What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Ven

yeah. the correct part # was ordered but you never know. eBay/China stuff is a marriage made in hell.

Hope I get the right screen with no dead pixels to start with.

Yep, I ordered the right part number as well... got e39. And the first one they sent me had a dead pixel too.

Hopefully your luck is better than mine.

[andrewwynn]

Full scale test of blacked out wheels with yellow lip (yellow will be faded on the final solution) matching yellow on the roof rails.



Backpack rack that folds up



And holds four large Milwaukee tool boxes:



(When I lean them the other way they entirely clear the tailgate!)

I plan to show a DIY for the folding rack it took me a few days to figure it out the first time but easy to copy now the math is all worked out. I combined a 2" ball hitch (on sale $15) and a steel 500# capacity rack (about $55) both from harbor freight and some brackets meant for conduit mounting struts (about $10 in hardware).

To make things exceptionally pretty I used spring nuts inside and short bolts from the outside: no visible nuts.



The holes and bracket are set up so that I can attach the cage horizontal or vertical but also can put the hitch in upside down (to use the cage as a work table or seating like tailgate situation). I will be adding decking boards soon to make the sitting part a little more comfortable than the 3/4 inch steel on 4" centers!

Oh: also discovered a great eater egg yesterday: the PO installed a Bluetooth module I was unaware of! Holy crap that's a nice accidental discover. I was looking for the wire to reconnect my footwell lamp and found a mystery cord coming from my console and going under the dash. It ends at the audioxox BT module that allows headphone jack input, old school iPod input (displays track on MiD) and Bluetooth including phone call integration (though I need to replace the mic. which was apparently up by the mirror: just a phone jack looking connector hanging there now)

Oh: also after replacing the HiD bulbs, aimed the headlights so they point the same direction. Need to polish some haze out of the driver side: looks like the pass side housing was replaced at some point because it is crystal clear.




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[Bouchedag84]

Can I ask why the yellow? Makes aa bmwbmw loollook likelike aa xiviccivic

[bcredliner]

We are all individuals with different tastes. It doesn't matter why or what we think.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Bouchedag84

Can I ask why the yellow? Makes aa bmwbmw loollook likelike aa xiviccivic

Or a Ferrari. Trust me the civic effect will be loonnng gone when done. The electrical tape is only to help judge quantity and shade. My "best 50¢ thread" covers in detail why yellow to start with (ties into visibility for my back pack carrier) plus happen to love yellow as an accent color. The pic above being one of the many photos used as inspiration.

I'll be the first to admit it looks cheesy for now. The final will be posted. It won't.


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[1FastCasper]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Or a Ferrari. Trust me the civic effect will be loonnng gone when done. The electrical tape is only to help judge quantity and shade. My "best 50¢ thread" covers in detail why yellow to start with (ties into visibility for my back pack carrier) plus happen to love yellow as an accent color. The pic above being one of the many photos used as inspiration.

I'll be the first to admit it looks cheesy for now. The final will be posted. It won't.


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Or a Lamborghini.... I do like the effect, though! Especially when they are rolling. Can't wait to see the finished wheels!

[1FastCasper]

My list for today...

Swapped rear tires for 315 35 20 for a test (thread is elsewhere).

Replaced spark plugs and coils (3 different brand of coils and 2 different brand of spark plugs came out!) Also found out the top radiator hose does NOT like to be leaned on....

Replaced upper radiator hose assembly...

Installed AIRAID air filter

Installed JL Audio sub. Will install amp when sun goes down.

[Joshdub]

The lambo can pull it off because it is a loud and brash car. It drives around screaming for attention. A X5 does not. Now if you dumped the X5, threw on fender flares, and put on 20+ wheels that are at least 10inches wide you might be onto something. But at stock height on 17s it just isn't going to cut it.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by 1FastCasper

Or a Lamborghini.... I do like the effect, though! Especially when they are rolling. Can't wait to see the finished wheels!

Funny i said Ferrari, I actually searched Lamborghini but on my phone I thought I saw the Ferrari logo and 2nd guessed myself before posting.

[1FastCasper]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Funny i said Ferrari, I actually searched Lamborghini but on my phone I thought I saw the Ferrari logo and 2nd guessed myself before posting.

Still can't wait to see it done!