2012 X5D Deep Sea Blue Daily Tow Rig

aznbo187 · 04-06-2025, 11:01 PM

Figured it's a good time to document my build for my 2012 X5D. It started out just being a daily that was good on fuel and had the potential to tow my E46 M3. Unfortunately, like every single car, started being affected by mod creep.

So the new title will be tow rig that can do mild off road stuff.

Specs
Deep Sea Blue
Ivory Interior
Sport Package

Audio
Mr12Volt MMI
Morel Integration Reference for fronts, rears and center.
Match Up W8 Underseat Woofers
Matchup 7 DSP
Matchup 1FX Mono Amp
Stereo Integrity SQL 12" Sub

Performance
Kassel 3" Downpipe & Midpipe
R90
Carven R-Series 3" Resonator
BMS Billet 4" Tips
Swirl Flap Delete
Bimmertune EGR Delete
Patek V2 Intake
Transmission Tune
Rev9 Intercooler
Clutched Harmonic Balancer

Exterior
30% Tint
Rhino Lined Grills (may go to chrome/black)

Brakes
Front
TBD - Are there any 2-piece rotors available?

Rear
EBC Rotors
Akebono Pads (will be replaced by Textar as these as squeaky as shit in cold weather)

Suspension
Powerflex Subframe Bushings
Remainder is stock at the moment. Will be going with a 1.5" spacer lift. Undecided on shocks yet, but it's between B4 and Koni FSD.

Wheels
Forged Rega Replicas
17x7.5 -5/-15
Nitto Terra Grappler G3
265/70/17

Etc
Curt 2" Trailer

Upcoming plans:

I think at some point it will get a turbo upgrade and SPD tune. Suspension will be gone through and lifted. Paint correction and deciding between paint matched black trim, or leaving it as is. Really want to swap out the sidesteps to something else. Upgrade the headlight projectors. Maybe some mild lighting upgrades.

Muradi · 05-05-2025, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznbo187

Figured it's a good time to document my build for my 2012 X5D. It started out just being a daily that was good on fuel and had the potential to tow my E46 M3. Unfortunately, like every single car, started being affected by mod creep.

So the new title will be tow rig that can do mild off road stuff.

Specs
Deep Sea Blue
Ivory Interior
Sport Package

Audio
Mr12Volt MMI
Morel Integration Reference for fronts, rears and center.
Match Up W8 Underseat Woofers
Matchup 7 DSP
Matchup 1FX Mono Amp
Stereo Integrity SQL 12" Sub

Performance
Kassel 3" Downpipe & Midpipe
R90
Carven R-Series 3" Resonator
BMS Billet 4" Tips
Swirl Flap Delete
Bimmertune EGR Delete
Patek V2 Intake
Transmission Tune
Rev9 Intercooler
Clutched Harmonic Balancer

Exterior
30% Tint
Rhino Lined Grills (may go to chrome/black)

Brakes
Front
TBD - Are there any 2-piece rotors available?

Rear
EBC Rotors
Akebono Pads (will be replaced by Textar as these as squeaky as shit in cold weather)

Suspension
Powerflex Subframe Bushings
Remainder is stock at the moment. Will be going with a 1.5" spacer lift. Undecided on shocks yet, but it's between B4 and Koni FSD.

Wheels
Forged Rega Replicas
17x7.5 -5/-15
Nitto Terra Grappler G3
265/70/17

Etc
Curt 2" Trailer

Upcoming plans:

I think at some point it will get a turbo upgrade and SPD tune. Suspension will be gone through and lifted. Paint correction and deciding between paint matched black trim, or leaving it as is. Really want to swap out the sidesteps to something else. Upgrade the headlight [...]

By far one of the best 35d builds. Might br the best I’ve seen so far. You should post pics of the interior as well.

aznbo187 · 05-13-2025, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muradi

By far one of the best 35d builds. Might br the best I’ve seen so far. You should post pics of the interior as well.

Thank you! Will update shortly. Searching for a X5M carbon trim.

aznbo187 · 08-16-2025, 01:50 PM

Some recent updates.

MBD 35mm Lift Kit.
Bilstein B4 Front Shocks.
Bilstein Rear Air Bags.
Koni FSD Rear Shocks.
Lemforder front and rear sway bar links.
New suspension bushings.
EBC Greenstuff Front Brake Pads.
Zimmerman Front Rotors.
Replaced the rear pads with Textar.
IND Color matched reflectors.

