New to the forum and looking for advice to mod!

[patrickkc]

Hey guys, just got a 2005 X5 3.0 last weekend and will be picking it up this weekend. I've been reading these forums for the past 2 days but there is just TOO much information to go through.. which is a good thing!

Anyways there are a few mods I want to do for the car after going through a ton of threads and searching up some mods.

1) Angel eyes, there seems to be a ton of different bulbs I can chose from ranging from $30-$200. A lot of the ones on ebay seem to be in the $50 range, but seeing some reviews from threads on here they don't seem bright at all. Are there any newer ones that are actually bright and white?

2) License plate lights. In a lot of the newer cars the whole housing can be changed with super bright ones, I'm wondering if there are any license plate lights like these for the E53? I've looked and they all seem to be only the canbus ones

3) My car came with the business CD? (only has 1 cd slot in the center console) and I want to retrofit the 6 CD and an Ipod or AUX for it. If I can find another 6cd changer for E53, is it plug and play? The ipod and AUX seems like it is a lot of work and there seems to be many different kits for it with different reviews but am wondering if they are all plug and play?

4) I've seem some of the threads here with members adding a skid plate to the front bumper and I think it looks stunning!! Will need to do more research on that and hopefully have all these mods done before it gets too cold.

Some other planned mods, I would like to retrofit the navi probably looking for some that are being parted out or such. If you guys haven't noticed, I don't know much, if not anything about BMWs. I've always been a MB guy with 3 MBs at home and this will be the 2nd BMW I've had and will be the first I'm gonna try to mod so I'm hoping I can get some good info here!

cheers!

[Nik]

Changer doesn't need to be retrofited. jusr buy the unit and plug it in the back, it is pre-wired. I would guess you have 18" and suggest getting bigger wheels. EDIT: If urs isn't sport, then you got 19"

[patrickkc]

Thanks! So I'll just have to buy the 6cd unit and im good. Yeah..mine came with the 17"s. I plan to keep the 17s for winter and maybe upgrade 18s or 19s for summer. I'm not sure about the loss in ride quality if I move up to 20"s.. would it be very bumpy?
Another question about angel eyes are that a lot of the LEDs seem to be 2W only.. I've been looking at the Umnitza V5 and they are 5w LEDs. I did a search and wasnt able to find much info on these.

Cheers

[Nik]

I'm not sure about the LEDs, but getting 19's would be good, but I think it will not be much more bumpy if you put on the 20", They will handle and look much better. With bigger wheels you can use IS bumpers, rear is sold seperetly and front is with bumper, but you can use 4.6is addon up front which will attach to the facelift bumper and will be cheaper. How much are you planning to spend anyway? also sound upgrade might be good.

[patrickkc]

I'm not planning to spend TOO much, and I won't have to worry about wheels next spring. For now, I just need to upgrade the angel eyes, license plate lights and 6 CD changer I want to do asap. Maybe during the winter or after I will buy the skid plate and find the navigation as well.

[cfmistry]

For license plate lights I highly recommend autolumination canbus led bulbs.

Cy

[patrickkc]

I've been looking through the autolumination's website along with a ton of different threads about the leds and license plate lights.

which canbus led bulbs do it need? there is a thread where one of the members recommended "9 LED High Powered SMT 39mm Festoon Bulb" for license the license plates?

I am interested in changing the interior lights as well. I want to change the foot well lights, door lights and the tail hatch lights to white LEDs. I've seen kits for the whole car but I don't want to change any of the dome/map lights. I would also like to change the puddle light on the side mirrors, I did not even know our cars had it and I read i need to get T10 1W canbus leds for the side mirrors? There seems to be so many types of different leds being used around the car I'm quite confused with which is which now and I can't seem to find a thread where it tells you all of them.

[umnitza]

The V5 is a no flicker bulb.
You can plug and play this bulb into a 2004-2006 headlight without any difficulty.
Brandon.

[djdd]

UMNITZA,

do u have by any chance led lighting for an e70 2007. im looking for the whole assembly.

thank you


patrickkc


congrats on your purchase, for the angel eye im considering the lux h8 v3 bulbs, i like the lighting with a little tinge of blue which is the one i prefer. they are kinda pricey but im sure they are worth it. im planning on getting them and will post pics after.

[patrickkc]

Hey guys

I've actually already bought the Umnitza v5s last week already, I'm just waiting fr them to be shipped. Now I'm looking into fog lights. I'm probably going to stay with bulbs so looking at either Philips crystal visions or Dimond Visions. The diamond visions are actually quite costly.. haha also, do you guys know if there are led license plate lights for the E53s like the mTech or Rdash ones for newer cars?

pictured as below