Might as well add thermostat as well as getting the coolant's expansion tank replaced too.

Had both go within a couple thousand miles of each other necessitating extra labor costs because they were in the same area... Oh yeah, Water pump too!

You probably have time though since mine didn't go till about 120k-130k miles

 

Good list! I would add the folllowing..
Water pump without a doubt.
Spark plugs - use NKG not Bosch
Power steering fluid - use Redline D4 Auto transmission fluid
Expansion Tank - I still have my original at 129,000, but it's on my list to do.
new shocks and struts soon - even if the current ones look ok.
O2 sensors - but you may have another 20k miles on the current ones

 

Why do you recommend the Redline D4 Autotrans fluid for the Power Steering vs. Pentosin? Just curious... i thought the PS fluid was real "touchy" especially if mixed..

 

I guess I just always heard bad things about the Bosch plugs from the e46 boards. And since its the same m54 engine, I've always just avoided them. I don't have any personal experience with Bosch plugs being bad. Maybe I shouldn't have spoken so quickly.

Also, I'm still on original O2 sensors at 129,000, so those may be less critical too.

 

If I'm not mistaken the Bosch Platinum 4 prong are the OEM spark plugs that are installed in M54 only BMW is stamped on the side. This is according to the good folks at bimmer specialist. I will hold off on the o2 sensor for now save some money so I can spend more on the fluids. The fluids are adding up quickly. $50 - $60 for the transfer case fluid 1L and over $100 for tans fluid along with $50 for oil and another $20 for the coolant not including the front and rear diff fluid and all the little nuts and bolts I will be replacing as well.

 

Since I'm hanging onto my X3 for awhile, I figured I'd eventually need O2 sensors...

About two months ago, Rockauto was clearing out some parts and I found what I hope to be all 4 O2 sensors for ~$200 shipped.

I bought them and I'll be holding onto these till I need them... 145,000 miles and still don't need them yet...

Hope you find a similar deal through whatever place you get parts from!

 

Thats heck of a DEAL! I guess I gotta start visiting Rockauto often.

 

I have used rock auto before but Im a little weary when it comes to parts that matter. For instance I probably wouldn't buy a water pump from them but I have used them to purchase rotors at an incredibly low price and have found nothing wrong with them. I like to keep my engine parts as stock as possible (unless there is a better part by a name band manufacture) but OEM prices are outrageous.

Does anyone know what type of fluid you use in the front and rear diff?

 

Does anyone know what type of fluid you use in the front and rear diff?

Synthetic 75W90. I used Castrol Syntec in mine though I'll probably go with Redline the next time.

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=133&pcid=4

http://www.redlineoil.com/news_article.aspx?id=13

 

Let me know how much this would be....I bought a 2005 X3 with 40,801 miles and a carfax only shows one maintenance record at 34K miles. Of course, the previous owner could have done lots of stuff himself...but dunno.

 

Carfax does not pick up all dealer or other service work. Some seem to report; others do not....not sure why. But I would never rely on Carfax for a complete maintenance record. Since BMW maintenance was free for the first four years, you'd think (hope?) prior owner had a dealer do it when needed. It just may be that Carfax did not pick up that service info from the dealer the PO used.

Good luck getting it sorted out.

 

Good enough for me... ^ Thanks.

 

Well I have a lot to write back too...

Thank you usaret I was planning on going with redline I just was being lazy and didn't want to look up the type...

MADBMW I will have a parts list up soon with the total cost of service... I recently moved to a new home with a nice large garage so once I set up all the tools and what not I may even through up a few DIYs depending if the new coil over kit is in for the e30.

Wrongway Id say if its vital for the engine to run then stick with OEM. I figure if the OEM parts have lasted me over 100k miles than they must be doing something right. Spend the money where it counts. Buying things like rotors and such from rock auto isn't something you can really go wrong with but for any internal engine parts i.e..water pump, thermostat stuff like that I would go OEM or better.

 

.... Buying things like rotors and such from rock auto isn't something you can really go wrong with .....

As RockAuto offers so many inexpensive rotors, even for an X3, I'm not convinced that they are all of a quality you could be satisfied with.

This video clip highlights how the mass may be significantly less on some cheaper rotors - not all of them, but it might be difficult to find out which for an online purchase.

(You have to get by the short preamble/ chit-chat before the relevant stuff starts.)

http://www.motoringtv.com/quakerstate-garage-s11563#Ep._02_-_Chinese_brake_rotors,_good_or_bad?

 

Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying RockAuto is the best or anything. We're going to want different things in our vehicles and that is simply that.

I myself look at it this way... 145,000 miles and still going strong with OEM, if I get even half that life from a cheaper part, I'm long past 200,000 miles and the point where I care less about throwing good money into a car that isn't worth that much anymore.

I won't ever say going OEM is bad with BMW! ;-)

 

Yeah, I was pretty happy when I found Centric rotors and Jurid pads on RockAuto.

Does make me curious if their other parts are as good, such as the Raybestos rotors I've seen in the high performance section, but I'll stick with BMW approved stuff since I'm very happy with what I have.

 

The open differentials take Castrol SAF-XO. It may be purchased from many if not most BMW dealers in bulk if you supply an appropriate clean container for about $23/liter. I found some 3L plastic containers of bottled water that worked well.