New X1 35i M Sport

[HDA]

Hi! I just bought a LeMans blue 2014 stock with 60k miles.

It was an ex CPO car but I want to make sure it will run fine.

Asking the community what job should I tackle as I get it.

I am thinking in the following order:

Flush transfer case and differential
Oil change (dealer did it, I don't trust them)
Spark Plugs
Charge pipe
Check conditions of the oil filter housing.

Anything I am missing?


Thanks for any feedback.

I am pretty excited, I needed a wagon but didn't want a VW Alltrack or a larger SUV. I think the X1 will be great (haven't even seen the car in person!!!)

[batchain]

Look for an oil leak around the valve cover gasket. Mine started at around 53k miles.

[wheela]

+1. Mine started around 59k miles. Water pump and oil filter housing gasket was mid-fifties. My rear diff seals were replaced somewhere in the middle. Just did my front thrust arm bushings last week at just under 60k miles.

[HDA]

Thanks for the info - she is arriving Friday and will undergo an inspection by myself.

Used to be a CPO car 12k miles ago (I know, means nothing)...

[wheela]

Wow, that color is beautiful!!! Does it have the 19" m rims? Mine has the 18" ones.

[Gamb1t]

Congrats and a beautiful X1.

I'd change out all the fluids as a means of 'resetting' the maintenance record. Off the of my head....

- engine oil (super easy)
- coolant (easy)
- front and rear diff (PITA for front because of metal shield, but overall pretty straight fwd)
- xfer case (bit of a PITA. May have to do a reset adaptation via ISTA-D for high milers)
- tranny oil (older 6spd is easier and cheaper vs the ZF8)
- power steering (dead easy)
- brake fluid (easy)
- spark plugs (easy but have remove cowling and all that)

I'd monitor for leaks in areas for the OFHG, VCG and oil pan. Hopefully rear main seals are in good shape.

Oh clean out the VANOS solenoids if you can. Quite easy too but PITA with the lack of room in N55.

[HDA]

Originally Posted by wheela

Wow, that color is beautiful!!! Does it have the 19" m rims? Mine has the 18" ones.

Thank you! Yes I think they are the 19". is yours a 2013?

[HDA]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Congrats and a beautiful X1.

I'd change out all the fluids as a means of 'resetting' the maintenance record. Off the of my head....

- engine oil (super easy)
- coolant (easy)
- front and rear diff (PITA for front because of metal shield, but overall pretty straight fwd)
- xfer case (bit of a PITA. May have to do a reset adaptation via ISTA-D for high milers)
- tranny oil (older 6spd is easier and cheaper vs the ZF8)
- power steering (dead easy)
- brake fluid (easy)
- spark plugs (easy but have remove cowling and all that)

I'd monitor for leaks in areas for the OFHG, VCG and oil pan. Hopefully rear main seals are in good shape.

Oh clean out the VANOS solenoids if you can. Quite easy too but PITA with the lack of room in N55.

Thank you! This is super helpful so thanks for spending some time in compiling the list.

I will do Oil, brake fluid, power steering and spark plugs myself.

I am tempted to take the car to a dealer for the diffs, transfer case and tranny oil (mine has the 6 speed auto, not the 8 speed ZF). Kinda scared what the bill will be ...

[wheela]

Originally Posted by HDA

Thank you! Yes I think they are the 19". is yours a 2013?

Mine is 2015.

[HDA]

I just went for my first drive!

Couple of things:

The steering weight is PERFECT! Direct, communicative, fun, makes you really feel the front end.

The interior, coming from a Honda top trim, feels very nice. Leather is beautiful and it is old tech but still not too old.

The gearbox is a bit slow, on kickdowns etc - maybe a flash?

Engine power is…ok, could use some more pepper.

Overall, I am happy!

[wheela]

Glad you're happy! An xHP flash for that transmission will do wonders for those sluggish gear shifts and poor gear selections. Transforms the car, I can't recommend it enough!

[HDA]

Interesting I did not know about the xHP. I have heard about the Alpina software but I would have no idea how to flash it?

[e36addict]

I highly recommend the XHP stage 3 flash. It's one of my favorite things I've done to my 2013 35ix. I used the MHD orange wi-fi adapter and flashed it with the XHP app on my phone. Great looking car btw, mine looked identical when I got it.

