V8 N62 Valve stem oil seals

[ATM]

Cheburator mk2 said:

ATM said:

So how does the x5 compare to a 5 series?

I've had a quick go in a 4.4 and it felt very e39.

If i look at a couple for sale then do i just need to leave it idling for a few mins and see if the smoke starts or does the engine need to be nicely hot first?

Depends to which one - I had an E39 540i Touring and the X5 beats it hands down. For starters the X5 has a proper hydraulic steering rack, while the E39 has the "infamous" box. On its own, it is not bad, but compared to the E53 it feels woolly and aloof. The engines - they may as well be night and day. The E39 had the early non-vanos, which arguably is better put together than the TU unit and has better top end, but "lacked" torque, while the N62 is a beast - torque and revs everywhere. The gearbox - the 5spd ZF Steptronic in the E39 is not bad, but things moved on considerably with the 6spd ZF Steptronic in the E53. The box is much better at knowing when to stay in the right gear and when to lock up the clutch. Lastly, handling - the E39 was on genuine M-Parallels with 265 and 235 Goodyear F1 Assym 2s, while the E53 is on 315 and 275 Falken FK453 SUVs. Can I say one word - grip. It is absolutely astounding and hard to believe the way the big Bus clings to the road. Did 3 laps of the Ring in this year and was laughing my head off. No 2.5 tonne machine should handle like this. 9:45 achieved on shagged rear brakes, bearing in mind we had a race car to bring back from Spa, speaks volumes.

As to the E60/61 - I cannot provide a good comparison. I had an E61 M5 for 2 years and 20k miles. That car was in a different league to anything else on the road. It would be unfair on the E53 to compare it to perhaps one of the most complete M-packages (except the stupidly small fuel tank) ever built

Now I want an E61 M5.

[Cheburator mk2]

ATM said:

Now I want an E61 M5.

I had the chance to buy a 70k E61 M5 straight from BMW at BCA (entered as a PX) for £12.5k

Have decided that the imminent replacement for my X5 4.8iS will be a late X5M E70...

[ATM]

Cheburator mk2 said:

ATM said:

Now I want an E61 M5.

I had the chance to buy a 70k E61 M5 straight from BMW at BCA (entered as a PX) for £12.5k

Have decided that the imminent replacement for my X5 4.8iS will be a late X5M E70...

So is it worth going to the Auction?

[iSore]

No. Most BMW's - especially their closed sales - are bloody pricey. An E60 M5 is not a car you'd buy from an auction!

[ATM]

Cheburator mk2 said:

I even use the recommended 0w30 Total Quartz.

Has anyone tried a thicker oil or an additive?

[eliot]

ATM said:

Has anyone tried a thicker oil or an additive?

The stem seals are shagged - especially the ones on the exhaust valves. Instead of something pliable you have something almost as hard as bakelight.
Thicker oil isn't going to help or if it does, think about what other critical areas oil no longer getting to.