Up next:
Morimoto XB LED Fogs.

New Front Upper & Lower Control Arms.
Considering spherical for thrust arms.
Brake flush. Diff flush.

BrianM1256 · 09-01-2025, 02:22 PM

I love the deep blue color and the lift kit! Do you have any pictures of the audio system upgrades?

aznbo187 · 09-06-2025, 09:17 PM

It's not much to look at right now, I ripped out the sub enclosure and will rebuild it to sit under the trunk cover.

The underseat woofers and door speakers are plug and play. I spent a good amount of time addressing any rattles and panel gaps with sound deadening. I would definitely recommend the underseat woofer upgrade - those were a good bang for the buck.

aznbo187 · 12-31-2025, 02:57 AM

Some more recent snaps from my road trip across the states. Drove from Arkansas to California without a hitch. Averaged around 19mpg with the tires and a fully loaded car. Very comfortable drive. Made a few stops with one of them being Moab, Utah and drove through Canyonlands which is an amazing and unreal showcase of dramatic landscapes. There were trails that cut through the actual mountains I didn't get to drive on, but maybe in the future.

aznbo187 · 12-31-2025, 03:37 AM

Some additional updates.

Took her out to a local California OHV trail called Rowher Flats in Santa Clarita. There were various difficulty levels and the X-drive did surprisingly well in even some medium technical trails. I wouldn't say it's something I fully trust or designed for slow crawling trails, but it didn't get stuck either. I went out with a friend in his GX and another in his Cayenne GTS.

Did not disconnect the sway bars and only lowered the tire pressure to about low 30's. Alibaba wheels so far as still holding on just fine with over 8k miles of cross-country, fire roads and mild off roading.

I've also installed 2 Vibrant Ultra-Quiet (3") Resonators where the muffler used to be. It has a full delete otherwise and this quieted it down in the cabin very nicely. It wasn't loud to begin with, but I recently have been on a stereo improvement journey and didn't want the exhaust notes to tarnish the sound quality that I'm working so hard on.

Also finished up the brake fluid flush and new front control & thrust arms. I went with Lemforder for both of the arms as I've read the Meyle HD arms were not good for this chassis.

Next up when it gets a bit warmer I plan on doing some paint correction and touch ups.

Interior wise, I'll make a new post but I've been updating all of the speakers, sound deadening and having fun with adjusting the sound processing via the matchup amp.

sleepye21 · 04-16-2026, 01:06 PM

Very nice, did you have any rubbing issues with wheels at any point but especially when stock height?

04-06-2025, 11:01 PM	#1
aznbo187 First Lieutenant 111 Rep 393 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| E82 135 DCT \| I3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	2012 X5D Deep Sea Blue Daily Tow Rig Figured it's a good time to document my build for my 2012 X5D. It started out just being a daily that was good on fuel and had the potential to tow my E46 M3. Unfortunately, like every single car, started being affected by mod creep. So the new title will be tow rig that can do mild off road stuff. Specs Deep Sea Blue Ivory Interior Sport Package Audio Mr12Volt MMI Morel Integration Reference for fronts, rears and center. Match Up W8 Underseat Woofers Matchup 7 DSP Matchup 1FX Mono Amp Stereo Integrity SQL 12" Sub Performance Kassel 3" Downpipe & Midpipe R90 Carven R-Series 3" Resonator BMS Billet 4" Tips Swirl Flap Delete Bimmertune EGR Delete Patek V2 Intake Transmission Tune Rev9 Intercooler Clutched Harmonic Balancer Exterior 30% Tint Rhino Lined Grills (may go to chrome/black) Brakes Front TBD - Are there any 2-piece rotors available? Rear EBC Rotors Akebono Pads (will be replaced by Textar as these as squeaky as shit in cold weather) Suspension Powerflex Subframe Bushings Remainder is stock at the moment. Will be going with a 1.5" spacer lift. Undecided on shocks yet, but it's between B4 and Koni FSD. Wheels Forged Rega Replicas 17x7.5 -5/-15 Nitto Terra Grappler G3 265/70/17 Etc Curt 2" Trailer Upcoming plans: I think at some point it will get a turbo upgrade and SPD tune. Suspension will be gone through and lifted. Paint correction and deciding between paint matched black trim, or leaving it as is. Really want to swap out the sidesteps to something else. Upgrade the headlight projectors. Maybe some mild lighting upgrades. Attached Images __________________ 13th Letter - Motorsport Joy Division
	Appreciate 7 askjeeves171.50 Nyc Dito149.00 CarFan137.50 lowlifeflipside5.00 Muradi3.00 ///SY33155.50 corndog1.50 Tweet Quote

