4.8 IS Conversion Questions

[jevansio]

Hi, after seeing what pitiful price I would get trading the X5 in I've decided I might re-ignite the love by maybe fitting the 4.8 kit & wheels, but I have a couple of questions

1. I was thinking of maybe a graphite colour on the wheels so would prolly get them refurbed.  With this in mind what sort of price is reasonable for a set needed a refurb.  Eg these on ebay with tyres that are almost done & pretty scruffy wheels seem a bit expensive at £1250?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E70-E7 ... 3f31e2ed96

2. The bodykit, should I go with that Latvian place on ebay for around £360 or source the OEM stuff.  Somebody had a link to BMW Direct on ebay for the arches for around £130 but I cant seem to find them anymore. 

3. More bodykit q, will the Latvian copy kit be exactly the same as the OEM looks wise, I'm kinda thinking the I would prefer it to be OEM quality, but for the front bumper does this require me to buy a full OEM front (I want the 4.8 look not the 4.6 look).  For example this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E70-E7 ... 3f31e2ed96

Can I take the lower piece off, respray, and fit to my bumper?

Any advice from anyone who has done the conversion or offer input would be gratefully received

ta

Jay

[X5Sport]

Q1.  Price is not unusual given a new set is well over £2k without tyres.  Possibly a bit high given the condition.

If you do go for them find out exactly which version and part number they are.  There is one for the E70 and a different one for the E71.....one set does not fit both cars!

You would need spigot rings to fit them to the E53.

[Horizon]

Be very carefull with modifications, without a word of a lie, my insurance company said they will cancel my insurance if I fit chrome exhaust tips to my Golf !
I rang around different insurance companies and they all said the same, Adrian flux said they would but quoted me £200 extra than what I am now paying !!!!
So be carefull with mods and pre check with them first, or take the risk

[SMOKEY]

For the body kit, the Latvian ones do take a bit of prep work to get right. The cost you pay a panel shop to muck around with it, you save by trying to find some OEM parts and just respraying.

If you want the 4.8is look, your choices are either a whole new front bumper or the Latvian eBay job.

The alternative is to get an OEM 4.6is lower section, that will go onto your existing facelift front bumper. Rear is the same between 4.6 and 4.8

[jevansio]

Many thanks guys, so I think you've convinced me to go for an OEM front (I am right in assuming the 4.8is front bumper is slightly different to accommodate the panel so if I wanted an authentic look it's really the only way to go)?

I think the wheels are gonna be the hardest decision, I want gunmetal/matt black ideally so I'm kinda just looking to see what comes up for sale.  It would be nice to go with the proper wheels, but some of the 20" E70 & X6 wheels do look rather smart, its just hard to know whether they'll "work" looks wise on an e53 :/

[shadrack]

ahoy there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-4-8IS- ... 1c4754f49a

thats cheap!!

[shadrack]

ahoy again

be on them quick they like rocking horse shit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BMW-E ... 2ed7d83e14

[shadrack]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-iS-4-8 ... 51c310664d

[shadrack]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-X5-e53-al ... 4adeb6513b

[kkx5]

[quote="shadrack"]
ahoy there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-4-8IS- ... 1c4754f49a

thats cheap!!
[/quote]

Got it. Thanks for a link. 

[shadrack]

Snooze you loose!  Last 2 of these I had I sold for £300. I thought about buying it but couldnt be arsed

[jevansio]

Lol too slow, I'm totally in 2 minds about the wheels now aswell, after looking at pics of e53's with 20's from the rest of the BMW line-up I'm kinda thinking of going for something a bit different, e.g

[bamberjim]

I have a set of these wheel in 20" (genuine BMW) possibly thinking of upgrading to 21"

PM me if interested

Cheers Jim

[jevansio]

PM'd bud

[jevansio]

Well after the disappointment of missing out on the genuine front, things are on the up, I've bought the 177 wheels off Jim (thanks mate) and an offer I put in for a genuine rear lip on ebay was accepted for £150 - was £240! (the ones in those links were missing endcaps and stuff which were £127+vat each from BMW!!). 

I'm thinking of just going for the Latvian arches, and undecided on the front now, might even put the 4.6 lip on.  Defo going to drop it an inch or so tho, pretty much want it looking like the pic I posted