New car a bit of advice

[violet]

I understand my car used to be owned by someone on here and it's definitely a marmite car.  However I love the colour combo it's got more on than I knew  found previous owners list. Pleased to say it's all OEM items apart from the  wheels.

Don't pick it up until Sat but I need to do a few demodifications.  So might be a few bits for sale shortly.  Bull bars going.  Been around farms all my life and they are ok on vehicles you would use them on.  Also insurance cos hate them.

Then the wheels they are beautiful but anyone else run on 22s?  Think they are a little a bit too much for me.  Thinking of dropping to at least 20 or 19.  Does this make that much difference.  Anyone recommend good oems nice to stay on black alloys.

Next side steps and what I call rock sliders.  Had sliders on my disco 3 but that's when it went off road and they where used.  They seem really low not much ground clearance. The black side steps look ok and will probably stay.  However understand they have led in them.  That might need to go.

Like the other bits badges grills etc.  Want to keep it an head Turner but just not soooooo in your face.

It drives well and has been well looked after so despite being a tad over the top it feels right.

Guys at work are taking bets as how  likely it is I get pulled over in it.  However as it's driven by a middle aged women, they will just presume I am having some major mid life crisis (been a long mid life crisis when it comes to cars.  Started with a slk in my 30s onto TTs, Z4M, alfa spider and thought it was out my system with the fast but adult xk) The X5 is replacing a honda civic (not even the R) super car for commuting job use to be 100 mile trip a day now it's 10 mile a day  good bye Honda .

Anyway looking forward to X5 ownership.

[CondorX5]

Hi Violet and welcome from another female X5 owner.......its been very lonely around here since ITBarbie sold her X for some sleek new BMW!

i haven't been pulled over in my 4.8is yet but it isn't quite as "modded" as yours has been! 

I am sure others will comment on various aspects but as far as wheels go, the 22's give a very hard(uncomfortable) ride compared to 19" or 20" OEM wheels - you would also need to declare them to insurance as a mod as they were never an OEM size for the E53.    You will find the ride quality a LOT better on the OEM 20" wheels as fitted on the 4.8is or the standard 19" fitted to the other models - plus the price of tyres and range available will be a LOT better. 

You should be able to sell your 22's to some boy racer on here or ebay

I agree about losing those side bar sliders and front nudge, they don't enhance the look in my opinion and function is debatable. 

What year and model is the car?

[Sanj]

Violet,

Welcome to the forum, great place to be.

That used to be owned by a forum member called westside.

But I don't think he added the bullbars or the additional sidesteps. It was probably the last owner (who bought it off him).

With those extended arches don't go lower than 20's and try to go back to the OEM design (perhaps). They will ride better but it has been lowered so don't expect miracles.

First dibs on the parts for sale please!  ;D

[violet]

Good to see other ladies here, there are few and far between on most car forums.  Glad i have found this one, always find it enhances the owning experience especially with cars where things can go wrong.  Seem a happy, helpful bunch.

I love my cars, though i am not mechanically minded, spent last night reading how to remove the bumper to get the bull bar off.  Have the kit but not the patient to do it!!!  Might need a trip down my local garage they will get it off in a quarter of the time i could. 

Condor i think you are thinking along the same lines the nudge is a definite goner and the side bars may go as well, but might swap the side steps shortly, but will live with them for a while.  I am all for a bit of pretty bling but sometimes less is more.

To be honest wouldn’t normally go for something this modded but some of the interior mods are lovely and have a soft spot for Cream leather.

The wheels are going to go, should get a decent price for them as they are stunning  just a bit to bling for me personally, without the chrome they would have been OK even though a bit big, so now on the look out for some OEM Black 20”. 

Sanj this might be a silly question, but how can i tell how much the car has been lowered, the current owner did say something about resetting it slightly higher than it had been previously due to some issue.  Probably best to leave it alone, put 20s on it and see how it goes. 

[Lee4.8is]

Really like the colour combo  wishing you all the best getting the car to look how you want it too but most of all enjoy the new V8 beast. 

