X5 2002 air filter and services

[Rooikat]

Hi, I am new to this forum and new to the X5's. I purchased a 2002 x5 3.0d which is quite something coming from a bakkie. Anyway, always been busy servicing my own vehicles, but with the beamer I am a bit more carefull, scared. I found the air filer, but how, when and with what do I replace it? Where do I buy this, if not from the agents? While I am at [/size][/font]it, what should I do at which service intervals?

Thanx in advance.

 

[Andrew]

I have found Goldwagen to be a good source of parts - filters and such can be bought from Midas. I don't have much experience with Diesel cars but if I were you and you are planning to keep the car for a while I would inspect the swirl flaps in the intake manifold (check the internet) - They can become brittle and the grub screws can work loose becoming ingested and destroying what is otherwise an excellent engine.

 

[Rooikat]

I have found Goldwagen to be a good source of parts - filters and such can be bought from Midas. I don't have much experience with Diesel cars but if I were you and you are planning to keep the car for a while I would inspect the swirl flaps - They can become brittle and the grub screws can work becoming ingested and destroying what is otherwise an excellent engine.

Hi Andrew,

Thanxs for the advice, swirl flaps? I can help myself around an engine, but never heard of swirl flaps. I noticed a couple of threads around this topic, quite concerning. I enjoy the X5, but there are so many things that can go wrong, so I would like to concentrate on prolonging the engine, turbo etc to the best of my ability without donating my kidney.........

 

[Andrew]

I have found Goldwagen to be a good source of parts - filters and such can be bought from Midas. I don't have much experience with Diesel cars but if I were you and you are planning to keep the car for a while I would inspect the swirl flaps - They can become brittle and the grub screws can work becoming ingested and destroying what is otherwise an excellent engine.

Hi Andrew,

Thanxs for the advice, swirl flaps? I can help myself around an engine, but never heard of swirl flaps. I noticed a couple of threads around this topic, quite concerning. I enjoy the X5, but there are so many things that can go wrong, so I would like to concentrate on prolonging the engine, turbo etc to the best of my ability without donating my kidney.........

They are flaps at the base of the intake manifold which effectively increase/decrease the length of the intake tract to help adjust torque output - you can remove them if they look dodgy and replace them with blanking plates - other than that use the best oil that you can afford

 

[Sankekur]

For filters and the like it is best to just go to the dealers, in most cases they are just a little bit more.

 

[P1000]

They are flaps at the base of the intake manifold which effectively increase/decrease the length of the intake tract to help adjust torque output - you can remove them if they look dodgy and replace them with blanking plates - other than that use the best oil that you can afford

That is not entirely how they work or what they do. They basically also only ever close when your idling, so they are purely for emmisions and do not affect power or torque in the least. Do not wait for them to look dodgy, if they look dodgy, you already need a new motor and turbo. Remove them immediately.

For filters and the like it is best to just go to the dealers, in most cases they are just a little bit more.

+1. A friend at the dealership told me they have 0% markup on filters for these cars... (which does not make them cheap, it only makes it worth paying ~10% more for an OEM part.)

 

[Rooikat]

They are flaps at the base of the intake manifold which effectively increase/decrease the length of the intake tract to help adjust torque output - you can remove them if they look dodgy and replace them with blanking plates - other than that use the best oil that you can afford

That is not entirely how they work or what they do. They basically also only ever close when your idling, so they are purely for emmisions and do not affect power or torque in the least. Do not wait for them to look dodgy, if they look dodgy, you already need a new motor and turbo. Remove them immediately.

For filters and the like it is best to just go to the dealers, in most cases they are just a little bit more.

+1. A friend at the dealership told me they have 0% markup on filters for these cars... (which does not make them cheap, it only makes it worth paying ~10% more for an OEM part.)

OK, now I am worried. Any help as to where and how to remove the swirl flaps will be appreciated. This engine is new to me and I would like to understand the engine a bit better as well. Any documentation worth while buying to assist with repairs, services etc except for the normal Haynes books?

 

[Andrew]

Do some home work on the internet - tons of info out there - also check out YouTube

 

[Solo Man]

By now you have probably realized that the X5's do not have the dreaded swirl flaps that the E39, etc. have, so you do not have to worry about them falling into the engine. When servicing the X5 diesel, do yourself a favour and replace the loo type oil seperator that sits on top of the head with the later type seperator that doesn't use a filter. Replacing the air filter involves quite some work and i had quite a battle getting the cover back on securely. So, take your time and make sure that the air filter cover is securely fixed. Also, disconnect the egr (exhaust gas recirculation) vacuum pipe and block it off with a screw. Take of the egr and clean it and put it back without the vacuum pipe. Just block off the pipe on the egr as well. What mileage has your car done? I would consider having the (auto) gearbox oil and filter replaced as well.