Soon to be new-to-me 2012 X5
 

My wife and I are looking to do a little shuffling of vehicles due to some higher priority life requirements. I'll be selling my M3 and taking her 2012 X5 35i w/ SA package, she'll be getting another SUV. I'm not a big modder but like personalizing things just a bit so I'll be definitely getting some new front reflectors, tinting the front windows to match, getting it coded, and probably getting some titanium kidneys. I'll also be installing my Bel STi-R+ and LI quad from the M3. A few other mods I've been debating:

- not a big fan of the stock steering wheel w/ the Sport Activity package. Is it possible to add the X5M wheel?
- I also don't like the fully blacked out look, so am trying to decide of the titanium kidneys are a good match to a black car with the grey mesh? I don't want black grills and black mesh since it's a BSM car.
- Any other good appearance mods? GP Thunder fogs?

Thanks!

No one?

I really don't like it when people tint front windows. I always hope they get ticketed. It is unsafe and silly IMO.

Anything but black for the grills.

But it's your car.

[QUOTE=JCL;952597]I really don't like it when people tint front windows. I always hope they get ticketed. It is unsafe and silly IMO.



Good question on window tint. There use to be a law on how dark.
Any more so dark you can't even see in the side windows. ?? What
happened to this required. ?? know what cars see most of the dark
dark tint on, can law enforcement no longer ticket for this.

Not sure of the laws in Canada, but in most US states it perfectly legal to tint all side and back windows, just not the windshield. Percentage allowable varies, but in my state I can go up to 35%. When you say tinting front windows is unsafe and silly, are you referring to the windshield? If not, how can tinting front windows 45-50%-ish to match the rears be unsafe? It's perfectly easy to see inside and out, day or night.

If you spend some time in some of our southern states you'll see why they allow it down here. Blocking some visible and UV light makes a big difference in temperature during the summer months.

And even better since it's legal, kind of hard to get ticketed despite your strange wishes! Thanks for the interesting opinion.

This forum certainly doesn't provide the welcome every other forum I've participated in has given. Sad.

Windshield is a big no-no so I didn't even think about it.

It's illegal to tint driver and front passenger windows in NY but I did it anyway and so have many others (many also go without front plates). Not only does it make it uniform, it actually does help reduce heat - very noticeable when you're sitting there and can lower and raise the window. Kids in the back appreciate their tint. Since I can understand officers' concerns, I kept it at 35 all around - still easily visible inside when the sun is out. Not at night so most times I actually do lower the window a bit when I know I'm about to pass a cop. On my wife's car, I wanted to do the same but she said too much hassle.

In most provinces (there are some exceptions) there is no tinting permitted of the windshield except for a band at the top, and no tinting permitted of the driver's side window. You can tint behind the driver. The reason is that it is important for other road users (particularly pedestrians and cyclists) to be able to make eye contact with the driver. This is the same reason cited in many jurisdictions that restrict tinting of the driver's window. There seems to be an additional concern in the US regarding allowing law enforcement officers to see the driver so they don't start shooting after they pull someone over, but that isn't in the list of things I worry about here.

I don't know about the majority of the US states, I'll take your word for it. I only know the rules in Washington (next to us) and California, and both of those ban tints on driver's side windows.

I have spent time in the southern states, and other parts of the world, and understand that vehicles get hot inside. I just don't think that trumps the safety issue.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. I hope you enjoy your new ride.

Glad to hear your generalized opinion of the US - we're all gun-toting drivers who shoot cops when they pull us over. Yup, that thought goes through my mind every day, "Hmm, which driver is going to shoot me today." Must be nice in Canada to know that something like that would NEVER happen. Oh well, with that opinion I guess at least I don't have to worry about you ever coming to the US. Oh wait, you probably do anyway.

You have single-handedly turned me off to this entire forum.

You've contributed nothing to the forum in your 32 posts since 2008, I don't think you'll be missed too much.

From the title page:

~ Xoutpost.com ~
Where you come for the information
but stay for the friendships

Information I've gathered: ask a few simple questions, get hostile answers and opinionated international comments. Such an angry bunch, especially those of you with 10k posts. Sorry I've put you all out with such heinous questions but glad you had time to go back and read all of my previous posts!

Smile fellas, life's not that bad.

It's a 2 way street, you get out of it what you put into it.

You took a shot at JCL after he made an innocent comment, so no one is angry (except you maybe), but nice try at justifying your obnoxious response to JCL. Maybe you should take some time to read back through his posts to get an idea about how to contribute to a forum instead of showing up twice every 5 years with your panties in a bunch. :thumbup:

Sheesh. Internet much? Or is this all new?

No opinion from here on drivers shooting people. What I hear on many forums, is that law enforcement officers like to be able to see the driver when they approach the vehicle. Seems reasonable. Stress rises when the LEO can't see the driver. Stressing someone with a gun is a bad idea. You've got the wrong shooter, I wasn't talking about any drivers shooting. rh71 also made reference to the concerns of LEOs, so I guess it isn't just me.

You also have the angry flag pointing the wrong way. No anger here.

International is bad? Who knew?

Of course I visit the US. But I don't tint my driver's window there or here. And if you come to Canada (you are invited by the way....) you shouldn't tint yours.

Have a nice day. Breathe deep. It will all be fine.

I have 35% all around and I don't think it's unsafe or silly - IMHO. Living in Idaho (where I resided until recently) a desert climate it was very necessary in summer months and having lived in Phoenix years ago for a time it was pretty much the norm there.

The bottom line for me is that the general spirit of these forums is to bring knowledge and share our insight and experiences and do it in a way that doesn't bring another person down; even if you think they deserve it.

Not every mod or color choice or option choice is going to be everyone's cup o tea. But that is what makes choice so valuable.

When saying unsafe talking about LEO. Like said above they want to see what is in
the vehicle approaching. Years ago was told by an installer that too dark was also
hazardous to night driving. Some tints reversed, back than and you could not see out.
Sure studies have been done where up to a certain percentage beneficial than
the curve drops off.

Living in a climate where temps routinely go over a 100, tinting is just done by
the dealer when cars are brought. But not the black out seen on some cars