[HDA]

Thank you!
Can you help me understand the Stage 3 map? Is that a replacement to the JB+ or would I need to get a JB+?

I am inclined to get the gearbox flash and the JB+ but if I can achieve both results from the same vendor why not

[e36addict]

Originally Posted by HDA

Thank you!
Can you help me understand the Stage 3 map? Is that a replacement to the JB+ or would I need to get a JB+?

I am inclined to get the gearbox flash and the JB+ but if I can achieve both results from the same vendor why not

MHD, XHP, and JB4 are all different vendors. I personally went with XHP for the transmission, and MHD for the engine flash. I don't like all the extra wiring laying around in the engine bay for a JB4.

[healeydays]

I too was thinking about the Alpina flash. I don't need to mess with reprogramming the engine, but would like a smoother transition on the tranny. I was hoping to find someone in NH to do it, but the 2 shops I reached out to want nothing to do with it.


Mike B
14 X1 35i M-sport

p.s. Love that blue...

[HDA]

Originally Posted by healeydays

I too was thinking about the Alpina flash. I don't need to mess with reprogramming the engine, but would like a smoother transition on the tranny. I was hoping to find someone in NH to do it, but the 2 shops I reached out to want nothing to do with it.


Mike B
14 X1 35i M-sport

p.s. Love that blue...

Mike, thanks for the compliment on the color.

I am in Houston and just now starting to look for a place that can do the Alpina flash.

I do not want anything crazy, that's why I am going with the JB + for the ECU treatment. I understand it installs in 10 minutes.
I got a charge pipe to replace the plastic one.

[healeydays]

I heard the Alpina tranny upgrade isn't that quick.

[wheela]

Alpina TCU flash is what people did before xHP came out. It's just the stock TCU calibration used on the Alpina B3. You can google both options to see what fits you best. That's what I did, and in the end I didn't see any reason to go Alpina route over xHP.

[Scratchboat]

I have the Alpina transmission flash on my 2015 X1 xDrive35i M-Sport and I like it very much, but it might not be for everyone. In my experience the Alpina flash makes the regular ‘D’ mode of the transmission operate much like European drivers shifting a manual transmission on their daily commute; it upshifts early at part throttle and seeks to maximize economy - not performance.

Putting in Sport Mode has the opposite effect - rev matching with the steering wheel paddles is awesome. And I like that - either shift mode - the dashboard ALWAYS indicates what gear is engaged (D4, D6, etc).

I did have to program the car twice - once to enable the Alpina transmission profile, and a second time to re-enable the steering wheel shift paddles. I also have my engine tuned to ‘Stage 2’ using MHD N55e App - though I *think* I flashed the transmission before using MHD - I had a Burger JB N55 Stage 1 hardware tune installed before I switched to MHD).

Here are the instructions I followed to perform the Alpina flash: https://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20991

[HDA]

Originally Posted by Scratchboat

I have the Alpina transmission flash on my 2015 X1 xDrive35i M-Sport and I like it very much, but it might not be for everyone. In my experience the Alpina flash makes the regular ‘D’ mode of the transmission operate much like European drivers shifting a manual transmission on their daily commute; it upshifts early at part throttle and seeks to maximize economy - not performance.

Putting in Sport Mode has the opposite effect - rev matching with the steering wheel paddles is awesome. And I like that - either shift mode - the dashboard ALWAYS indicates what gear is engaged (D4, D6, etc).

I did have to program the car twice - once to enable the Alpina transmission profile, and a second time to re-enable the steering wheel shift paddles. I also have my engine tuned to ‘Stage 2’ using MHD N55e App - though I *think* I flashed the transmission before using MHD - I had a Burger JB N55 Stage 1 hardware tune installed before I switched to MHD).

Here are the instructions I followed to perform the Alpina flash: https://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20991

Thank you, I do like the fact that D becomes more fuel economy oriented while the S is sportier. Right now the two modes feel very similar.

I will look into the mhd. Seems like the whole car can be programmed with an IPhone lol

[wheela]

I believe xHP stage 1 is pretty much a duplicate of Alpina, but you can see what gear your're in regardless of normal, sport, or manual. Plus you can go to stage 2, 3, and I believe 4 is even available for e84 (they flat out DO NOT RECOMMEND for street use, as stage 4 pretty much keeps you redlined), and they have shift point editors and things so you can customize to suit your needs.

Yeah, it's amazing what you can do to your car with a phone these days.