Attention! When carrying out work in the area where the airbag system is located (door panels, front panel, interior trim) you should turn off the ignition and remove the key from the lock. This will eliminate the risk of injury.
Attention! When performing work on removing the hood and its gas-filled shock absorbers, two people or a special support are required to support it.
The body of the BMW X5, E53 series, is made in the "Crossover" configuration. The body frame (Fig. 18.1) is made of all-metal, welded construction with add-on elements. The bottom, sides, roof and rear fenders are welded together. The engine hood, rear trunk lids, side doors and front fenders are removable and can be easily replaced. The transmission is mounted on subframes connected to the body.
The gaps between the body parts must be maintained the same along their entire length (Fig. 18.2).
When installing new panels, it is necessary to maintain the gap values, since jamming of doors or a sharp increase in noise level may occur. The gap must have a constant width along the entire perimeter of the adjoining surfaces, the deviation must not exceed ±0.5 mm, unless specified separately. The surfaces of the elements adjacent to each other inside the body must be parallel. The permissible displacement of individual elements, such as doors, must not exceed 1 mm, so the front edge of the rear door can be located 1 mm deeper than the rear edge of the front door. The body of BMW cars is one of the most durable elements of the car, its lower belt is completely galvanized. Repair of large body surfaces, as well as replacement of glued front (windshield) and rear windows, must be performed only at a service station.