New Mods - Tint, Springs, and Paint...

[AZX6]

Okay, the windows are tinted, the H&R springs are in, and most of the rough black plastic (including the grille) has been smoothed and painted. The wheels should be ready next week!

The springs definitely made the car feel more stable in corners, and didn't seem to effect the ride much. I sure like the decrease in fenderwell gap also.








Let me know what you think!

[scottyv]

Looks much better with the spring kit.

How much was the drop, 1.2"?? looks like you can do a 2" front from H&R but still only get 1" in the rear because of autoleveling??

I am definitely doing the drop it is a must for looks, great job!

[motex]

Originally Posted by AZX6

Okay, the windows are tinted, the H&R springs are in, and most of the rough black plastic (including the grille) has been smoothed and painted. The wheels should be ready next week!

The springs definitely made the car feel more stable in corners, and didn't seem to effect the ride much. I sure like the decrease in fenderwell gap also.

Let me know what you think!

That's a great and clean looking car, I love the way it looks all same color and also the H&R springs helped a lot.
Got a question regarding H&R springs.
I do own an X6 3.0d but with no adaptive drive system, my car came with RF 19's and the factory springs bottoms easily, so I was thinking on some adjustable springs from H&R's or other top brand.
Im looking for a spring that will not bottom out so easy, how about yours ?
Also I'm switching to 20's same as yours in a couple of weeks, and I'm concerned if the ride will feel more stiff ?
Thanks in advance!

[shenard]

How is the ride vs. stock with the springs? I am thinking about doing this and also want to smooth and paint the black trim like you did. How much did you pay for the paintwork? I got an initial quote around $1800 and I thought it seemed too high.

Everything looks great and very clean!

[AZX6]

Originally Posted by motex

Got a question regarding H&R springs.
I do own an X6 3.0d but with no adaptive drive system, my car came with RF 19's and the factory springs bottoms easily, so I was thinking on some adjustable springs from H&R's or other top brand.
Im looking for a spring that will not bottom out so easy, how about yours ?
Also I'm switching to 20's same as yours in a couple of weeks, and I'm concerned if the ride will feel more stiff ?
Thanks in advance!

Not sure what you mean by "bottoms out easily"? Are you saying that the car actually hits the bump stops when you drive? If so, you have a problem that needs repair. The factory springs should never bottom out under normal circumstances. Maybe if you're jumping it?

You can probably purchase a set of adjustable coil-overs from someone, but be ready to spend at least $2500 + install, and you may end up with fairly harsh ride quality.

Our OE 20" tires are Dunlop run-flats and are not known to provide a very cushy ride. I'll be putting 22's on in a week or two, but I'm guessing that our ride won't suffer much because the Michelin Diamaris I'm going to use are not run-flats. I really like the handling characteristics gained with plus applications, so (to me) the slightly stiffer ride is an acceptable trade-off for the additional steering response.

Originally Posted by shenard

How is the ride vs. stock with the springs? I am thinking about doing this and also want to smooth and paint the black trim like you did. How much did you pay for the paintwork? I got an initial quote around $1800 and I thought it seemed too high.

Everything looks great and very clean!

Thanks!

The ride is slightly stiffer, but nowhere near harsh. Under normal driving conditions, there isn't much difference. I really only feel the stiffer spring rate when going over larger bumps (speed bumps, etc.).

I removed the body panels myself. If you are even slightly mechanically inclined, you won't have any problems. It only takes an hour or so, and should save you quite a bit of money on R&R. I have a close friend that is a custom painter, so I got a ridiculously cheap deal on the finishing. To put the panels back on, I purchased new fasteners from worldimpex.com for about $40 shipped. I'd be happy to share the part numbers and quantities of the replacement fasteners if anyone needs them. I can also share the procedure I used to remove everything, just send me a PM.

[vladberca]

did u plan the replace your exhaust too? u have a very nice looking car! congrats!

[motex]

Originally Posted by AZX6

Not sure what you mean by "bottoms out easily"? Are you saying that the car actually hits the bump stops when you drive? If so, you have a problem that needs repair. The factory springs should never bottom out under normal circumstances. Maybe if you're jumping it?

Don't have the exact word to explain it, for example, if I hit a pothole the sound transmitted from the shock quite hard, it feels to me that OEM shocks have a short "travel" distance, and since the car is a heavy one, in this type of situations, the shock "tops" ( new word....) easily. It remembers me my former E46 M3 that use to make a sound almost identical.

Run flat tires are known as hard tires, ride usually a little harsh against regular tires, so there is nothing else to do than wait.

Thanks for your feeback and hope you did understand me now.
Bernie

[drod]

i don't think not having adaptive should make a difference if you're dropping it with H&R springs...

i believe they sell them in two models.. with self-leveling and without

both will provide the same 2.0/fr, 1.2/r inch drop..

i also plan on getting the x6 w/out adaptive drive, installing H&Rs and 214s wheels.

your ride looks great!!

would be nice if they had a replacement exhaust tip from the TT8 version tha you can just cut and bolt-on..(instead of having to replace the entire exhaust system)

[suzuki1k]

Looks good, just paint the bottom of the front bumper now.

