M Sport and running boards?

vbX · #1 07-31-2010, 07:08 PM

Would you put OEM running boards on 2011 X5 with M-sport pkg?

I'm thinking of ordering X5 35i with M pack and I'm sure that the running boards in place of the original rocker panels would solve the stone chips problem reported by many M pack owners.

The dealer wants 8 hours of labor

for the demonstration that would involve installing and removing the boards using a demo X5…. Has anyone done it or seen an M pack with the running boards? Does it look good? I found a couple pics but the picture quality is poor and it's difficult to tell what the black plastic looks like against painted wheel arches…. What do you think?

Bora20 · #2 07-31-2010, 07:44 PM

I put a clear bra on my lower doors and rocker panels to help stop this. Search for "Vancouver Clear Bra" for pictures.

vbX · #3 07-31-2010, 08:46 PM

Unfortunately clear bra does not help in this case due to the faulty design of the M sport kit on the X5.

Bora20 · #4 07-31-2010, 08:58 PM

It will still work...even BMW is putting them on all the new ones now.

vbX · #5 07-31-2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bora20

It will still work...even BMW is putting them on all the new ones now.

M sport setup on X5 and X3 are not the same. Also wider wheelbase on the M sport X5 helps to contribute the problem. Many X5 M sport owners tried clear bra and it just does not work. If you read the following two threads you will see what I am talking about. I think that installing the running boards is the only solution...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431750

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x-m-forum/73436-do-you-have-stone-chips-paint-front-rear-wheels.html

Bora20 · #6 07-31-2010, 11:40 PM

Yes, and if you read to the end of the threads you will see that BMW is coming through with a clear bra solution to the problem.

Seems like a waste to have the M-Sport package and then add the running boards IMO.

vbX · #7 08-12-2010, 04:10 PM

"...BMW is coming through with a clear bra solution to the problem"

well, first of all, bmw denies that there is even a problem... i contacted BMW NA and BMW Canada and both replied "we are not aware of the problem"

the M pack includes many other things besides painted rocker pannels: different front, painted wheel arches and bumpers, increased speed limited, wider tires, different wheel style, and most importantly - sport suspension... so I don't see how replacing rocker panel with running boards is a waste if it is going to protect your paint from chipping away within few hundred miles...

Bora20 · #8 08-12-2010, 05:41 PM

The X5M/X6M guys said that their dealers have looked at it and they aren't determining a solution.

Yes, everything else is painted and the running boards probably won't line up unless you replace the arches with the black ones as well.

BTW, my rockers look great now that they are covered in clear bra film.

vbX · #9 08-12-2010, 08:48 PM

the arches are exactly the same parts - only painted, so they would fit with no problem... the question is what would they look like next to the unpainted part of the running boards...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bora20

The X5M/X6M guys said that their dealers have looked at it and they aren't determining a solution.

Yes, everything else is painted and the running boards probably won't line up unless you replace the arches with the black ones as well.

BTW, my rockers look great now that they are covered in clear bra film.

Bora20 · #10 08-12-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbX

the question is what would they look like next to the unpainted part of the running boards...

that was my point in not so many points