Many who visit the boards often know I like to be on top of anything I can be with the E53. After 14 years at the wheel of one X5 or another, this means I stop in for a checkup about twice a year. These are also a few months prior to a road trip and so again, we head to South Florida for December, 2015. I dropped it off for a look see about two weeks ago. It went ab like this:
"Hey. Uhhhh, yeah. We took a look and, uhhhh... Tires? 
If the trip is in December, get some tires before. "
"Oh, and one of the PS hoses we did in 2013 is leaking. We'll replace that under warranty when you get the tires mounted. "
To which I replied, quite out of habit... Zero $? You do know this is the E53, not the E46, right?
And so I got bz thinking about the little things I wanted to fix. Fresh/Circulate button on IHKA, kinda loosey goosey on the e-brake, I lost an emblem on one of my wheels somewhere in New Mexico.
- CNCMASTER's Diamaris showed up so I stopped in on Friday. They fixed the button, tightened the ebrake, and replaced the wheel emblem. It looked so good that I wanted 3 more for the others.
- And that got me looking at the wheels I'd refinished nearly 5 years ago. A chip here, a mark there... Hrmmm... Maybe it's time to get them refreshed?
And so, like so many other times I take advantage of being gone for a week, I will again drop the X5 off tomorrow. I've asked about a stock silver powder coat with a coat of clear as well. Mostly, I cant want to see those sparkly inner barrels.
They'll put the new decals on the remaining 3 and I should be good to go.
Unless my buddy who owns a detail shop gets to it before I get home. Anyone here use OptiCoat? I love the look. But my buddy knows that I must have solid paint prep. And I've been on at least 4 road trips since I polished the paint this Spring. I am considering calling in the big guns for this round.
So my "Zero $?" conversation looks a lot more like...
- Tires? $1,100
- Wheel Powdercoat. What, $800?
- Little things like ebrake, IHKA, and unecessarily pretty wheel emblems. $200
I LOoove the E53! Even when you don't have to spend $2,000 it still lets you find a way!
Pics of the wheels when I get back. Helllo, Ohio!
11-01-2015, 09:41 PM
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