Your fleet running reports

[Rich B]

Is it just because yours is in bright sunlight that is lighting up the gap more?

[JLv3.0]

I've decided that that's exactly what it is and no further investigation is required

[Swervin_Mervin]

Looking at the bumper/wing gap as well it looks as though the bumper is sat a few mm lower than it should to me. Which then exacerbates the already odd bonnet/ grille gap.

Just never look at the front again and you'll be fine

[JLv3.0]

I've been fine with it since October 2013

[integrale_evo]

Large slabs of different materials next to each other don't help either as they expand at different rates in the heat, which is why a lot of modern panels are just clipped together so the joints can float rather than all being rigidly bolted together like they used to be.

[scotta]

I've decided that that's exactly what it is and no further investigation is required

iirc theres adjustable feet on the bonnet on the B7 that alters the shut line. However if its in line with the wing - Oooo gives a fook!

[scotta]

Deposited the Golf at the local garage this morning to get the trackrod done.

[JLv3.0]

I've decided that that's exactly what it is and no further investigation is required

iirc theres adjustable feet on the bonnet on the B7 that alters the shut line. However if its in line with the wing - Oooo gives a fook!

Seemingly everyone except the one guy who owns it

[scotta]

I've decided that that's exactly what it is and no further investigation is required

iirc theres adjustable feet on the bonnet on the B7 that alters the shut line. However if its in line with the wing - Oooo gives a fook!

Seemingly everyone except the one guy who owns it

[integrale_evo]

Most cars have an odd shut line or moulding line on them somewhere don't they?

Our met has a similar idly large gap between bumper and bonnet next to the grille, despite all the other lines being perfect. It would probably have the same on top if it had a framed grille like the Audi. I've looked at it several times before and had to check the bonnet was closed.

[IanF]

For lolz, I just worked out my average mpg in the Ferrari is 10.7mpg! Around £1.75 per mile, so those quick early morning shopping runs turn out to be for some very expensive milk! Got a message from HR Owen to say its annual service is due, but they’ve tried to con me before so will check the service book when I get home and, if it is due, use Maranello Egham instead!

M4 is 21.5 and X5 does a relatively frugal 25.7. Wouldn’t have thought the 2plus tonne, triple turbo beastie would do that well on what is mostly suburban driving.

[ste]

UPDATE

E53 X5 4.8is

With numerous important jobs pressing on the X5 I ignored all of them and got on with lowering it. I wanted a 4.8is as they have factory air on the front and rear axle and have a height controller on the dashboard to select the different heights. I bought a set of links from http://www.airridelowering.com which you simply adjust to the length you want and then swap them with the standard links that are on the ride-height sensors.

The kit is really good, fitting is easy and back-up support from Mike, the company owner was fantastic. I lost one of the dust covers while fitting and he sent me 4 more and some spare balljoints next-day delivery at his own cost. This is how 'access mode' sits now:



Once I've got the spacers on I'll finish fine adjustment to get the heights just right.

If you plug a trailer into the tow-electrics it defaults to 'towing height' and sets the stability control and other things up accordingly. It can't differentiate between a trailer and a bike rack plugged into the electrics, so with the bikes on it defaults to the same height.





The main reason to get the car was for mountain biking and using it for the first time completely justified the purchase. It carries the bikes effortlessly, there's loads of room inside for our stuff and it managed to negotiate terrain to get to the spot we were cycling at that the 3 series just couldn't have done. I got to do skids in the wet mud too.


I liked this picture from yesterday when it was back at the Olly's to have the rear subframe polybushes fitted. More on that soon, but the pic makes the X5 look like the offspring of the other two.

[Rich B]

I still don’t get it, it would look so much better at normal height to me because it’s a 4x4.

It’s easily the best colour for an X5 though and the rear lights look great.

[JLv3.0]

I still don’t get it, it would look so much better at normal height to me because it’s a 4x4.

Got to agree, but then it's not my car and I have enough shutline-related issues to resolve before I pass comment on other people's cars

[NotoriousREV]

I'm sure Ste doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone's opinion, but it just looks like the air suspension is broken to me.

[ste]

I think it'll come together visually once the spacers are on and the wheels are silver. It'll look less broken and more intentional then. I'm also trying to make it better to drive. At the lower height it's definitely improved, roll seems reduced for one.

Plus it's still adjustable in seconds, I just hit the switch on the dashboard and it pumps up to 'offroad' mode if I want it to look tall again.

[integrale_evo]

To continue the extreme BMW modifying I've stuck some yellow bulbs in the fog lights.

Hids and leds are great, but not when there's a fog whiteout so wondering if these will help a little on the very rare occasion they're needed.

Thanks to BMW not being morons it took approx 30 seconds a side to pop the lights out and swap them over.

[Gwaredd]

Love that you bought a 4x4 to access areas that will take you over rough terrain in order to mountain bike, then lower it so that it will restrict where you can go

FWIW, I think it looks pretty cool lowered.

[ste]

Yeah, as per post above though, if I press a button on the dash, 10 seconds later it’s higher than a normal X5 that doesn’t have air. Win win.

[ste]

It’s the same stuff as the L322 Range Rover basically. Remember BMW bought Land Rover partially to steal all that 4wd stuff. They have loads of the same electronics, the nav screen and software is the same, even the comfort seats mine has are essentially Range Rover seats and obviously the Range Rover had the BMW engines at first.

They carried on raiding that parts bin. The big Brembo callipers on the E70 X5 M are Range Rover ones. They bolt onto my E53 too...