Bodykit (4.8) from E-bay arrived. Some pics

[wogboy_9000]

Originally Posted by SMOKEY53

Look forward to seeing the update, I am looking at a 3.0d as I can't justify the fuel in a 4.8is - but I still want it to look like one!

Picking them up today! I hadn't had a change to get them sooner. Will throw some pics up, unfortunately it will be dark, but I'll see what I can do.

[SMOKEY53]

Originally Posted by wogboy_9000

Picking them up today! I hadn't had a change to get them sooner. Will throw some pics up, unfortunately it will be dark, but I'll see what I can do.

Wicked - no rush on the pics - but when you get the chance to get some glamour shots I'd be keen to see them.

Also be interested to hear how much prep work was required for painting and rough cost to get the job done.

[wogboy_9000]

Okay! I put it all on today. Check out the link for a few photos. More to come in a few days.

The front was particularly hard to put on as the moulding wasn't quite right. Where the number plate usually sits, there's a huge gap between the new fibreglass kit and the body. I used a LOT of sikaflex and pushed the kit up against the car with pieces of wood against a wall.

I also made chocks to put between the lower grille to push it out.

I used screws under where the plastic number plate holder sits and plastic rivets in the wheel arches and under the front corners.

The back wasn't too bad as it sits quite well against the body without glue, I put two screws in either side and plastic rivets under the kit of the car.

X5 Bodykit Photos by wogboy_9000 | Photobucket

[Qcustoms]

Man that's not cool. Looks like the molds are past their use by date. Or they mass produced in 1 month warping the molds.

[wogboy_9000]

Originally Posted by Qcustoms

Man that's not cool. Looks like the molds are past their use by date. Or they mass produced in 1 month warping the molds.

To be honest, I think that's just how they are. I didn't expect much more from an aftermarket fibreglass kit from Latvia. I'm surprised manufacturers haven't started making these kits in ABS plastic.

Overall, the finished look is great, the only issue is it has taken a lot more time and effort than I would have liked.

[Qcustoms]

Latvia lol. I make bodykits aswell and just by you pics they look bad lol. Iv made so many one off kits too that the plugs look better than these finished articles. Was the fitment tight in areas? Glass thicker than usual in other areas? And a bad fiberglass ear always primes or paints their articles sometimes on both sides, the Gelcoat should be the only colour on top of a good item and the glass and resin on rear neatly sanded

[wogboy_9000]

Originally Posted by Qcustoms

Latvia lol. I make bodykits aswell and just by you pics they look bad lol. Iv made so many one off kits too that the plugs look better than these finished articles. Was the fitment tight in areas? Glass thicker than usual in other areas? And a bad fiberglass ear always primes or paints their articles sometimes on both sides, the Gelcoat should be the only colour on top of a good item and the glass and resin on rear neatly sanded

There are a number of manufacturers in Latvia (either that or they all come from the same factory). Strangely, it's impossible to find any made of ABS, or even any manufactured in other companies. I haven't had a great deal to do with fibreglass, but it's extremely flexible, and most of the kit fits 100%. The gelcoat is on the front only, which is quite well done, however the back is pretty rough (doesn't matter much as you don't see it).

The front needed a bit of fiddling around but the back fits well. Hopefully the wheel arches do too. As a bonus the wheel arches are textured already, so I don't need to find a textured paint.

All in all, it's cost me just over $1000 AUD in total for the front and rear, painted and installed by myself (including wheel arches which I haven't yet put on - or painted).

[royawood]

Hello everyone, I purchased the same fender flares, by themselves, from ebay from the same manufacturer in Latvia. I purchased them approx. one year ago, and I never got around to installing them because of how they needed to be installed.

I have gone to three body shops all telling me that they won't work on it because the fender flares do not seem to be oem (how much bull is that?). They told to buy some extreme 3M double sided tape and do it myself. I didn't think that with the tape I would get the oem-look I want, for the 3m tape is foam adhesive tape.

So I have been pushing them off and even considered tossing them until I came across this forum. I can't wait to see them installed. Has anyone actually installed them yet? I like the idea of using black windshield adhesive. My only concern is the bottom, where the fender flare is stretched to fit snuggly on the original fender. Would it look bent?

And would the procedure for installing them with the black windshield adhesive be as easy as covering all the edges with the adhesive, pushing the fender flares on, taping them with scotch tape, wiping the excess adhesive off, and wait for it to set?

Cheers from Georgia, USA.

[royawood]

bump

[Joshdub]

Royawood, without seeing them it is hard to tell, but yes that is probably how you fit them. You could try the thin 3m double sided adhesive first as it is very easy to remove if you don't like the results.

But whatever you do, don't toss them. Someone else might be interested in them.