New X5 M owner- Intro and project log

[Jb325is]

Just joined and wanted to start a journal/build thread for my 2010 X5 M. Very happy to find a good community for the e70's, as the thought of DIY ownership is quite daunting. I'm a lifelong BMW guy, but was never into X5's until about 2 years ago when I borrowed a friend's E53 4.6is for a week. Kind of fell in love with the idea of having a sporty-ish vehicle that can tow but still has somewhat decent driving dynamics and great seats/steering wheel. I ended up buying the 4.6 and it has served me well, but it's up to 270k miles and I'm losing confidence in it's road-trip worthiness.

Somehow a used computer purchase turned into a e34 m5 project car + cash trade for this:



It's a 2010 with 90k miles. Lots of dealer maintenance and warranty records and a few mods

X6 M hood
F85 M612 wheels with PSS's
BC Coilovers
Vivid racing tune
AA downpipes
muffler delete

Absolutely loving it so far, hilariously fast for what it is and sounds insane. Needs a really good detail and a little bit of attention here or there but overall I'm very happy with it. First thing I'll be doing is the detail and a headlight recondition, but the first big project I'm going to tackle is swapping the BC coilovers for something more compliant (the roads here in SC are terrible). I come from a motorsports background and am a big fan of the adjustability, but I need a little better ride control and I really want to retain the airbags for towing purposes. I have an e30 racecar that I had been towing with the 4.6, so I'd like to do the same with the X5 M, just need to find a hitch.

Couple more random pics, I've only had the thing for a week and a half, so haven't even washed it yet





The fleet, RRC cut out and e30 not included


Looking forward to using this community as a resource and hopefully contributing along the way

[greddy91]

Welcome and congrats on your awkward trade.

[jiggz]

Wow, those 612M's look awesome on the E70 X5M!

[0-60Motorsports]

Welcome and congrats. F85 M612 wheels look great on the E70 X5M.

[do_0b]

Very nice, what mods are you planning next?

[boneca]

congrats!

M looks great, keep it up

[philly42]

Nice X5M....I love the hood!!

I have to restore my headlights as well. I hope polishing will do the trick instead of replacing the lens.

[Jb325is]

Thanks all!

My focus right now is making this thing ride a little better. My wife drives it most of the time and it needs to be a little smoother. I am struggling to decide between KW and H&R. I have the EDC dampers that came off of it, but I don't really want to put 85k miles shocks back on the thing.

Headlights will be easy. I usually sand starting with 600 grit and work my way up to 2000. Always comes out amazing. My lights currently aren't too bad, they just hurt the appearance:



Here are a couple pics of my old 4.6, I did these lights using the same process:

[0-60Motorsports]

Once your done polishing the headlights buy LAMIN-X precut clear headlight protection film. I have it on my cars and havent needed to polish my lenses at all.

[9vapors]

I gotta get that hood...

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

I gotta get that hood...

+1..

[RichardH]

Originally Posted by do_0b

+1..

+2
Looks awesome wheels as well

[T_N_C]

Congrats! Very jealous of you new purchase. I recently got the 4.8i and been justifying myself not get upgrade to an M as I already have another weekend toy car.

[Jb325is]

Took the M on it's first road trip this weekend... Washed and waxed while I was there









Also noticed a differential leak, so I'll need to get it up on jacks this weekend to check that out. Hoping it's an axle seal and not a pinion seal

[boneca]

^ looking sharp

u coming down to MPact this weekend?

[ncbimma]

I'm in Raleigh if you ever want to get rid of that hood!

[Naz24]

I know this car! You bought sean troy's car!

Nice build, car is awesome

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Jb325is

Took the M on it's first road trip this weekend... Washed and waxed while I was there









Also noticed a differential leak, so I'll need to get it up on jacks this weekend to check that out. Hoping it's an axle seal and not a pinion seal

Man those OE21's look so at home on the E70. Might have to source a set.

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by boneca

^ looking sharp

u coming down to MPact this weekend?

I'm not much of a car meet person. The only car stuff I'll do on weekends is at a racetrack. That said, I might bring it out to the Charlotte cars and coffee one of these weekends since I haven't been since I've moved here.

Originally Posted by ncbimma

I'm in Raleigh if you ever want to get rid of that hood!

I think I'll keep it! It wasn't really a selling point for me on this thing but it does make a pretty dramatic difference

Originally Posted by Naz24

I know this car! You bought sean troy's car!

Nice build, car is awesome

It is! I was looking for a fast/fun/comfortable road trip vehicle/dd and he was looking for a worthwhile project car and we worked out a pretty nice deal for both sides.

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Man those OE21's look so at home on the E70. Might have to source a set.

They do! This thing had some pretty great 20" Rotiforms before I bought it and I was thinking of something similar (mostly to help with tire prices), but these wheels just look so perfect


Definitely found a pretty decent diff leak tonight. Pinion isn't wet, it looks to be mostly coming from what I imagine are the servos for the diff. I feel like I should probably replace all the seals while I'm in there though, CV boots are slinging some junk as well.



Also found a pretty big gash in the exhaust. I have been smelling some pretty bad fumes but I kind of attributed that to the catless downpipes, maybe fixing this will help a bit

[cm32001]

Are you in Rock Hill?

[Jb325is]

Originally Posted by cm32001

Are you in Rock Hill?

I'm in Fort Mill, I work in Rock Hill though

[0-60Motorsports]

I just noticed you are running a very nice looking front lip. Who makes that lip? Thanks and man your car is making me crazy for some 612 M Wheels.