When I did mine, I couldn't from the sellers picture, see what I had to do, but all you do, is remove the four bolts, holding the stat housing, and then peel off the o ring, keep that aside, then carefully saw the two arms that hold a typical thermostat, and discard the released stat you saw them, right close to the bolt face, and maybe file/grind them flush. . Then assemble the spacers, with the replaced o ring. ( hacksaw blade might have scored it.) use the supplied longer bolts. In my kit, I got 3 hex head, and one torx socket head, (and a key!) that goes underneath, towards the block, it's slightly harder to fit a hex socket there, so you use an Allen/torx tool. All fitted, it ends up looking similar, but it runs cooler. I've had my MOT since and all ok. The temp needle still sits at 12 o clock. But the hoses are 'holdable'
As above, with just a vice and hacksaw, and a socket set. Some gasket sealant and some coolant. your done.

Cool!

Last edited by johnboyairey on 11th Aug 2016 10:34pm. Edited 1 time in total

So no negative change in performance /fuel consumption /emissions?

As normal to drive, MOT, I'm sure the heater is still toasty, but will wait till winter for a proper test.
It's £50 in the right direction.
Just be careful pulling off the hose, maybe pull it off at other end, and withdraw etc.

This engine was old when they decided to put it in an FF, it wouldn't pass the emissions, one way to do it was make it run very hot, this helped part throttle emissions, nothing else, they got what they wanted so left it like that....

The engine was never designed to run at these temps, all the rubber and plastic under the bonnet suffers and degrades much quicker because of the excess heat....

It is a win win whichever way you look at it...

I have tried mine with an 89, 87 and 80 deg stat, to be fair it hasn't made much difference, it runs around the 90 mark with all three.... I've left the 80 in for now...

No bother with MOT, and yes the engine does reach closed loop below 90 deg so MPG is unaffected...

My heater is just as toasty as it was before, even in the depths of winter....

 Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I found that you can lower the temp by controlling the electronic thermostat. Anyone try it?
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-...-post.html

Saw that some time ago.... bit of a long winded way round a very easy to solve problem... but feel free to have a go...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

The nice thing is you can set it back to stock. I like the lower temps but how much fuel loss is expected? 5 mpgs or closer to 1? What driving conditions make the lower temps less optimal. If the loss is very minimal I'd sure would go mechanical vs electrical.

Cant say I have noticed any increase in fuel usage at all.
I definitely dont hear any pinging anymore which can only be good for consumption.
Best OBC figure I have seen so far since this mod 11.5L per 100Km over a 275km trip on highway at 110-115km/hr.

Last edited by RR P38 on 12th Aug 2016 5:42am. Edited 1 time in total

doclees wrote:

I found that you can lower the temp by controlling the electronic thermostat. Anyone try it?
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-...-post.html

Zain wrote:

4) JAIME: Did you have to use a spacer and different washers/bolts to put the Vemo thermostat on?

I installed the 88deg (Behr) thermostat and 1.4bar cap. So far no ill effects. Temp gauge stands in the middle as it should. -08 3.6 Vogue
-87 951

So I see the bolt on replacement is from a 740D or 745D. They didn't import them here in the states. Bummer. I'm sure I could have found one for $40 if they did.

This looks like an option.

It doesn't use the plastic push fit hose, you'd have to cut the end off the bottom hose and use a jubilee clip.. may be pulled a bit tight then as well...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

You need to watch the video. Unfortunately the donor unit is as expensive as ordering a 740D unit. Trying to find bulk thermostats from Aliexpress.

For the few north American owners this is the only source I've found for a reasonably priced donor thermostat.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-pa...hgodMDcADA
I'm not 100% convinced this core will swap out. I haven't found size specs and the core design is a bit different. The one in the video does.