aero/e70 mods.. what you reckon, x5 newbie

[stef2me]

After many years of modifying many bmws, mainly 3 series.. I decided I fancied something a bit more practical and finally seen sence and bought this e53.. not quite like in the photos mind you (was standard when I bought it) As a newbie to X's was wondering peoples thoughts ? Still little pieces to finish off.

I still have a couple of things in mind to do.

[Johnny-p]

Nice to see one in white-very cool!!

Wheel colour doesn't do it for me and the M badges need to go..

Nice to see something different though..

[stef2me]

To be honnest, im not a fan of black wheels, maybe change to a anthracite.
P As for the M badges, I wanted just to de-badge but the previous owner decided to superglue them on so left a slight mark... As I used a genuine 2012 m sport bumper as a base, thought f@#$ it and m badged it up lol

[Nat]

Hi,

Probably not what you want to hear but +1 on the drug dealer wheels. Not for me.
Just a tad too much white for me, think it needs breaking up a bit . I would have left the wheel arech extensions and running boards black to break it up a bit or the door rubbing strips.
Id love to see it in pearl white probably.
Either way , all that matters is if you like it and for sure its different and aside from the M badge which has to go seems nicely done.

Regards
Nat.

[stef2me]

It's ok, that's why i put it up, to see peoples opinions. Thanks for your input.. what wheels would people recommend ? If money was no object I would like the e70 20" y spoke alloys in hyper silver?

[graemeX5]

Hi and welcome and for me I agree anthracite wheels may work better on it.

I have seen the front and rear bumpers on another car can remember it it was an alpina or ac schnitzer kit, but slightly different in style to standard.

I noticed the little tabs at bottom of front bumper is there another piece to fit to it?

[dpbayly]

Love the look overall but I'm with everyone else on the M badge, If its marked underneath so you cant de-badge maybe re-badge it back with the X5 badge also I'm not sure on the wheels It might be as there all black but they look tiny with great big balloon tyres and to me they look out of place on a modified X5, I know some aren't a fan of the bigger wheels on an X but I love the look.

Here's my E70 style Y spoke wheels in 22" I reckon they'd look great on your motor and they were only £650 for the set plus tyres:

[535dboy]

Doesn't look too bad other than comments already made!!

[Nat]

Its Just opinion, but even though I like the Y spoked alloys ( have 2 sets )and have them myself I think 22 looks too big.
I have stuck to 20 " and 20" tyres are expensive enough, I have no idea how expensive 22 tyres are but can't imagine they are cheaper than 20"
I also got a set of ebay and they are ok to be fair. Im using my ebay purchase as  my winter set.

[stef2me]

Graemex5, those tabs are the fixing points to the undertray used on the e70, rhe fixing points ive used are above that so thats one of the things i will be sorting asap.

Dpbayly, they look lovely! Im just thinking about the ride as even with my big tyres it feels a tad choppy. But i love the way those wheels look, maybe i might look into getting a set.

[Sanj]

Not bad at all - did you put the bumper on yourself? An E70 bumper? And the back one is from the E53 Aero kit?

Drop some coloured X5 badges on it and that should help break up the white.

Still looks good, alloys is always a love-hate thing. I'm not a fan of black but hey, your car.

Any interior mods? What year is it? Diesel?

[stef2me]

It was a partnership with a friend from my local bodyshop, to make the e70 bumper fit perfect was a complete nightmare to say the least.
Yer the rear is an aero which was hard to get hold of.
Only interior mods at the moment are carbon interior trim, also in process of adding reverse camera.. all perfect.. apart from a faulty camera from ebay!... which i think i followed your write up very helpfull !! Cheers !!

Ive decided to have the boot trim under the badge in carbon and carbon x5 badge ?..

Its a 53 plate 3.0d

[Sanj]

Good start but if the interior is black leather, you may find the CF film also makes the interior dark. I didn't like mine so dark...

Badges, yeah can go CF but only the back is broken up then.

Do you find it overwhelmingly white? If not, doesn't matter, if so, the side door trim could go gloss black to help break up the sea of white. But only if it bugs ya.

Hope you get reverse camera sorted. If everything is working, it's an okay mod to do. If one thing is faulty then it becomes a right pig to find the fault! Audio next!

[stef2me]

Its got cream leather so its nice to break it up with the cf. I personally like it all white, put thats just me i supose.. apart from the back anyways

[Sanj]

In that case both the CF wrap in the interior and the sea of white is a great idea! Pics mandatory when complete! Welcome to the club.