NEED HELP - 2003 (E53) Upgrade to E70 WideBody Kit

[Andrew_Brasil]

Originally Posted by RSicks

I looked up the website... cuberra.eu because I was curious on how the changed out the tail lights. That has to be some major modification. Funny enough is on the part list they do not list anything about the tail lights or the back quarter panel for it. Honestly I think all they did was take a pic of a E70 and say it will look like this.

"Description: Front bumper, Front fenders, Front spoiler/ Add on lip, Hood, Minor modification is needed, Rear bumper, Rear spoiler/ Add on lip"

Nothing about the tail lights, rear quarter panel, headlights, etc. IMHO it would be cheaper to trade in your E53 for a E70 than to make it look like it - without it looking rigged together with zip ties and bondo.

Thnks, I looked at the website last night, have you ever seen any posts of someone that has bought from them? Their info is very little which makes me fear that they just posted a pick of a E70. As you said how did they change the rear lights...

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by Andrew_Brasil

Gents,

I was budgeting around US$ 5-12 th max. for the Body mod. For me is worth it, since I have had my X5 since 0km and it only has 32th km. (Has been Garage kept since, I only take her out on sunny days!) One big problem we have here in Brasil is that Luxury cars past 3 yrs old loose around 75% of their book value. I paid USD$ about 157th for my X5 in 2003 and I really love this car and do not want to give her up....(So you can understand, I just finally took the factory-plastic off the back seats last august!) I wanted to upgrade it to look simular to Vorsteiner X5M. I remember reading that guys have upgraded the E53 to E70 front ends replacing the fenders, hood, bumper and headlights.

With this said I began thinking, Ïf the E70 fenders etc. fit on the frame of the E53 why could I not put a E70 WB kit on my E53, of course I will need to change the fenders and hood but it seems logical.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I plan on throughly documenting the mod with fotos, parts list, etc. and I will create a tutorial to post as well for future tuners.

You may be getting a bit ahead of yourself.

Firstly, for a project this size, $12k is not enough....especially if you plan on using a wide body kit from anyone of the companies that produce one. That Prior kit you were looking at would eat the top end of your entire budget for the pieces alone (It's close to $12000 USD after exchange).

Secondly, the e70 parts don't really "fit the frame" of the e53. Dimensionally, the two vehicles are considerably different. An example of what I'm talking about can be seen on the pictures in this thread....gave a good look at the last pic that was posted earlier; especially the front fenders. See how they swell out like the fenders of a trophy truck? Not to mention there appears to be no seam for the front bumper....did they bondo the bumpers and fenders together?! That kit looks nothing more that e70 parts hacked up to fit an even more hacked up e53 IMO.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it can't be done; What I'm saying is that to do it properly you can't take e70 parts and just transplant them to an e53; they'll need to be tailored significantly to fit properly....by which time you'll be far far beyond the $12k mark.

Good luck though.

[1naztyx5]

I say enjoy it as is, am sure in Brazil your car is a head turner as it is already . How ever if you bought it new you probably have the funds to make the conversion happen


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[powers1]

Originally Posted by Andrew_Brasil

Thnks, I looked at the website last night, have you ever seen any posts of someone that has bought from them? Their info is very little which makes me fear that they just posted a pick of a E70. As you said how did they change the rear lights...

Olá Andrew,Tudo bem!
A few members here have bought the lower 4.6/4.8is bodykit from these guys and I personally also been in touch with them over the years and they seem legit!They are also on Ebay and have been for a number of years but have since then changed their trading name quite a few times.
As well as the glass fibre kits ,they also do the front lower bull bar for €400 odd but I dont like the ends design which is different from the OE.

Anyway,back to the E70 kit!Have you emailed them asking more information and especially what comes with the kit?
I think you will find that they will sell you the bodykit but then you will have get a bodyshop to fit it and respray it.
It wont be a straight forward job and will probably have to cut and weld ,like opening the holes to fit the rear lights,etc and you will spend more money fitting it than the actual cost of the kit.This why some members here are advising (correctly) not to do it or look at other alternatives

To be honest,in my opinion,looking at the rear light picture of that E70 kit fitted to an E53 ,it looks like the "chinese" X5.the front also looks odd.So you may end up with a "mutant X5!"Wonder how may here ,think the same

[mrbmwx5]

Go with BMW fatory widebody aero kit.
BMW E53 X5 Aero Body Kit