Bittersweet X5
 

So here are a couple of quick shots of my buddies X. He just took delivery and decided to ask me about some mods...I have been playing around with what to do to mine, so I showed him the wheels, exhaust and lowering packages from Hartge that I was thinking about and the factory aero kit. I'm flattered because he did it all and I think it looks great, but as we are business partners, and park next to each other I'm now stuck wondering what to do for my X. I think it would be way too much for us both to have the same exact packages...

Guess I gotta start all over!!!

Man! That is one Sweeeeeeeeet E70! Love the color and the wheels! Pictures are a little too big for my screen though.

Nice ride :thumbup:

Thanks, just wish I had moved faster!!! Mine is pretty straightforward and boring at this point :yawn: (I really just wanted to see if i could reduce the image size properly, not show you all a stock E70)!

Sweet X5! :thumbup: Love the color, tinted windows and the aero kit. Have you thought about installing the 5 spoke 21 inch style 128 wheels? I think it will look even better.

add the aero kit on white for sure... i notice you already did your reflector. ;) I think I'm going to tint my tails next.

the space gray looks amazing when it's sparkling. I've said it before... if I didn't already have a gray in my driveway I would've gone space gray (+ aero kit).

X-cellent, can you share more about the Hartge's lowered suspension kit?
How is the ride quality compare to OEM?
How much does it cost (w/ self leveling system)?
How difficult is it install?
Where can you order?
Thanks in advance.
p.s. it looks awesome.

We got it through the local dealer here in Florida (I can't find their contact info, but will pm it to you if you want...i went to Hartge website and they directed me to them)...i wanna say it was $800 for the front springs and rear clips plus install. He had the exhaust, wheels/tires and springs all done at the same time, took two days at the Hartge dealers place.

The ride is not too bad, but clearly much tighter than the standard. We took his car to lunch the other day and were on a washboard surface and both thought it was too harsh. At times it makes the wheelbase feel too short as it get's choppy over bumps as well. I used to have eibachs in my old cars up north with oversized sway bars and expansion joints used to regularly square out my wheels, it feels like this would do the same, and we have pretty good roads here.

The look is great, I'll try and get our cars next to each other to show the ride height diff, but it's huge, but the ride combined withthe 22" wheels and frost heaves up north would be too brutal for a daily driver IMO (but I am old and kinda outta that stage).

Thanks for the quick response.
It sounds like the ride quality suffers significantly. I wonder if it's more due to the suspension vs. 22" tires.

I would think so. The tire profile is lower (i think they're 295/30/22 and 325/25/22) so there's a little less sidewall flex, but he put on Continentals which are NOT runflats so it's probably an even trade off.

The springs are clearly the biggest change. Aesthetics vs comfort.

One thing is the exhaust sounds GREAT. Not too boomy from inside but it GROWLS when you step on it. Mufflers are tiny as well so there is some weight savings to be had, which shoudl mean better MPG, except for the fact that he lays into it at every takeoff!