Just Bought an X5 - Page 19

giodog2000 · #**181** 03-30-2014, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bianca98

Grills are in! I added vinyl tape (yellow/red/black). The curvature was a bit tough to get done well, but they look good from about 5 feet. There was some ice build up and I think I need to bend back some of the mount points to get the kidneys as straight as I would like. Also got new cabin filter in. Lots of parts and fluids in boxes, so stay tuned.

If you want to make the "German Flag M" , shouldn't it be done on something else than a black grille?(I know it's been done but for non-bmw owners it just looks like a yellow and red stipe ???? ) The effect is kinda lost because we loose the black stripe over a black grille....It would look much nicer if you used the original M colours ( Blue/blue/red) over a black background. IMO, I wouldn't do neither one but to each his own....

Sponsored Links

Bianca98 · #**182** 03-30-2014, 09:47 AM

like you said, to each his own. my original grills were shot so i had to replace them. i perfer the black grills. my car is not an ///m or ///m-sport and imo putting those colors to the car is tantamount to saying i own a v6. its a faux paux. a real enthusiast doesnt put a dinan badge on the back when he gets a dinan intake, and maybe the effect is lost from a distance or in photos but the black vinyl is a high gloss and its easy to see that its there with the matte plastic. not that i care, i considered leaving the black stripe off to save me time and hassle. i placed the black on the outer slat so that it would be noted its there between the red and the end of the grill.

BavarianE39 · #**183** 03-30-2014, 06:05 PM

Anyone know where to get a bull bar like bianca has?

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk

Bianca98 · #**184** 03-30-2014, 06:26 PM

mine is OEM, ordered that way from the factory.

BavarianE39 · #**185** 03-30-2014, 07:38 PM

Didn't know it was a factory option, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk

Bianca98 · #**186** 03-30-2014, 11:32 PM

like i said, someone ordered the car that way. i didnt add it. i believe i saw it on RealOEM.com Online BMW Parts Catalog under body accessories for about 550.00

StephenVA · #**187** 03-31-2014, 09:03 AM

You are really going to have to turn off that snow making machine up there. Come on it Spring already. We are going to hit 60 degrees today in the MidAtlantic area.

Yes, we did have a snow shower yesterday, but it gone already this AM. Now if it will stay DRY I can detail the exterior finally.

Good luck with the projects as it appears you are getting them resolved one step at a time. Welcome to second ownership, where you get to discover the "band aid" approaches people take. Fix it right and sleep at night.

Keep posting, and by the way the stripes look Ok, don't let posters chew on your personal tastes, as it works for you. Some of the mods posted on this forum are not for everyone. Some are great and should have been done that way from the factory. Others are less so. It is all perspective of who you are and were you come from. Others are just poor taste....

Bianca98 · #**188** 03-31-2014, 10:17 AM

Well I have had the truck now for about 6 weeks. Time to do a little reflecting. Here was my original list of to-dos, notes, and additions, future plans.
Items needing attention:
bad key fob Fob was fine, just needed to be programed
bad drivers lock cylinder Replaced lock cylinder
broken hood catch release Replaced hood catch release with handle
janked rear passenger window Haven't opened the panel to research issue. probably the regulator
No heated seats Added E46 Sport seats with Heat
rear hatch upper switch shorted/disconnected Connectors were melted, replaced wiring to get license lights to work, microswitch looks broken. Considering pulling a junk assembly and swapping.
Detailing! Its almost warm enough! probably start doing some of this this week.
Need to complete Maintenance refresh, (flush trans/diffs/transfer case/coolant), fuel filter, replace DISA, clean IACV, replace lower intake elbow
Replace shift boot. www.redlinegoods.com
ZHP knob
replace shift bushings but will likely do the UUC SSK
Dig into suspension/brake condition and begin reconditioning
Upgrade to the 4.4 X5 diffs, 3.63
Conforti chip tune
Light exhaust upgrade
Coilovers
upgrade summer wheels to 20"
Headlight reconditioning
repaint brake calipers and hitch assembly a custom color (considering rose gold)
Subwoofer install.
Some of that list is meant to be sooner rather than later, some of it is very later. I have made a commitment to this truck and I don't intend to be checking out any time soon. What I want to do is be sure its well sorted, slowly mod till its free and clear. Once its clear I want to finish my mods. Once its a well modded, free and clear, X5, I want to add a cheaper commuter and what I really wanted before I bought this truck, an S54 Z3M. Everything seems to be coming together and it feels like a matter of time now. Feel free to comment on my mods/upkeep list. I need to look more into the CCV system as well since I can almost guaranty it hasn't been replaced. I also believe my SES light is on due to O2 sensors. Does anyone here have any input on the longest lasting/cheapest option. Can you get away with the cheap no name brand sensors?

