Picked up a 2002 Imola 4.6.. The restoration is on

[Tutti57]

Nice work!

[Trasportador]

Thanks Guys. I'm hoping the shop can take her in this weekend. I'm running out of patience... lol. Ready to see this thing running.

[kakalika]

Nice project. Do keep us updated. Now, who in his right mind would spray black Plasti-Dip on the tail lights!!!

[Trasportador]

Nice project. Do keep us updated. Now, who in his right mind would spray black Plasti-Dip on the tail lights!!!

I've seen some strange things here, bit that one took the cake. Cops would have been pulling this truck over all day long

[x5alpine]

Make sure they do the chain guides and the vanos seals. What did they include in the rebuilding of the motor? Save another rare 4.6is from the junk yard!

[Boogieboy]

Nice score man! Funny thing is, I'm looking at an Estoril 4.6 today.😈

Sent from my iPhone using BF.com

[Trasportador]

Nice score man! Funny thing is, I'm looking at an Estoril 4.6 today.?de08

Sent from my iPhone using BF.com

Dammit Ralph, where the hell you been? Lol. I love the truck, won't lie. What are the stats on the esoteril?

[tmvE39E53Z32TT]

We'll need an ATL X5 meet soon. Like!

[Trasportador]

Just a quick update... The truck's been at the shop for 2 weeks now. The engine rebuild is underway. $2k(we all know the chain guide part list...lol) or so in parts, plus the torque converter rebuild and some other sundry stuff. She's beginning to take shape.

































More to come next week. Car should be running properly by next week Friday. The heads went on this Tuesday. I budget about 2 days for further assembly, 2 days for a "slow install" and 2 days of testing and verification.

[roys740]

coming along very nicely.

[Jopecasa]

Awesome build!

Keep updating us please..... with photos!

[Leonator134]

Loving it dude!!!!

[jeepj667]

What method did you use to clean up the headlights?

[Trasportador]

coming along very nicely.

I'd say it's coming along ok. Certain movements could have been faster on the shop's part.

- - - Updated - - -

Loving it dude!!!!

No match for an e39 M5, but I'll be up there with you one day! lol

- - - Updated - - -

What method did you use to clean up the headlights?

I used the 'patience + rum + power tools' method.

Firstly, I did what this guy did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVuf0-0rKiU

I started with 400 grit paper, then went 800, 1500, 2000 grit. Once I was satisfied with the 2000 grit pass, I used my handy dandy cordless drill / meguiars headlight paste setup and brought the headlights back to a shine.

- - - Updated - - -

E53 X5 M62B46TU vanos Cam Adjuster unit is different to M62B44TU. BMW Alpina M62 4.6 Vanos different 4.4.

If you're doing a 4.6 motor, and accustomed to doing the 4.4, you'll realize there are no protrusions on which you can place alligator clips to check Ohm readings on the 4.6 Cam adjuster.

Procedure is to blow past the Ohm check, and turn counterclockwise until movement stop and thus position set. See below

ECS Tuning M62B44 Cam adjuster
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Site...38694/ES23131/

ECS Tuning M62B46 Cam adjuster
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E53-X5-...w_All/ES23168/

Have a read on page 578 here
http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/x_se..._98)/page_578/

Hope this helps someone one day. It confused the heck out of us for a while.

- - - Updated - - -

Awesome build!

Keep updating us please..... with photos!

Will do mate. We're coming down the home stretch. All appendages are appropriately crossed...

[Trasportador]

Some more pics. Engine should be going in tomorrow.

[dannyzabolotny]

Looks awesome! I'm stoked to see this truck up and running again I've been lurking this thread over the past few months, I love these kinds of restoration threads. I'm in a similar situation with my E39 540i, I bought it with a bunch of cosmetic damage and destroyed timing chain guides. I rebuilt part of the engine, replacing the chain, guides, vanos seals, and all the seals/o-rings/gaskets along the way. These V8's are pretty simple to work on. I've never rebuilt an engine before, but I got into the swing of it pretty easily.

[Trasportador]

Looks awesome! I'm stoked to see this truck up and running again I've been lurking this thread over the past few months, I love these kinds of restoration threads. I'm in a similar situation with my E39 540i, I bought it with a bunch of cosmetic damage and destroyed timing chain guides. I rebuilt part of the engine, replacing the chain, guides, vanos seals, and all the seals/o-rings/gaskets along the way. These V8's are pretty simple to work on. I've never rebuilt an engine before, but I got into the swing of it pretty easily.

These repair projects sure are a labour of love. I just want to be done with them though.. Getting too old for this stuff. lol


More pics

Engine goes in tomorrow. Test start late tomorrow evening. I think all will go well.

[dannyzabolotny]

Any updates?

[Trasportador]

ForumRunner_20150902_205244.png

[Trasportador]

ForumRunner_20150902_205503.png

Can't seem to right the image. Still at the shop. Tomorrow it should be home. Coolant leak at the heater hose. Will scan tomorrow for the abs codes. Almost done. Purrs like a kitten though

[Trasportador]

Car is now at the house. Will post photos later this evening as it was too dark last night to take a meaningful photograph.

Most likely, I have a bad ABS wheel speed sensor, will confirm this weekend(hence the DSC ABS Brake trifecta. The speedo does work, as to all other gauges.

On the drive home the car tracked straight. Easily hits 100 mph. Easily.

Yet to be done:

Install new Nav screen(mine is busted)
Install driver side door vapour barrier. (didn't come with one)
Drive for (500) miles and then give car to the Mrs. so I can get my blooming E38 back into the garage, where it STAYS

[Trasportador]

DONE.

There are a couple of gremlins to kill, but I can deal with it. Dead AC compressor, central locking issue, windshield washer not working, and other nuanced stupidities associated with resurrecting a dead car.

Thanks for looking.

[dannyzabolotny]

Awesome! How does it drive? Are you keeping those wheels? I'm glad you were able to resurrect this X5, it looks much happier now Now that the main engine issues have been fixed, everything else is minor.

[spngr311]

Everything else is just standard E53 nonsense! Excellent job getting it back on the road.

[Trasportador]

Awesome! How does it drive? Are you keeping those wheels? I'm glad you were able to resurrect this X5, it looks much happier now Now that the main engine issues have been fixed, everything else is minor.

Drives well. Gobs of power at 3500 rpm. Gobs.