New to BMW Ownership - Bought an X5

[BHopkins]

After much research, in looking for a used luxury SUV, I picked up a 2022 BMW X5 sDrive40i for my wife. I was originally looking at getting her a Mercedes GLE350, but was enticed by the power and handling of the X5. Although reviews claim the G05 platform to be very reliable, especially with the inline 6 engine, I still opted for a 4 year/75k mile extended warranty.

This is my first BMW, and I am still learning a lot, particularly regarding mechanical features, and maintenance. I am looking for information from other BMW owners, to help me with a few questions.

First, does BMW have anything similar to Mercedes operating fluids website (previously known as bevo), showing all approved fluids, by specification? So far, I have found it very difficult to find more than a small handful of motor oils that meet the BMW LL specifications for this engine.

This leads me to my second question. Is there a good source that provides detailed description of BMW motor oil specifications?

And this leads to question three. The Owner's Manual says I can use BMW LL01 FE, BMW LL14 FE+, or BMW LL17 FE+, and it also says I can use either 0W-20 or 0W-30. I haven't found anything that states this, but I'm gathering that both LL14 FE+ and LL17 FE+ are exclusively 0W-20, and if I want 0W-30, it will need to be LL01 FE. Is this correct?

Could you recommend any good sources for finding DIY maintenance information? For Mercedes I was able to pick up a WIS for a very cheap price. What is the BMW equivalent to the MB WIS, and are cheap copies available?

Alternatively, are there good sources for individual BMW work instructions. I have already picked up a BMW work instruction for oil change. I'd like to find others also, for example, transmission drain & filter change, brake change, brake fluid drain and fill, battery registration.

Any other advice you can give me, unique to caring for a BMW G05 X5?

 

[Oillover]

Kudos on going with the B58, she's a real treat!

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Welcome to the family.

BMW is very sensitive to CAFE/Emissions and as a result in the US they have recommended oils with a HTHS under 3.5cP..

The B-series was developed to allow for 20 grades but worldwide 5w40 (LL01/LL04 which is similar to 229.50/.51) is used.

https://www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

YT has a plethora of BMW maintenance/DIY. So do the many BMW forums, FCP Euro, etc.

 

[2heeldrive]

Congratulations on the X5. You will love it.

To maintain the warranty, I would let a dealer service it. If you elect to DIY, Mobil-1 FS 0W-40 European Formula is LL01 certified. And only use an OEM filter. There have been reports of aftermarket filters coming apart and getting stuck in the housing.

S drive? Doesn't it snow in northern Utah?

 

[Chris142]

Congratulations on the X5. You will love it.

To maintain the warranty, I would let a dealer service it. If you elect to DIY, Mobil-1 FS 0W-40 European Formula is LL01 certified. And only use an OEM filter. There have been reports of aftermarket filters coming apart and getting stuck in the housing.

S drive? Doesn't it snow in northern Utah?

Since I'm the "Lube tech" now I can say that Mann filters fit the best and seem to stay together ok. Mahle and Xengst stay together but can be a bear to install.

 

[meep]

Google “coding bmw” and ISTA. There’s free laptop software out there which will allow you to talk to the vehicle, both for diagnostics and also for customization.

Congrats on the X5. We’ve got friends with a late teens model. He said that it will do weird things occassionally with the infotainment, especially as the battery ages, but they’ve learned to not be alarmed when something like that happens as it always gets over it … besides those aspects the vehicle has been reliable, rock solid, and incredibly good for family use.

 

[wavinwayne]

Since I'm the "Lube tech" now I can say that Mann filters fit the best and seem to stay together ok. Mahle and Xengst stay together but can be a bear to install.

OP, welcome to the family.

I use Microgard oil filters in my wife's X3 and my 535d, and they fit fine in both vehicles, FWIW. Haven't noticed any issues with them coming apart during 10k mile OCIs. Also, I'm running M1 0w40 in the X3 and it seems to like it.

 

[Kestas]

I find the BMW enthusiast web sites underwhelming with technical information. I own an X2, and I couldn't get answers to some basic maintenance questions. There's lots of questions on navigation systems, which wheels to put on, and electrical control systems, but nothing on where the transmission fill and drain plugs are located. Many things I need to figure out myself.

The manual is useless for maintenance and capacities. It basically tells you when to take the vehicle to the dealer for service. I agree that Youtube is the best place to get information.

I use 5W-30 on mine because I bought a boatload of synthetic some time ago when it was under $2 per qt. Plus my car never sees winter.

67K on mine and thankfully no unusual problems.

 

[BHopkins]

Kudos on going with the B58, she's a real treat!

Thanks. I picked the X5 up in Las Vegas, and I've got to say, so far I love the B58. I'm impressed with how responsive it is.

Welcome to the family.

BMW is very sensitive to CAFE/Emissions and as a result in the US they have recommended oils with a HTHS under 3.5cP..

The B-series was developed to allow for 20 grades but worldwide 5w40 (LL01/LL04 which is similar to 229.50/.51) is used.

https://www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

YT has a plethora of BMW maintenance/DIY. So do the many BMW forums, FCP Euro, etc.

I forgot that FCP has a lot of very detailed DIY videos for BMW cars. Thanks for the reminder.

Congratulations on the X5. You will love it.

To maintain the warranty, I would let a dealer service it. If you elect to DIY, Mobil-1 FS 0W-40 European Formula is LL01 certified. And only use an OEM filter. There have been reports of aftermarket filters coming apart and getting stuck in the housing.

S drive? Doesn't it snow in northern Utah?

I just looked at the PDS for M1 Euro 0W-40, and you are right. I already use it for my E350, so that would be very convenient. That will be a good option once the warranty expires.

I would have preferred an xDrive, but this one checked all the other boxes, and it was too good of a deal to pass up. I'm looking for a set of original BMW 19" wheels off of a G05, that I can put a good set of winter tires on. My hope is that winter tires will make up most of the difference, maybe be even better than an xDrive with A/S tires.

Since I'm the "Lube tech" now I can say that Mann filters fit the best and seem to stay together ok. Mahle and Xengst stay together but can be a bear to install.

Good information on the filters, between your recommendations and that of 2heeldrive. I looked at the oil filter options on FCP, and they claim that the BMW filter is made by Xengst. I think I'll go with the BMW filter, buy it from FCP, and then take advantage of their lifetime warranty.

 

[BHopkins]

OP, welcome to the family.

I use Microgard oil filters in my wife's X3 and my 535d, and they fit fine in both vehicles, FWIW. Haven't noticed any issues with them coming apart during 10k mile OCIs. Also, I'm running M1 0w40 in the X3 and it seems to like it.

I follow the 10k OCI on my E350, and have been very pleased with results. But I was under the impression that most BMW owners recommend against longer OCI's, because of sludge. It's beyond my understanding, but something about BMW engines? I don't see an OCI stated in the Owner's Manual, beyond following the service reminders. When do the service reminders in your X3 and 535d come on?

I find the BMW enthusiast web sites underwhelming with technical information. I own an X2, and I couldn't get answers to some basic maintenance questions. There's lots of questions on navigation systems, which wheels to put on, and electrical control systems, but nothing on where the transmission fill and drain plugs are located. Many things I need to figure out myself.

The manual is useless for maintenance and capacities. It basically tells you when to take the vehicle to the dealer for service. I agree that Youtube is the best place to get information.

I use 5W-30 on mine because I bought a boatload of synthetic some time ago when it was under $2 per qt. Plus my car never sees winter.

67K on mine and thankfully no unusual problems.

I did find some good information in a G05>DIY Discussions sub forum on bimmerpost, but not as much as I would hope, considering how many BMW owners like to tinker with their own cars. And you are right, the Owner's Manual is very light on details for maintenance. It really seems oriented towards the original owners, who go to the dealership for service.

 

[wavinwayne]

I follow the 10k OCI on my E350, and have been very pleased with results. But I was under the impression that most BMW owners recommend against longer OCI's, because of sludge. It's beyond my understanding, but something about BMW engines? I don't see an OCI stated in the Owner's Manual, beyond following the service reminders. When do the service reminders in your X3 and 535d come on?

Not saying sludge doesn't ever happen in the X-series, but it's not something I see a lot of chatter about. Assuming your maintenance reminder was reset before you bought the X5 it will start telling you about oil service around the 8500 mile mark, IIRC. You can also go into the iDrive menu and dig around and it will tell you how long you have before several things need service. Youtube is your best friend for this stuff.

 

[bighead2586]

I'm a Honda/Toyota guy but my girlfriend is about to buy an X5. Seems BMW is doing better with reliability these days and the B58 engine is smooth and very powerful in the cars so I'm sure it's good in the SUV's too.

 

[BHopkins]

I've got to share a story, about bringing the X5 home, from purchasing it in Las Vegas.

My wife and I drove to Vegas, bought the X5, and then headed home to Utah, with me driving the X5 and my wife driving my E350. We spent a night in a small town in Southern Utah, where our son lives. Then Thursday morning, knowing that forecasts showed a major storm hitting Utah, we headed for our home in the very Northern part of Utah. We were hoping to beat the most severe part of the storm, but that didn't work out.

in Utah Valley the traffic was bumper to bumper, as the snow, although only a couple inches thick, had turned to a thin ice layer, where the tire tracks had constantly been driving. For the last 30-35 miles before our home, the road was covered with snow, with some areas having clear tire paths for all three lanes, and some areas having no lanes clear of snow. But we drove safely, and made it home without incident. We were much more fortunate than many others, with even a fatality in the South bound lane of I15, about 30 miles from home.

All the streets in our town were snow covered. Each time I had to stop for a traffic light, I had problems with getting traction, and it would take quite a bit of distance to get up to speed. When we got to our street, I turned the corner to go up a slightly inclined street, and pull into my driveway. But I was not able to make it up the street far enough to turn into my driveway. I turned off traction control, hoping that would help, but no. I finally had to back all the way down to the through street, backing out onto the street, and came a different way home, that doesn't have as much of an incline, and got parked in the driveway.

Later, I looked at the tires, and realized the X5, being a Florida car, has Hankook Ventos Evo3 tires, which are summer performance tires. Absolutely no sipping. The wrong rubber compound. Not made for < 30°f weather. I do not know how I made it, driving through over 200 miles of snow and ice covered roads, on summer tires with RWD. Well, I do. But religion is a banned topic here.

I already knew the tires were Hankook, and at the dealership, I had only inspected them for tread condition and depth. It never occurred to me, to verify if they were summer or a/s tires. If I had known, I probably would have waited a couple days, before making the last leg of our journey.

 

[2heeldrive]

Good idea to get a set of winter tires. They will help a lot. You are a skilled (and lucky) fellow to have made it home in such weather on those tires.

 

[MrJayhawk]

Good information on the filters, between your recommendations and that of 2heeldrive. I looked at the oil filter options on FCP, and they claim that the BMW filter is made by Xengst. I think I'll go with the BMW filter, buy it from FCP, and then take advantage of their lifetime warranty.

I buy my ‘consumables’ from FCP generally, but I did buy an oil filter from dealer for X5 N55 when I found I didnt have one on premises like I thought. It clearly had Mann stamped on the filter and I buy Mann from FCP.

For wheels for snows, check with junkyard or I bought 4 factory wheels off of bimmerfest.com for reasonable amount for my winter set.

 

[Oillover]

Later, I looked at the tires, and realized the X5, being a Florida car, has Hankook Ventos Evo3 tires, which are summer performance tires. Absolutely no sipping. The wrong rubber compound. Not made for < 30°f weather. I do not know how I made it, driving through over 200 miles of snow and ice covered roads, on summer tires with RWD. Well, I do. But religion is a banned topic here.

I never knew any X series BMW's were RWD.
I just assumed the "X" automatically meant "AWD". At least up in Canada, that's how they all are.

If I had the option, I'd certainly consider a RWD BMW SUV (If it were available in my market).

 

[wavinwayne]

I never knew any X series BMW's were RWD.
I just assumed the "X" automatically meant "AWD". At least up in Canada, that's how they all are.

If I had the option, I'd certainly consider a RWD BMW SUV (If it were available in my market).

xDrive is what designates a BMW as AWD. RWD X-series like my wife's X3 are sDrive.

 

[Chris142]

OP, welcome to the family.

I use Microgard oil filters in my wife's X3 and my 535d, and they fit fine in both vehicles, FWIW. Haven't noticed any issues with them coming apart during 10k mile OCIs. Also, I'm running M1 0w40 in the X3 and it seems to like it.

I can tell you that Wix filters don't fit euro cars worth a darn .

 

[BHopkins]

I can tell you that Wix filters don't fit euro cars worth a darn .

Unfortunately, even the Euro filters don't always fit right. Having used Mann filters exclusively on my '07 SL550, with great success, I bought a Mann oil filter for the first oil change on my E350. It didn't fit at all! Instead, I have found that the Purflux filter performs great in my E350.

 

[Marcozi]

1. Buy only MANN oil filters for the B58. Aftermarket filters are a no-no in the B58.
2. Buy a 22mm short socket and a swivel for the oil filter cap.
3. Don't go by the oil change indicator. I change my car's oil every 5k to 6k miles using Ravenol VMP 5W30. Check used oil analysis section to see my latest UOA.
4. An x0W40 oil is too thick for the B58 engine. In Europe that engine gets 5W30 oil. We are supposed to use XW20 bc BMW NA spec'd that oil when doing fuel economy runs.
5. Check the aftermarket warranty to see if you can have the X serviced at a reputable indy shop. If you can, go to www.bimrs.org to find a shop near you.
6. Frequently check the front axle outer CV joint bellows. They are easily damaged.
7. The installation of aftermarket cooling system parts is strictly verboten.