argento's alpine white X5M

[argento]

Hi All,

I thought I'd capture minor mods and maintenance on this X5M. Previous cars are E70 4.8, 3.5 Msport, F10 535i Msport, E46M3, and a couple of E36M3s.

2013 X5M
23,901 miles
May 2013 Build
Alpine White/Black
ALL OPTIONS except rear media, ventilated seats, leather dash
Purchased in Mar.2017 w/15k miles, purchase pics follow:


Jeremy

[boneca]

Looks good waiting for more...

[argento]

Here are some mods over the last year:

1. Two coatings of Ceramic PRO on body, wheels, calipers
2. OEM Black Kidney Grills
3. IND front, side, and rear reflectors
4. IND Glossy Black X5M
5. OEM Steel Pedal set
6. AVINUSA Android Monitor
7. Red Start Button
8. Added a functional COMBOX that the PO removed

AND YES, my wife laughed and laughed at my JUNK labeled license plate...it's on the list...

[jiggz]

Looks great!

Best mod might be the front plate delete

[boneca]

very tasteful

[argento]

Thanks to you both! I have to agree about the front plate, lol...

More coming...

[argento]

I wasn't gaga over the OEM 310M wheels, or any of the OEM options for that matter...BUT I wanted something polished, oem, and 21" with Michelins...so I stumbled across a really nice used set of 310's in the classifieds. I had them shipped to my detailer and they put two coats of Ceramic PRO...when I picked them up I was blown away at how great they look in person. Apparently pictures never did this rim justice and now I'm pretty happy with them. I could do without the grey spokes, but can't have everything. I can't seem to take a picture that doesn't seem to distort the spokes sticking out more than they do, but I tried...

[argento]

I asked IND to make this custom rear roundel and they agreed. It's virtually the same, except I wanted to keep the roundel with chrome outer ring.








I'm sending out some 3.5" rear tips to have ceramic coated (thermal barrier, not detailing) in black...and spacers hopefully next weekend...

[gixxerboy63]

Pristine looking X5M!

[argento]

Originally Posted by gixxerboy63

Pristine looking X5M!

Thanks! I’m sad to see your amazing X5M go...hopefully the new owner can keep it on this forum.

[askjeeves]

Originally Posted by argento

Thanks to you both! I have to agree about the front plate, lol...

More coming...

I need to do that also. How did you cover the holes left behind?

[X5Meister]

Looking good - nice mods.

[argento]

Originally Posted by askjeeves

I need to do that also. How did you cover the holes left behind?

MOD-bargains has painted bumper plugs..I think it was $28 for a set of 4 in bmw colors. You can also get some from Bumperplugs.com.

Originally Posted by X5Meister

Looking good - nice mods.

Thanks!

[gixxerboy63]

Originally Posted by argento

Thanks! I’m sad to see your amazing X5M go...hopefully the new owner can keep it on this forum.

Not a done deal yet...
(Trying to figure out how to get the truck CARB legal for a California buyer)

[argento]

I've used this dye product for a while because it lasts a long time. It's a tedious job to tape off everything, but in the end the results are tangible.

It may be hard to see, but the flip cover is not yet dyed in this image:


I did all the front black trim using a foam lollipop. I trimmed the foam lollipop to be tapered so I could get between the holes.
Once you tape off, the work goes quickly. I also did the black strips under the doors (not seen here).


I tried it on the easily faded black trim at the back of the engine bay. I did one side and ran about 5 months with no change, so I did the other side. Not perfect, but looks much better.


For comparison, here's a close up of that black trim pc at the back of the engine bay. You can see where I taped off the sticker and left some faded area behind...notably just under the sticker.

[0-60Motorsports]

Stunning X5M, Congrats. i also got a 2010 X5M in the same combo a few days ago with 29000miles. Will be starting a Build Journal soon.

[argento]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Stunning X5M, Congrats. i also got a 2010 X5M in the same combo a few days ago with 29000miles. Will be starting a Build Journal soon.

Wow, 29k on a 2010?! Can't wait to see it!

Thanks, I've been offline modding a MTB...much cheaper, lol. Have exhaust tips ready to be sent off to coater, just been procrastinating...

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by argento

Wow, 29k on a 2010?! Can't wait to see it!

Thanks, I've been offline modding a MTB...much cheaper, lol. Have exhaust tips ready to be sent off to coater, just been procrastinating...

Thank you. Yeah man had to do some work like replace battery and alternator as the previous owner parked it in an underground garage and hardly drove it for 2 years. What an idiot.

What exhaust tips did you get for the stock exhaust. Would love to get some too.

[E70'11]

Originally Posted by argento

Here are some mods over the last year:

1. Two coatings of Ceramic PRO on body, wheels, calipers
2. OEM Black Kidney Grills
3. IND front, side, and rear reflectors
4. IND Glossy Black X5M
5. OEM Steel Pedal set
6. AVINUSA Android Monitor
7. Red Start Button
8. Added a functional COMBOX that the PO removed

AND YES, my wife laughed and laughed at my JUNK labeled license plate...it's on the list...

Nice looking M man
Where'd you get the red start button?

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by E70'11

Nice looking M man
Where'd you get the red start button?

you can get one from IND

[E70'11]

Originally Posted by do_0b

you can get one from IND

Thanks!

[argento]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Thank you. Yeah man had to do some work like replace battery and alternator as the previous owner parked it in an underground garage and hardly drove it for 2 years. What an idiot.

What exhaust tips did you get for the stock exhaust. Would love to get some too.

Ugh, but still worth it! Throw up a teaser pic, when you get a chance...looking forward to seeing your M.

I bought two pairs of 3.5" DiMisa Tips in black ($278/pr). Arrived in a satin (low luster) powdercoating. I'm going to have them thermal ceramic coated in gloss black. I was quoted ~$150 for install, and coating is between $150-$250. Hmmm, lots of $$ for just tips, lol. If I had known I was going to re-coat them I would have just ordered them uncoated or unpolished, would have been cheaper. I need those tips...

Quick shot on fill up, FILTHY, and am ashamed to say no wash in months, just touchless on occasion, but the ceramic pro keeps it looking decent...




Oh, and am really liking the wheels more and more. I'll frequently wipe down the polished spokes and rim to make them stand out, dust comes off with ease.