Travis1807's 2013 X5M

[Travis1807]

After following M3 Guy's journal I have decided to start my own. I'm starting with a 2013 X5M in Silverstone 2 with the Silverstone 2 interior as well. I think it would prob. explain a lot moving forward to give you a bit of background on my previous build. I'm coming from a 2008 Jeep SRT8 with a 88mm Precision Turbo with a stroked 7.2 L engine. This is my first BMW and while the differences are vast between the huge power and enormous low end torque of the Jeep something has to be said for the handling and all around design of the X5M. With that said I'm sure I will bring to the table a few things that aren't common place when building this X5M and not to say that I have it all figured out but I hope to at least provoke others to explore some different routes in which to harness power and provide a platform that is little bit more stable. For example, I will be running a double catch system that will most likely have the PCV valve removed. I will get into explanations when I start the install but just wanted to give you an idea of what I was talking about previously. I will also be running catchcan's from Arrington Performance which I don't believe I have seen anyone else run on our set up as Arrington is a strictly MOPAR/HEMI Company.

Here are a few pics of my Jeep SRT8 and the X5M. I gotta to run but I will have more pics and details up later. Thanks for looking and all feedback is welcome. I don't mind constructive criticism either so please speak your mind.

[gixxerboy63]

Welcome to the BMW X5M franchise!

Looking forward to your build... Mine feels more like a F10 M5 in terms of power with the Active Autowerkes Tune and Downpipes, but thats really about as far as I have gone. I recently learned of a company in Virgina that specializes in BMW turbos rebuilds and turbo upgrades, but I'm not likely to go down that road until I start having turbo issues of my own... Some of the M5 guys with the S63TU have gone deeper in pursuit of more raw power, but I am pleased with the power, performance and everyday driveability (14.8 average mpg) of my X5M, which seems to do all things well, including cargo runs to Lowes while having the ability to stomp mudholes in Corvettes!

Welcome!

[m5 guy]

Nice to see you start your journal! Looks like you will be doing some out of norm type mods here so I'll definietly be following along. Also try not to listen to us too much or else you will end up with a lighter wallet.

[frankenm]

Welcome,

Nice to see another Silverstone on here, looking forward to see the mods you intend on going with.

Have fun with your X5M.

[boneca]

Congrats on beautiful X5M! Welcome to the family, will watch out for u upgrades!

[black1]

Nice colour combo congrats

[Travis1807]

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos but here are a few of the new wheels. Rear Rim 22x12 Rear tires 22x25x335 Front Rim 22x10.5 Front tires 22x30x295. Rims are Vorsteiner Sport Challenged Forged wheels in 22" and paint is gloss black. Tires are Pirelli Scorpions.

The X5M got dropped off yesterday for a new carbon fiber hood and some minor paint work. New pictures to follow probably this weekend or beg. of next week.

[black1]

Black wheels look great with this color, may need to lower it next

[Travis1807]

Below are my future plans for the truck and the majority should happen within the next month or so.

Loose Cannon Customs

1. Install Hood
1.1. Original Hood lock and shocks
1.2. Hood Pins
1.3. Clear Coat Carbon Fiber

2. Front and Rear Reflectors:
2.1. Paint to Match Body Color (Silverstone 2)

3. Paint Side Markers:
3.1. Gloss Black Body & Clear Lens
3.2. Silverstone 2 & Dark Tint on Lens

4. Paint Emblems
4.1. X5 & M Emblems Gloss
4.2. BMW Roundels Tint Like Tail Lights

5. Tint Tail lights

6. Install Radar Detector w/ Hardwiring
6.1. Not sure where to install “Mute Button”

7. Paint Work
7.1. Remove Front license Plate and Fill in Holes
7.2. Fix scratch on Rear Hatch by BMW Emblem
7.3. Fix Scratch on Front/Driver Side: Bumper/Fender/Quarter Panel

Gets Handled on Next Visit

1. Fabricate Dual Gauge Pod in “A” Pillar Boost and Air Fuel
2. Powder Coat Brake Calibers
3. Sub Box and Amp Rack in Cargo Area

PP-Performance

1. Install Ultimate Racing Downpipes will be here thur.
1.1. Install Exhaust Wrap

2. Install Turbo Blankets

3. Tune

Speed Force Racing

Need custom exhaust fabricated with SS 3” tubing. Cut off stock muffler and replace with resonators, SS 3” tubing and new tips.

Powder Coating

1. Exhaust Tips Need Powder Coating (Matte Black)

2. OEM Brake Calibers (fluorescent yellow/green)

NEED TO STILL BUY/DO

1. BREMBO BRAKES
1.1. CROSS DRILLED ROTORS
2. KW V3 COILOVERS
3. Air/Fuel Sensor already have AEM gauge
4. Boost Sensor for AEM gauge
5. Rear Badges (M, X5,BMW Roundel)
6. Front BMW Roundel Badge
7. Pedal Haus Pedal Set (M Series Anodized Black)
8. 1 more catchcan
9. -10 AN tubing for dual catch can setup

So here are a few pictures of some of the stuff I already have and am just waiting to put on. I will probably end up getting the exhaust done next week. If I don't have time to take the truck to PP-Performance for a tune and to get downpipes installed it will have to wait till after the weekend. PP-Performance is claiming 718 hp with their tune and the mods that I will have completed by the time I take it in for the tune. They are going to dyno the truck before and after the tune so I will post the results after I get it done.

