Installing few upgrades for 2007 X5

[igorbmwx6]

I have a few items that I am planning to purchase and install on my 2007 X5. If anyone has had any experience with installing these, please reply with your comments and/or suggestions:

- I want to install running boards (other than looks, are there any advantages?) Do they really change the vehicle's appearance? Are they worth getting? How difficult to install?

- Illuminated door sills. Already ordered. How difficult to install? Any possible issues?

- Sport steering wheel with air-bag module and wood trim piece. How difficult to install? Any possible issues?

- Wood trim for the shift knob. How to install? How to remove the metal piece and replace it with wood?

Thank you in advance for your assistance ...

[klammer]

I have all those on my 2007, and yes the running boards are a great step not just for looks. Also, I believe most of the other things are stick on, had the dealer do mine but doesn't seem that hard. Good luck.

[igorbmwx6]

Great, thank you for your reply ...

[jimmy08awd]

- Running Boards make the car look much better. I only use it when stepping out the car. Came with my car.
- I'm interested in the the lighted door sills as well. I believe you will have to drill holes to secure them to the body and remove come carpeted panels to route the wiring around. Please post a DIY if you can.
- Trim should just be held by clips. You should probably disconnect the battery before messing with the airbag...don't want that going off in your face.
- Again, silver trim should be held by clips.

Would be cool to see the before and afters when you're done.

[igorbmwx6]

Jimmy, I will definitely do that. I will take the before and after pictures and will post them here. Thank you for the advice to disconnect battery, that will help. As for the clips, which are holding the silver trim, could you please elaborate on that. I do not want to break anything. Maybe you can tell me what tool I should use to take the silver trim off and does the wood trim just snap on in place of the silver? ty.

[igorbmwx6]

Here are some of the "after" images. Took me a whole day to get all these installed on my X5. Feel free to ask any questions regarding any of these

[awd301]

From where did you get the steering wheel?

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by awd301

From where did you get the steering wheel?

I purchased it from eBay. Wheel, airbag and bamboo wood trim. All purchased separately, assembled and installed. Removal of the original and installation of the sport wheel was fairly simple procedure

[gajidy]

The MGP brake caliper cover looks good!

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by gajidy

The MGP brake caliper cover looks good!

It looked good, but I never felt it was 100% safe the way that it was attached to the brake caliper. I took them off after a while, just to be on a safe side