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Noob with a V8

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Splondike
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Noob with a V8

Post by Splondike » Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:10 am

Hello everyone.  My name is Mark and my cars have a drink problem  :P 

Picked up a 2004 X5 4.4 Sport yesterday to replace the outgoing Galaxy daily.  It is Sterling Grey with Dakota Leather trim and is a one owner car with full history from the original supplying dealer and 63k on the clock  I will post up some better pictures once it has had a proper clean at home, so pic from when at the garage:

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The steering wheel was letting the side down, with the standard issue soft touch covering coming off.  Anyway I decided before I picked up the car I would start to sort it out.  You may remember the wheeler dealers with the Range Rover that the did the carbon dipping on the interior bits ?  Anyway the I found a local company who did it and a cheap wheel centre on ebay which looked like this:

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Then they made it look like this:

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This was my untidy original which was letting the side down somewhat.

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Now after fitting the CF part:

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Quite pleased with the first mod !  The company is called Hydro Graffix and they are in Maidstone in Kent,  Adrian who runs it was great and turned it round really quickly for me.

http://www.hydro-graffix.co.uk/

Now to sort out the slight wear on the door handle on the drivers side (jewellery I guess) and replace the wheel centres as they are looking a bit tired.  Then get her fully up to scratch.

I also have an old E28 M535i which is my true love.  Which gets properly used and has been driven hard at Snetterton, Brands, Bedford and RAF Marham :)

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I look forward to sharing my experience and asking lots of dumb questions :)  The excellent steering wheel guide has already been put to good use !
2004 BMW X5 4.4 Sport Sterling Grey / Dakota

graemeX5
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by graemeX5 » Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:42 am

Hi and welcome to the forum.

A 4.4 owner like me, they are good value cars. I like the CFsteering wheel mod.

You don't see many M535i about now and it looks in pristine condition
Now: E70 X5 in Blue, 3 Minis Cooper S R53, JCW R56 & Cooper S Roadster R59 :drive:

Prev: Abarth 595C & 500C, E53 X5 4.4i, E88 135i M Sport, Audi TT Mk1 V6, 3 Smarts, 8 Vauxhalls, 4 Fords, 2 Triumphs, 1 Mini & Bikes

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4687ah
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by 4687ah » Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:14 am

Hi, welcome. What a nice looking car that M535i looks, I bet those wheels are a pig to clean, but they really set the car off.
Nice to see you enjoy it, just dont bend it!
2006 3.0d Sport, Carbon Black,Comms pack with Assist,Climate pack,Premium + Sport Plus pack, Nappa leather,pano roof, and Comfort seats - which is sadly now sold and has been replaced by a Mazda 6, oh well shit happens.

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Lee4.8is
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by Lee4.8is » Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:03 am

Hello & welcome & a lovely introduction, enjoy your new V8 beast & I love your other Beemer too.  8)
Current...E90 330i M Spt Blue/Black  2006
              640d M Spt Blue/White 2012

Previous...
Audi TTS Black 2012
E53 X5 4.8iS  Blue 2004
               E92 M3 White 2009
               E85 Z4 MR 2006
               E61 520d  2009
               E90 330d  2006
               TVR Cerbera 4.5 1998

AW8
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by AW8 » Sat Jul 06, 2013 10:50 am

Hi Splondike & welcome

Great 1st post.................Liking the E28.........one of the 1st cars I drew a picture of in any detail as a primary school youngster. I haven't seen an M535i in the metal for a good while......forerunner to the E28 M5 iirc. 

Ironic that you talk of thirst..........the facelift 4.4i the most economical of all V8 X5's and on paper mpg wise ly has slight edge over the 3.0i auto. You might be surprised what MPG you can achieve taking it gently on motorway runs. 
Gone - 2002 E53 X5 4.4i Sport (Pre Facelift) Owned 2006-2016.

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Splondike
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by Splondike » Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:29 pm

Thanks for the welcomes :)  Yes those Borbets are a pig to clean but they just look so right on it.

It's just so far everyone who I have informed just says "oh I bet that's thirsty !"  Anyway, I am enjoying it so far, and it's more economical than the E28 :) (although not much of a challenge there).
2004 BMW X5 4.4 Sport Sterling Grey / Dakota

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Dimsum
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by Dimsum » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:01 pm

Hi Mark!

Nice to see you on here mate.

:)

Splondike
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by Splondike » Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:17 am

Cheers, looks like a great resource.

I am tackling a towbar installation at the weekend, will be using UrbanFlow's most excellent guide and hoping I don't break anything !
2004 BMW X5 4.4 Sport Sterling Grey / Dakota

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Dimsum
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Re: Noob with a V8

Post by Dimsum » Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:47 pm

I've never been one for tow bars but now I have one I realise just how handy it could be. :)

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