The exhaust I'm having fabricated will look something like this eisenmann exhaust.

[gixxerboy63]

Love the wheels!

[Travis1807]

Truck is still at Loose Cannon Customs till tomorrow. Currently getting a carbon fiber hood, reflectors painted to match the silverstone 2 paint, side markers getting the chrome painted gloss black, tail lights tinted and door edge guards getting put on . Also getting a Escort 9500ix radar detector hardwired and mounted below rear view with a mute button placed in center console.

Here are a few pictures of the truck from today and of the new hood getting sanded and ready for clear coat. I never understood why people don't clear coat their carbon fiber. Maybe its just the S. Cali. sun but in my opinion nothing looks worse then a nice piece of carbon fiber that is turning yellow from sun damage!

I also have a set of new gloss black grilles to go with the hood that are the new double slat style like on the 2015+ X5M. I'll upload some pics of them and the new downpipes tonight.

[socale39]

Just my opinion but unpainted carbon hoods just don't belong on German cars. I think it would look a lot classier with it painted to match. Also, I'd ditch the racer hood latches.

[UnicornM]

Is your shop painting the reflectors in situ? The front ones take 30 seconds to remove. Rear ones are little more fiddly but would be out in less time that it took them to mask up the surround panels.

[socale39]

^^^this???? The rear reflectors aren't the easiest to remove but I wouldn't half ass it and have them pulled off and painted otherwise you'll end up with overspray in the cavity of that area.

[Creamo3]

What sort of power/track times did your SRT-8 run? I ran a bunch of WK1/WK2 Jeeps at AD Motorsportz track day last year.

[Cattivo]

Nice mods so far...I would definitely remove those rear reflectors...takes literally 15 seconds to remove front n back

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by Creamo3

What sort of power/track times did your SRT-8 run? I ran a bunch of WK1/WK2 Jeeps at AD Motorsportz track day last year.

The only sanctioned racing I ever did in the Jeep was to occasionally run it in the 1/4 mile. My biggest hurdle was trying to break into the 10 second club. Maybe a month before the Jeep got retired I had added a meth kit and larger intercooler to make one last attempt at getting into the 10's.

Unfortunately I never made it to the track in time to use either of the new additions but the difference was undeniable just daily driving. To further answer your question I believe my best trap speed on the 1/4 mi. was 126mph.

As far as power is concerned I originally purchased the Jeep from Tony Hawk the pro skateboarder. He had it built by Hennessy Performance to their SRT600 kit specifications. I literally redid everything that H.P. did performance wise on that truck. I only bought it b/c I didn't pay a penny over blue book pricing for a stock Jeep SRT8 of that year and it came with a receipt for $29,500 from the H.P. SRT600 kit. So from Hennessy they claimed it was putting down 620hp but it was prob. just under 500hp to the wheels. I blew the engine b/c H.P. didn't think it was a smart idea to change it to a low compression engine. So I stroked it, redid the entire turbo system, added 88mm turbo and pretty much replaced or upgraded everything H.P. had done and then some. The last Dyno pull that the truck took was on a Mustang AWD dyno and I was pushing a little over 800hp and 860ft. lb. torque at 14 lbs. of boost.

My current X5M is the first BMW that I have ever owned and it handles night and day better then my Jeep. I was torn about getting another Jeep until I drove the X5M. Even though I knew I would never be able to squeeze as much power out of the BMW as I would the Jeep the ride was so much better in the X5M that I didn't care.

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by X5_MSPORT

Is your shop painting the reflectors in situ? The front ones take 30 seconds to remove. Rear ones are little more fiddly but would be out in less time that it took them to mask up the surround panels.

Originally Posted by socale39

^^^this???? The rear reflectors aren't the easiest to remove but I wouldn't half ass it and have them pulled off and painted otherwise you'll end up with overspray in the cavity of that area.

Originally Posted by Cattivo

Nice mods so far...I would definitely remove those rear reflectors...takes literally 15 seconds to remove front n back

Thank you for the heads up about the reflectors. I had them removed and sanded down before they where repainted because after the first coat I didn't like the raised lettering that was poking through the paint.

[Travis1807]

I apologize for the crappy iPhone pictures but here are a few of the Ultimate Racing downpipes, new grilles, hood after install, painted reflectors and blacked out side markers.

[Dr.Duct_Mossburg]

Did you have your hood painted black?

You can run the mute button on your radar detector to one of the homelink buttons in your mirror.. just a thought.

Instead of doing gauges in your A pillar there is another solution that goes in one of the vents on the left side of the steering column. A lot cleaner.

[Cattivo]

Originally Posted by Dr.Duct_Mossburg

Instead of doing gauges in your A pillar there is another solution that goes in one of the vents on the left side of the steering column. A lot cleaner.

here you go just bought 1 myself

http://www.p3cars.com/bmw-x-series/p...tal-interface/

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by Cattivo

here you go just bought 1 myself

http://www.p3cars.com/bmw-x-series/p...tal-interface/

I talked to my custom fabrication guy and I think I'm going to have him making me another custom dual gauge pod in my "A" pillar. The P3cars gauge is a clean mounting system but I think my AEM Boost Controller and AFR gauges have a better appeal aesthetically, functionally and overall their precision/performance isn't easily duplicated at their price point. Here are some pictures of the dual gauge pod i had in my A pillar and the 1 behind my steering wheel.