E60 S85 M5 PCV Valve Replacement 

During one of the previous videos, when the M5 was being aligned, we discovered a leak around the rear main seal area. However, this isn’t always caused by the rear main seal, so we had to trace the source. The video demonstrates where the leak was originating from and provides instructions on how to replace the PCV valves.

This video illustrates where the leak was coming from and how to replace the PCV valves. 

One day, hopefully, I will be able to drive the M5 without having to work on it 🙂

Video link 

E60 S85 M5 VANOS solenoid bleeding and replacement 

After replacing the rod bearings on the V10, you have to bleed the VANOS solenoids. In my case, this resulted in the solenoids failing the test, so they had to be replaced.

The video covers bleeding the solenoids with ISTA and highlights how to replace them. It’s actually a pretty straightforward job. I was trying to get away with not draining the coolant system. I almost succeeded until a couple of little pesky Torx screws on the right side of the engine became a pain, and I didn’t want to strip them.

The M5 is getting closer to being complete… until something else fails! 😀

Video link 

E60 Rear Upper Control Arm Replacement DIY

If you have been following for a while, you will know that this is the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting the suspension on this fantastic V10 M5 sorted. The upper rear arms had failing ball joints and needed to be replaced. In the channel update video last week I went through the difference between the 06 arms and later models (you always need to check yours). 

As it turned out, the repair was not as straight forward as expected! The car has spent some time in the “salt belt”, causing some of the threads to be badly corroded. After trying several methods, I finally settled on using a big pair of vice grips to complete the job.

Video link 

Steps (always check with your workshop manual to confirm the information for your year and model):

1. Parts needed
   • Control arms (fit a vast range of E60s but always check your particular vehicle)
     • Upper control arm left   33322347991
     • Upper control arm right 33322347990
     • Upper control arm bolt  33306760391
     • Upper control arm nut   33326760374
   • M5 Specific guide arms (check your production date and also the size of the fastener)
     • Guide arms left and right (upto 09/2006 but check yours!) 33322348887 
     • Guide arm left (from 8/25/2006) 33322283772
     • Guide arm right (from 8/25/2006) 33322283771
   • Eccentric bolt 33306760591
   • Eccentric washer 33306760592
   • Eccentric nut 33326768900
2. Remove rear wheels
   • OEM lug nuts are 17mm (protective socket)
3. Mark the eccentric bolt 
4. Remove front guide arm (trick for salt belt cars)
5. Install new front guide arm (loosely) 
6. Remove rear control arm
7. Install new rear control arm
8. Eye ball the alignment
9. Troque specs
   • Guide Arm: 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs)
   • Control arm bolt inner 100 Nm (74 ft-lbs)
   • Control arm bolt outer 165 Nm (122 ft-lbs)
10. Reinstall the wheel
11. Check/correct alignment

 

Time to get serious!

The plan from here on out is to try and be good about recording, editing and uploading at least a video a week. In order to do that (and stand a chance of keeping up with things), it’s time to bring everyone up to speed with the garage 🙂

Quick intro to a couple of new vehicles and then updates on platforms you have seen before. After this I will feel good about going forward!

Video link 

BMW E60 M5: Rod Bearings How To

This is a mammoth job! I purchased the kit from FCPEuro.com It was missing a gasket for the oil filter pickup (I really hope they include it in the future) but apart from that it was top notch. 

It’s not a complete how to video on the BMW M5 rod bearings but a time lapse of what is required. I know when I was thinking about doing this job I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself in for. I wanted to create a video that would help someone understand what is involved to see if they wanted to do it. 

I also uncover how to set backlash correctly on the VANOS high pressure pumps. All of the videos and descriptions I found out there were very misleading and you might end up with too much backlash. Enjoy!

Video link 

Daily Driving an E60 M5/6 BMWs only V10

I have been actively hunting for a V10 M5 (or M6) for the past 11 months. I have done everything from order cars from Carvana, ask forum members 1500 miles away to check out a car over lunch, to watching every Bring a Trailer auction.

Seemingly the longer I left it the more expensive the cars were becoming. A friend pointed me in the direction of this car and after a few weeks (long story) the car is mine. OK it’s not perfect but I can tell a few stories along the way.

The goal is to commit to daily driving this as far as possible (2’ snow drifts are out) and tell the story along the way… brace yourself 😀

Video link