[Sanj]

[quote="violet"]
Sanj this might be a silly question, but how can i tell how much the car has been lowered, the current owner did say something about resetting it slightly higher than it had been previously due to some issue.  Probably best to leave it alone, put 20s on it and see how it goes.
[/quote]

So this car would originally have had air suspension all round. Kav (westside) lowered it with coilovers (Raj will know more, this is from memory). The coilovers will be adjustable and you can raise/lower the ride height. From the looks of it now, it looks to be at least 50mm if not more than standard.

Shame his old posts were lost on the old site for this car.

[Raj]

Hi.

As I mentioned I had a feeling it was Kav's old ride. He did spend a lot of time and money (as he does with ALL his cars lol) on getting it to where it is now.

Where about's are you located (if you don't mind me asking), as if near to me in Wolverhampton I can happily help to remove the bits you don't want.

Bumper is fairly straight forward to remove but not sure if you need to remove the bumper to get the bars off. The wheels are easily resellable and standard the 4.8is had style 168's on which are 20's. They will really help the ride as 22's and lowered as it is, it will be very stiff.

Now onto the suspension. Kav did do that too LOL. But it's still on air suspension all round. It's lowered using lowering links to trick the sensors into thinking the car is sat higher than it is so it reduces the air in the bags to lower it. Very easy to raise back up by winding the links up. They are just threaded bars like the tracking arms.

Any other questions, fire away 

[Raj]

[quote="Sanj"]
Shame his old posts were lost on the old site for this car.
[/quote]

Paaji his posts are still here as he joined after me and wasn't on the old site 

[Sanj]

Ar yes, 'lowermyride' springs to mind.

Couldn't find his old posts using his forum name for the E53.

[violet]

I did do a bit of a search and couldn't find anything.  If anyone can find them it would be great.  I live northwest leicester not a million miles from Wolverhampton.  I am hoping it's not a major job but bars look as though bolted through the bumper depends if I can get at it.  Will hand the other half the tool kit and the promise of alcohol and hope.  Probably have the bumper off as going to have to fill the hole and get it sprayed.

[Raj]

[quote="Sanj"]
Ar yes, 'lowermyride' springs to mind.

Couldn't find his old posts using his forum name for the E53.
[/quote]

Yup that's the one lol

I'll take a look as he tends to remove the pics but think the threads are there.

[Raj]

[quote="violet"]
I did do a bit of a search and couldn't find anything.  If anyone can find them it would be great.  I live northwest leicester not a million miles from Wolverhampton.  I am hoping it's not a major job but bars look as though bolted through the bumper depends if I can get at it.  Will hand the other half the tool kit and the promise of alcohol and hope.  Probably have the bumper off as going to have to fill the hole and get it sprayed.
[/quote]

You'll find that the bar is screwed through the bracket in the middle you can see in the pic. It is then bolted underneath the bumper and located I think to the chassis and not through the bumper.

[violet]

That will be better,will check it out when I collect at the weekend.  There looks as though it is bolted through the bumper just above the 5.  Hope not.  Just need to get ramp stand things it's probably to low to get under to unbolt from chassis. Will let u know how I get on.

[Raj]

[quote="violet"]
That will be better,will check it out when I collect at the weekend.  There looks as though it is bolted through the bumper just above the 5.  Hope not.  Just need to get ramp stand things it's probably to low to get under to unbolt from chassis. Will let u know how I get on.
[/quote]

Sorry you are right it does look like it is bolted and not screwed at that point I think.

[CondorX5]

Raj has a great workshop Violet [emoji3]. i'm also not that far from you although the heavy manual stuff isn't my thing anymore, I can do some of the less taxing things like wiring Intravees and DVD players etc:) or describe how to if Sanj doesn't see your post first!

You should be able to find an OEM 20" set of wheels on ebay or perhaps on here  and then have them redone in black if you like the look, the 22's should fund the purchase.    I would struggle to use a heavily lowered car myself, but its a personal like or dislike, my commutes are pretty long so comfort is more important at this stage than street cred     You could put it back to normal ride height though - Raj is a guru on suspension mods! 

Try the sidesteps for a while after getting rid of the sliders before ditching them as well, they do look quite good and are functional as well.

Keep us all updated with lots of pics!    And enjoy the car, they are lovely despite being money pits!