My first BMW, I have questions

[Stranger35]

I'm 66yo I have worked on cars, trucks, boats, race cars all of my adult life. My wife and I decided we needed to get rid of our 2003 GMC Envoy and get something different. We found this X5 at what we thought was a reasonable price. Now I have a few questions and will, no doubt have more in the future.

1. It doesn't have the toolkit, it's 8yo and went through 2 owners before us. What is contained in the toolkit? Do I need it? I have a fairly comprehensive set of tools in the shop behind the house and a pretty good set in the garage.

2. When I decide to jack it up, do I need jack pads? Can I fabricate pads out of wood?

3. Where are the recommended places to place set the jack stands?

This is the biggest one.

4. There are scratches on the hood. Not single line scratches like from a key or branches. They look like sanding scratches. As if some bonehead tried to remove sap or bird cement. I've never had to deal with this. What is the best way to remove these. I can't show pictures, they don't show up in the camera.

Thanks in advance.

[4lex]

1. You'll need metric tools, and torx bits and sockets
2. No, timber ones are fine
3. I typically go under the suspension bushing to the chassis
4. if cut and polish goes nowhere, it's paint.

[Stranger35]

1. Have those.
2. Can cut those.
3. Essentially where I normally would place stands.
4. I'm using Chemical Guys Scratch and Swirl remover, applied manually.
The scratches are almost gone. They looked like a 4yo attacked it with a Green Scotch-Brite pad.

Thank you 4Lex for your reply.

[Qsilver7]

I'm 66yo I have worked on cars, trucks, boats, race cars all of my adult life. My wife and I decided we needed to get rid of our 2003 GMC Envoy and get something different. We found this X5 at what we thought was a reasonable price. Now I have a few questions and will, no doubt have more in the future.

1. It doesn't have the toolkit, it's 8yo and went through 2 owners before us. What is contained in the toolkit? Do I need it? I have a fairly comprehensive set of tools in the shop behind the house and a pretty good set in the garage.

2. When I decide to jack it up, do I need jack pads? Can I fabricate pads out of wood?

3. Where are the recommended places to place set the jack stands?

This is the biggest one.

4. There are scratches on the hood. Not single line scratches like from a key or branches. They look like sanding scratches. As if some bonehead tried to remove sap or bird cement. I've never had to deal with this. What is the best way to remove these. I can't show pictures, they don't show up in the camera.

Thanks in advance.

1. BMW has pared down the toolkit…most only get a few tools like the tow hook and a screwdriver in a VELCRO tool bag:

2. You should already have 4 rubber jack pads installed…and then there’s a center jack location right below the engine if you want to raise the complete front end…and you can also left the entire rear by placing a floor jack below the rear dif (just make sure not to have the jack on the rear dif’s cover). The 4 jacking lift pads are identified by #2 in the 2nd illustration below…and the jack pads themselves are #20 in the diagram below:

3. Jack stands should be placed in the locations below the rubber jack pads…indentified by #2 in the illustration above.

[Stranger35]

Thank you Qsilver7. Very informative. I will print those pictures and put them in my archives.