Does anybody know of good quality aluminum boards for 4.6is?
 

I usually don't like to change OEM look but since truck is black, some nice brushed aluminum would probably add tasteful contrast.

I did search and obviously the OEM doesn't fit the 4.6is. I found some aftermarket ones but again, not sure of fit and quality. Thanks in advance for any info.

look under e53 00-06.

Why wouldn't the OEM boards fit the 4.6is?

Only thing you need to do is swap your rear flares over to it, SlickGT1 made a thread about it.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...etter-diy.html

OEM boards run you $750, quality aftermarket boards run you approx $500-520 depending on which ebay seller you go through. Either way its a hell of a lot of coin to drop so I haven't gotten either one yet.

OE boards:

BMW x5 Running Boards x5 Step E53 Up to 06 4 4 4 6 4 8 | eBay

Aftermarket (although no one has posted yet that they have bought these and reported on quality, etc):

For 00 06 BMW E53 x5 3 0i 4 4i Running Board Side Steps Bars SUV 4WD V8 AWD OE | eBay


I'm sure if more people installed the aftermarket boards on here they would be more popular but its a hell of an experiment to drop $500 on.

I see. For some reason I got the impression that 4.6is has more things different, therefore OEM kit is impossible to install. I'd almost prefer little bit different look of aftermarket ones, but then as you said, it's an expensive experiment. Thanks.

I found them on realoem but I thought they don't fit. I see now that they do with some modifications. Thanks.

Anybody seen these before. If quality and fit are good, $275 isn't bad price.

This website states they don't fit 4.6is:
https://www.bimmian.com/Aluminum-Run...for-BMW-E53-X5

This one that they do:
High-Quality Aluminum Running Boards!

Those are basically stick on boards...If it was my money I wouldn't buy them...you can make your own for half the price and attach them with glue if you really want to save money if not save up and get oe...personally I'd go for the oe ones and I eventually will I just have many other gaps to fill in(mechanically speaking)..don't settle for aftermarket especially since there's no reviews out there about the product.

Stick on boards are cheap Chinese junk.

The aftermarkets I posted look the same as the OE boards you can modify to accommodate your arches, the only difference is $250 and the question on whether the quality will be as good as OE.

Nvm you are talking about the drilled out strips of aluminum, that's even worse.

At that price you might as well buy the aftermarket set that is functional and looks like OE

The only differences are some of the side moldings around the wheel arches. The actual side step itself is identical across the various engine sizes. The difference lays in the "transition" pieces on the wheel arches. You need the pieces to either suit the wide wheel pack, or the standard wheel pack.