Source and Fit a Skid Plate E53
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:55 pm
I have very recently fitted a skid plate to my E53 so thought this might be of some interest to some of you.
Personally I am adverse to changing the X5 too much from OEM as love the way it looks, been there done that with the Vauxhall Nova body kits a few years back
, I saw a car fitted with the skid plate though and really thought it helped the front of the car - so got one for Christmas.
This will only fit the standard bumper - not i believe the unit from the 4.8 though i could be wrong - i also believe that it fits facelift and pre-facelift (mine is a pre)
I tried to source the part in the UK from a couple of dealers - they had never even heard of it - it was only available to source from the US even though it is a BMW OEM part.
Using google i tried a couple of suppliers in the US, as always with dealing with US suppliers communication and customer service was second to none - though most would not ship to Europe. I eventually decided to purchase the part via an ebay shop 'bavarian-auto' - mike@bavarianautoparts.net The cost of the skid plate was $239 and he agreed to post if for $50 making a total of $289 or £185 at the exchange rates at the time.
Shipping took approx 2 weeks though this was early December so Christmas may have played a part, my parcel was also intercepted by customs
so had to pay a total of £38 to have the parcel cleared and delivered. This is a risk you take and would seem haphazard, have ordered several parcels from the states over the years - some get past customs - some don't!
The Skid plate arrived very well packaged, with all instructions and a fitting kit (various screws and fittings) - the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The unit is made of Urethane and is 'ready' to spray when it arrives. I had planned on buying a couple of cans of spray paint in my body colour and spraying myself but when I priced this decided (more expensive than thought and was also worried about quality) on taking the part to a local body shop who charged me a total of £40 to prime, mix the paint and spray.
I decided to paint mine in my cars body colour though I have seen them look really good done in Titanium to match the grill on a black car - looks good.
Total costs then:-
BMW skid Plate and shipping from US £185
Customs and royal mail charge £38
Paint & Spraying £40
Total £263
Fitting - the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Three 9.5mm holes need to be drilled into the lower bumper to facilitate fitting. Fitting the unit took me just over an hour. Tools required, 8mm socket, star screw driver, drill.
The painted unit is held in situ by 5 screws already holding the bumper in place and 3 new fittings added as part of the installation, the unit also has a 'sticky seal' around the edge.
Finished
How unit arrives with instructions
Instructions
In position
All in all very happy with it - did work out more expensive than planned but does make the car quite unique and i do think it improves the frontal look of the car - please excuse winter wheels in photos
.
Personally I am adverse to changing the X5 too much from OEM as love the way it looks, been there done that with the Vauxhall Nova body kits a few years back
, I saw a car fitted with the skid plate though and really thought it helped the front of the car - so got one for Christmas.This will only fit the standard bumper - not i believe the unit from the 4.8 though i could be wrong - i also believe that it fits facelift and pre-facelift (mine is a pre)
I tried to source the part in the UK from a couple of dealers - they had never even heard of it - it was only available to source from the US even though it is a BMW OEM part.
Using google i tried a couple of suppliers in the US, as always with dealing with US suppliers communication and customer service was second to none - though most would not ship to Europe. I eventually decided to purchase the part via an ebay shop 'bavarian-auto' - mike@bavarianautoparts.net The cost of the skid plate was $239 and he agreed to post if for $50 making a total of $289 or £185 at the exchange rates at the time.
Shipping took approx 2 weeks though this was early December so Christmas may have played a part, my parcel was also intercepted by customs
so had to pay a total of £38 to have the parcel cleared and delivered. This is a risk you take and would seem haphazard, have ordered several parcels from the states over the years - some get past customs - some don't!The Skid plate arrived very well packaged, with all instructions and a fitting kit (various screws and fittings) - the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The unit is made of Urethane and is 'ready' to spray when it arrives. I had planned on buying a couple of cans of spray paint in my body colour and spraying myself but when I priced this decided (more expensive than thought and was also worried about quality) on taking the part to a local body shop who charged me a total of £40 to prime, mix the paint and spray.
I decided to paint mine in my cars body colour though I have seen them look really good done in Titanium to match the grill on a black car - looks good.
Total costs then:-
BMW skid Plate and shipping from US £185
Customs and royal mail charge £38
Paint & Spraying £40
Total £263
Fitting - the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Three 9.5mm holes need to be drilled into the lower bumper to facilitate fitting. Fitting the unit took me just over an hour. Tools required, 8mm socket, star screw driver, drill.
The painted unit is held in situ by 5 screws already holding the bumper in place and 3 new fittings added as part of the installation, the unit also has a 'sticky seal' around the edge.
Finished
How unit arrives with instructions
Instructions
In position
All in all very happy with it - did work out more expensive than planned but does make the car quite unique and i do think it improves the frontal look of the car - please excuse winter wheels in photos
.