[AZX6]

Originally Posted by suzuki1k

Looks good, just paint the bottom of the front bumper now.

I considered painting the front lower panel, but you can't believe the stone chips that we get here in AZ. I figured that the black plastic would hold up much better over time. I'm not a huge fan of the way the front panel transitions to the wheel well panel, but it will just have to suffice.

[XBMW6]

Originally Posted by AZX6

I considered painting the front lower panel, but you can't believe the stone chips that we get here in AZ. I figured that the black plastic would hold up much better over time. I'm not a huge fan of the way the front panel transitions to the wheel well panel, but it will just have to suffice.

Nice work...looks good. Would you mind please take more close-up pics of the painted parts from the side and back. I just wanna see how it matches up with the body paint. Also, you said you had to smooth the black parts. Was that necessary ? Thanks

[Skywagon]

AZX6,
Again, did you do the 2" or 1.2" drop in front?
Thanks much.

[David1]

Originally Posted by scottyv

Looks much better with the spring kit.

How much was the drop, 1.2"?? looks like you can do a 2" front from H&R but still only get 1" in the rear because of autoleveling??

I am definitely doing the drop it is a must for looks, great job!

Isn't there a setting for the auto leveling that the dealer can set?

[dmlgc]

Really nice looking , only suggestion would be to replace the front reflectors with clear. nice job!

[shenard]

Originally Posted by AZX6

Thanks!

The ride is slightly stiffer, but nowhere near harsh. Under normal driving conditions, there isn't much difference. I really only feel the stiffer spring rate when going over larger bumps (speed bumps, etc.).

I removed the body panels myself. If you are even slightly mechanically inclined, you won't have any problems. It only takes an hour or so, and should save you quite a bit of money on R&R. I have a close friend that is a custom painter, so I got a ridiculously cheap deal on the finishing. To put the panels back on, I purchased new fasteners from worldimpex.com for about $40 shipped. I'd be happy to share the part numbers and quantities of the replacement fasteners if anyone needs them. I can also share the procedure I used to remove everything, just send me a PM.

Yes, please send me a PM with instructions and the part numbers and quantities of fasteners you need. I was going to try and take off the panels myself and take in to save on a lot of the labor costs.

[shenard]

Originally Posted by XBMW6

Nice work...looks good. Would you mind please take more close-up pics of the painted parts from the side and back. I just wanna see how it matches up with the body paint. Also, you said you had to smooth the black parts. Was that necessary ? Thanks

Yes, it is necessary for it to look right because the black plastic trim is not smooth and if yo just paint it then it will not come out clean looking and will be rough and bumpy and not blend as well to the factory finish on the door panels

[AZX6]

Originally Posted by Skywagon

Did you do the 2" or 1.2" drop in front?
Thanks much.

I used H&R part #50435-3. This kit is the 1.2" drop front and rear.

http://hrsprings.com/scripts/appguid...20BMW%20|%20X6

My opinion is that the X6 has just the right amount of rake built into the body design, so I didn't want to exacerbate the look any further. My goal here really was to put my 22's on and not end up with more fenderwell gap then I'll have sidewall height. This is really the key to a classy looking wheel and tire setup.

[m3_p0wer]

nice car man i am considering painting my car in whole black any body got a pic of black x6 painted in whole black ?

[drod]

you're missing these...

http://www.supersprintna.com/categor...ategory_id/139

[REInvestor]

Originally Posted by AZX6

I used H&R part #50435-3. This kit is the 1.2" drop front and rear.

http://hrsprings.com/scripts/appguid...20BMW%20|%20X6

My opinion is that the X6 has just the right amount of rake built into the body design, so I didn't want to exacerbate the look any further. My goal here really was to put my 22's on and not end up with more fenderwell gap then I'll have sidewall height. This is really the key to a classy looking wheel and tire setup.

Do you ahave the sport package on your X6? Someone told me that the sport package already lowers the car -vs- the non-sport. Does anyone know if that is true or not, and if it is by how much? Thx

[Nezo86]

based on the shadow-line trim he's got the sport package on his X6... don't know about the lowering part.

[REInvestor]

Originally Posted by Nezo86

based on the shadow-line trim he's got the sport package on his X6... don't know about the lowering part.

Oh, ok. A local BMW tuner told me if I was going to lower the car, I needed to go with the 2" drop or else it really wouldn't make sense to drop the X6 since the car is already somewhat lowered by having the sport package. He said the sport package already drops the car somewhat vs non sport. I don't know by how much having the sport pkg drops it. Does anyone have this answer? I looking to drop the vehicle with 2" H&R springs, or Hamann 40mm springs. Thank you.