Bianca98 · #**189** 04-05-2014, 01:03 PM

Well, Xexilia has been through some tough days this last week. to make a long story short, in trying to replace my lower intake elbow and DISA I dislodged the IACV and could not remove the bracket that secured it so I could not get the truck to idle! I had to drive it like that for 2 days until I could get a tech at work to look at it. To be able to limp it around I disconnected the MAF so that the ECU ran off of stock variable settings.
I used a hammer to smash off my old DISA. Seemed like a good idea at the time and I immediate regretted it when it broke the mounting point on the intake. I was able to reattach it though luckily. Cleaned the IACV, fixed the bracket, reseated it, fixed intake, installed new Dorman DISA with additional RTV for sealant. intake piping all in good order. Truck idles like a dream now, very solid. Performance gains with a properly functioning DISA and a leak free intake are very noticeable. I am starting to get the love for this thing that I was hoping for. Found I need new axles and a sway bar link. driver's brake caliper needs a rebuild. rear shock (not air spring) is leaking so I am debating on whether I should replace with just oem struts or speed up the timeline on my coilover install. She is still throwing some curves at me but I should be in the clear from a maintenance stand point for a few months once I get my other upkeep items installed and tend to the axles.

bcredliner · #**190** 04-06-2014, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bianca98

Well I have had the truck now for about 6 weeks. Time to do a little reflecting. Here was my original list of to-dos, notes, and additions, future plans.
Items needing attention:
bad key fob Fob was fine, just needed to be programed
bad drivers lock cylinder Replaced lock cylinder
broken hood catch release Replaced hood catch release with handle
janked rear passenger window Haven't opened the panel to research issue. probably the regulator
No heated seats Added E46 Sport seats with Heat
rear hatch upper switch shorted/disconnected Connectors were melted, replaced wiring to get license lights to work, microswitch looks broken. Considering pulling a junk assembly and swapping.
Detailing! Its almost warm enough! probably start doing some of this this week.
Need to complete Maintenance refresh, (flush trans/diffs/transfer case/coolant), fuel filter, replace DISA, clean IACV, replace lower intake elbow
Replace shift boot. www.redlinegoods.com
ZHP knob
replace shift bushings but will likely do the UUC SSK
Dig into suspension/brake condition and begin reconditioning
Upgrade to the 4.4 X5 diffs, 3.63
Conforti chip tune
Light exhaust upgrade
Coilovers
upgrade summer wheels to 20"
Headlight reconditioning
repaint brake calipers and hitch assembly a custom color (considering rose gold)
Subwoofer install.
Some of that list is meant to be sooner rather than later, some of it is very later. I have made a commitment to this truck and I don't intend to be checking out any time soon. What I want to do is be sure its well sorted, slowly mod till its free and clear. Once its clear I want to finish my mods. Once its a well modded, free and clear, X5, I want to add a cheaper commuter and what I really wanted before I bought this truck, an S54 Z3M. Everything seems to be coming together and it feels like a matter of time now. Feel free to comment on my mods/upkeep list. I need to look more into the CCV system as well since I can almost guaranty it hasn't been replaced. I also believe my SES light is on due to O2 sensors. Does anyone here have any input on the longest lasting/cheapest option. Can you get away with the cheap no name brand sensors?

Since pre cat sensors impact fuel/air mix which directly relates to performance and mileage I don't see it as an area to go with anything other than OE or OEM sensors.

I think the decision to do coilovers now or later depends on when later is. Shocks should be done in pairs so you will have the sunk cost in parts and labor without the return- basically do the same repair twice. If budget was the concern I would do the rear only and the front later especially if rebuilding the front end is pending.

Sponsored Links