i) and they have different ‘characteristics’ (i.e. quicker, shorter changes) to match the 2.5i power and torque curves. Guessing that’s why it felt different (maybe more sluggish) to mine as the gears are longer...

Thanks again Warren!

I feel compelled to respond in part.

Gearbox oil is lifetime which is 60000 miles.

Most box failures are from old oil.

 

[Jiggy]

Thanks Warren for the fanatic service and professionalism around the vehicle. Your attention to detail is incredible and I will not service my car anywhere else.

So I made a few calls this morning regarding the gearbox:

1. ZF told me that this auto is made by GM (not ZF) and they cannot service it. They did mention that it’s extremely strong and reliable and I shouldn’t have problems with it (expect the transfer case which is known problem).They also gave me a contact at AEC Gearbox in Malboro to chat to about servicing and firmware.
2. Called AEC and the spoke to an older, I think Italian, gentleman and he mentioned that I should not touch the gearbox if it’s working fine. He said that it comes with lifetime oil, but I still believe that it should be changed. Spoke to him about the car keeping gear on slight up-hills and he says it’s perfectly normal and the engine needs to maintain torque for ascending roads. Also asked about slippage and he told me I would feel it only on the higher rev range when you put your foot flat and the car revs without engaging gear – which doesn’t happen now.

Also, ZF told me that your wife’s gearbox is different to mine (2.5i vs. 3.0i) and they have different ‘characteristics’ (i.e. quicker, shorter changes) to match the 2.5i power and torque curves. Guessing that’s why it felt different (maybe more sluggish) to mine as the gears are longer...

Thanks again Warren!

I feel compelled to respond in part.

Gearbox oil is lifetime which is 60000 miles.

Most box failures are from old oil.

Gizmo!!!!

 

[Jeremy]

:clapper: awesome work Gizmo!

 

[andre320D]

I call BS on AEC.

Now on to my vehicle

Busy on Zayd's m3, it's been here for months. Squeezing your car in at the end of the week.

:thumbs: