Advice on a 2008 BMW X5 sport

[sjf911]

Wife came home last night from California after finishing the clean out of her recently deceased mother's estate and brought her mother's low mileage '08 X5 4.8i sport (49K miles) home. I had encouraged her to pawn it off on her sister but to no avail, she had to have it despite the fact that we already have 2 SUV's. Overnight, the rear had sagged to the stops and about 5 large oil spots appeared under the engine. Quick soap check of the rear air springs revealed both leaking badly. Peering into the engine bay reveals oil leaking on both sides of the engine.
Now, the airspring replacement looks like a nobrainer but the oil leaks look a bit more daunting. Anyone have any experience with this engine?

[WPOZZZ]

Here's the rear air spring. 2008 - E70 Chassis - X5 - BMW - Products - Arnott® Air Suspension

Oil leak could be valve cover gaskets, oil filter housing, tranny gasket...

[aigel]

Crazy for a 2008 with that low mileage. May be a good way to convince her to let it go. Fix the oil leak and sell ASAP would be my move...

G

[95avblm3]

WPOZZ mostly nailed it except that it's probably not one of but all of the above. Check the power steering reservoir and hoses as well. The gaskets are inexpensive and none of those are particularly difficult to change. BMWs like to leak fluids and this one hasn't done many miles in nearly 10 years, so it sounds like someone needs to go drive the snot out of.

I'd fix the leaks and enjoy it. Nothing there sounds that scary.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by 95avblm3

I'd fix the leaks and enjoy it. Nothing there sounds that scary.

Exactly! The X5, especially the 4.8 is a helluva great SUV.

[fastfredracing]

I just fixed a large oil leak on one of these, where the oil cooler hoses meet the engine block. There is an adapter plate there, and the 12$ gasket/o rings leak at that junction point.
It was not a fun job. Valve cover gaskets , and oil filter console leaks are also common .

[fastfredracing]

Look to Arnott industries for replacement air springs

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I just fixed a large oil leak on one of these, where the oil cooler hoses meet the engine block. There is an adapter plate there, and the 12$ gasket/o rings leak at that junction point.
It was not a fun job. Valve cover gaskets , and oil filter console leaks are also common .

I have the air springs on order. Most of the oil looks to be coming from high up on the block both sides so I think it is valve cover gaskets. The car sat a long time without being driven as my MIL was bedbound for over 6 months before her death and even before that it barely got driven (she was 88).
Is there any benefit to prophylactically replacing the common failure seals like the oil cooler adapter or just fix them as they occur? What about running a seal conditioner through the oil?

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by 95avblm3

I'd fix the leaks and enjoy it. Nothing there sounds that scary.

LOL, that engine bay looks pretty intimidating getting to the various offending seals. I'm tempted to take it down to the local shop and throw cash at it after I do the air springs as I don't have much spare time in the next few months.

[red-beard]

We had a 2000 X5 and it started getting expensive to maintain by 2011. Great vehicle with the V8 engine. I do remember the air spring going bad on one side, which is caused by a leak. I don't think it was too expensive to fix.

I need a new mechanic, though. Our 2011 (The replacement) is out of warranty and having a few issues. I don't have time, even for the "simple" things like changing the belts.

[Gogar]

As mentioned Buy 2 arnotts for the back, pretty easy. You have to take off the whole skid plate along the right side of the car but that's ok.

I did valve cover gaskets on my 4.8 and it was very difficult, and was only one of my leaks. Can't find the other.

It's a nice car; from 65-100k miles I did the rear air bags, water pump, valve cover gaskets, brakes all the way around, and some dried up front suspension parts. No big deal, but I'm very very happy I have a buddy who is a mechanic. Otherwise forget it.

And if it has the 20" with staggered sizes you better have a friend st the tire store too.

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by Gogar

And if it has the 20" with staggered sizes you better have a friend st the tire store too.

Unfortunately it has the staggered 20" wheels although the tires likely have less than a couple of thousand miles on them. I'll need to get a set of winter wheels though so this is looking to be a very expensive "free" car.

[Gogar]

They look great! At least there's that.

[95avblm3]

Originally Posted by sjf911

LOL, that engine bay looks pretty intimidating getting to the various offending seals. I'm tempted to take it down to the local shop and throw cash at it after I do the air springs as I don't have much spare time in the next few months.

LOL... yes, admittedly I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to diving in headfirst on projects like these. It's been several years since I last have a BMW V8, so I probably forgot some of the more painful details of the valve cover gasket job. I got to do that one twice on that car. More recently, we've had inline 6s wish are really easy to work on (wife has a 520iT with the M54 engine).

Good luck with whatever path you take!

[tcar]

Originally Posted by sjf911

... although the tires likely have less than a couple of thousand miles on them....

Yes, but how old are they... look at the DOT date?

If they are original, they are way out of date... unsafe on the highway.

[unclebilly]

Let the unfortunate little adventures begin!

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by tcar

Yes, but how old are they... look at the DOT date?

If they are original, they are way out of date... unsafe on the highway.

That was the one positive surprise as they are mid 2015 tires.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I would fix the suspension and sell it ASAP. A comment that I would attach to any modern BMW. Unreliable, poorly made, and sadly not even that great to drive anymore.

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I would fix the suspension and sell it ASAP. A comment that I would attach to any modern BMW. Unreliable, poorly made, and sadly not even that great to drive anymore.

If it were mine, I would have happily passed it up. My wife, unfortunately, tends to be very sentimental and gets very attached to some surprising things. I was not expecting her to want this car because for as long as I can remember she has been very vocally anti-BMW so it came as quite a shock when she insisted on keeping it.

[wildthing]

Last good link to her mother perhaps... My wife would've gone with jewelry, but hey, BMW X5, why not?