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M5 update All going well ... Got Tony from Wheel Magician Welly to tidy up the two right wheels - much nicer and I can stop grimacing when looking at them. No before pics as sorting these was a 'might as well do it now' decision 335i 1 rim tidied up - never got around to this after buying the car back in 2019... X5 Have had the brake light trifecta pop up randomly when cruising along - then on next restart, cleared. Jon read the codes and it was reporting 'brakes hot'??? and pressure sensor error So it has been in for a thorough service... replace faulty viscous fan hub checked diff oil levels, replace transfer case oil as it was dark brake bleed install new ABS pump - to cover the pressure sensor error, and I've had the new ABS pump sitting idle since it came with the new ECU installed some time ago replace leaking washer motor fix puncture in spare wheel I do like the X5 but it hasn't exactly been... hassle free!

Bear in mind, this will cost you a fortune and you will still get owned by Hondas

You guys have both given me a lot to think about and a lot of different options, I think for now I might try and make a set of ITB's up, test my luck at that, I am definitely still interested in stroking what I have to get a little more. More so that I can freshen up what I have, just gone past 300k so might try give it a bit more life (still goes strong and pulls well however there are some odd sounds starting) Might even try stroker with ITB's, bit of a rip off M3, maybe even put an M badge on there

Don't get hung up on specific power output per cc, its completely irrelevant when you consider the engines weight and external dimensions are all but the same. You could consider a straight M54 swap. There is a bit of fiddling with the DME but all the fixes are out there. The Getrag 220 will live behind a 3l engine, maybe not forever but plenty see duty in similar applications. If you go to a ZF for the trans then safely pushing the M54 past its 170kw stock rating is reasonably easy with a good exhaust system and DME tune. I have had the pleasure of owning and or driving E36's with M50's, M52's and M50 3l setups. By far an away the 3l Stroker was the best of the lot, it just had more everywhere. It did have a tuned DME that allowed it to rev a bit higher and with a nice set of headers it was enthusiastic and had a very nice note as well. Don't get caught up in the Purist BS, longer stroke motors can rev and be full of character, just look at the S54.

Did a bit of wetsanding and polishing on the roof, but unfortunately the blending didn't come out anywhere near as good as I would have liked. I think I sanded through the clear in some parts and you can clearly see the part where it blends, especially in the sun. Hard to see in the photos, but take my word for it, it's crap. So I decided I will just do it properly and paint the whole roof with a spray gun, along with finally doing the fender and the door. Will begin sanding and preparing next week and hopefully do the painting end of the week or the week after.

Listing states... " This is being sold for parts or repair only and has not been through a WOF or Mechanical Inspection prior to listing " so I'm thinking no different than Turners auctioning writeoffs or damaged cars. Cheers...

Got the engine / subframe out of the car again so can start fabricating the mounts.

That's really not that bad at the end of the day. Folks are happy to lose far more than that on a newer depreciating vehicle.

Considering the total cost to maintain one of these like it ought to won't be trivial, do you think you will keep the X5 for much longer now the MBI has gone?