08-16-2025, 01:50 PM	#4
aznbo187 First Lieutenant 111 Rep 393 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| E82 135 DCT \| I3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	Some recent updates. MBD 35mm Lift Kit. Bilstein B4 Front Shocks. Bilstein Rear Air Bags. Koni FSD Rear Shocks. Lemforder front and rear sway bar links. New suspension bushings. EBC Greenstuff Front Brake Pads. Zimmerman Front Rotors. Replaced the rear pads with Textar. IND Color matched reflectors. Up next: Morimoto XB LED Fogs. New Front Upper & Lower Control Arms. Considering spherical for thrust arms. Brake flush. Diff flush. Attached Images __________________ 13th Letter - Motorsport Joy Division
	Appreciate 2 askjeeves171.50 corndog1.50 Quote

09-01-2025, 02:22 PM	#5
BrianM1256 New Member 2 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2009 x5 35d Join Date: Sep 2025 Location: Dayton, Ohio iTrader: (0)	I love the deep blue color and the lift kit! Do you have any pictures of the audio system upgrades?
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09-06-2025, 09:17 PM	#6
aznbo187 First Lieutenant 111 Rep 393 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| E82 135 DCT \| I3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	It's not much to look at right now, I ripped out the sub enclosure and will rebuild it to sit under the trunk cover. The underseat woofers and door speakers are plug and play. I spent a good amount of time addressing any rattles and panel gaps with sound deadening. I would definitely recommend the underseat woofer upgrade - those were a good bang for the buck. Attached Images __________________ 13th Letter - Motorsport Joy Division
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-31-2025, 02:57 AM	#7
aznbo187 First Lieutenant 111 Rep 393 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| E82 135 DCT \| I3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	Some more recent snaps from my road trip across the states. Drove from Arkansas to California without a hitch. Averaged around 19mpg with the tires and a fully loaded car. Very comfortable drive. Made a few stops with one of them being Moab, Utah and drove through Canyonlands which is an amazing and unreal showcase of dramatic landscapes. There were trails that cut through the actual mountains I didn't get to drive on, but maybe in the future. Attached Images __________________ 13th Letter - Motorsport Joy Division
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-31-2025, 03:37 AM	#8
aznbo187 First Lieutenant 111 Rep 393 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| E82 135 DCT \| I3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	Some additional updates. Took her out to a local California OHV trail called Rowher Flats in Santa Clarita. There were various difficulty levels and the X-drive did surprisingly well in even some medium technical trails. I wouldn't say it's something I fully trust or designed for slow crawling trails, but it didn't get stuck either. I went out with a friend in his GX and another in his Cayenne GTS. Did not disconnect the sway bars and only lowered the tire pressure to about low 30's. Alibaba wheels so far as still holding on just fine with over 8k miles of cross-country, fire roads and mild off roading. I've also installed 2 Vibrant Ultra-Quiet (3") Resonators where the muffler used to be. It has a full delete otherwise and this quieted it down in the cabin very nicely. It wasn't loud to begin with, but I recently have been on a stereo improvement journey and didn't want the exhaust notes to tarnish the sound quality that I'm working so hard on. Also finished up the brake fluid flush and new front control & thrust arms. I went with Lemforder for both of the arms as I've read the Meyle HD arms were not good for this chassis. Next up when it gets a bit warmer I plan on doing some paint correction and touch ups. Interior wise, I'll make a new post but I've been updating all of the speakers, sound deadening and having fun with adjusting the sound processing via the matchup amp. Attached Images __________________ 13th Letter - Motorsport Joy Division
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-16-2026, 01:06 PM	#9
sleepye21 New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: e21 Join Date: Jun 2025 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	Very nice, did you have any rubbing issues with wheels at any point but especially when stock height?
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