G05
BMW X5
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05-10-2026LAST POST
03-14-2026
Hello Forum,

I’m looking to upgrade my side mirrors to the MStyle wings.

I see online Autotecknic and some other manufacturers offer M style mirror caps/covers for a couple hundred dollars. But then I also see Autotecknic and IND sell the M style full retrofit kit for about double the cost of the caps.

I’m trying to understand the difference. I’d like to get as close to OEM look as possible and will likely paint match my Black Sapphire Metallic. Are the caps/covers going to look sorta cheap if it just replaces the outter section? Is it worth spending more for the full retrofit kit? What’s going to be the real difference in the look of these two? Any insight will be very appreciated!
03-14-2026
I wouldn't think it's worth it to go full retrofit unless something was mechanically wrong with the full housing. I have just the caps and think it looks great.
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster
03-15-2026
PCar2Bcar wrote
I wouldn't think it's worth it to go full retrofit unless something was mechanically wrong with the full housing. I have just the caps and think it looks great.
But I would ask, from the other side, does it look like something is missing? I guess my understanding is the cap replaces the back part of the mirror, but not the front part of the housing, so in my mind I imagine half of the wing missing and just looking a little incomplete. Again I don’t know. Thanks for any insight.
03-15-2026
I don’t think it’s noticeable at all. Plus, I think most people just assume it’s a cap if it isn’t a full M anyway. I know I do :confused2
03-15-2026
Megapixel wrote
But I would ask, from the other side, does it look like something is missing? I guess my understanding is the cap replaces the back part of the mirror, but not the front part of the housing, so in my mind I imagine half of the wing missing and just looking a little incomplete. Again I don’t know. Thanks for any insight.
99% of people would not notice anything is missing. As a driver, seeing the actual mirror side itself nothing seems off. And then when you are parked, the mirrors are folded in anyways for most people. So I'm unclear what the concern is. If you don't care about the $$$ then sure go for it, but you are also now introducing more labor to the equation, and i am assuming coding as well given all the sensors etc involved.

I can take a picture next time I am in the car to let you see what it looks like, so you can get an idea. The reason this mod is so popular is because it's an inexpensive way to dramatically change up the look of the car, is not invasive as an install and can be easily reversed later.
03-16-2026
PCar2Bcar wrote
99% of people would not notice anything is missing. As a driver, seeing the actual mirror side itself nothing seems off. And then when you are parked, the mirrors are folded in anyways for most people. So I'm unclear what the concern is. If you don't care about the $$$ then sure go for it, but you are also now introducing more labor to the equation, and i am assuming coding as well given all the sensors etc involved.

I can take a picture next time I am in the car to let you see what it looks like, so you can get an idea. The reason this mod is so popular is because it's an inexpensive way to dramatically change up the look of the car, is not invasive as an install and can be easily reversed later.
No coding needed.
03-16-2026
PCar2Bcar wrote
99% of people would not notice anything is missing. As a driver, seeing the actual mirror side itself nothing seems off. And then when you are parked, the mirrors are folded in anyways for most people. So I'm unclear what the concern is. If you don't care about the $$$ then sure go for it, but you are also now introducing more labor to the equation, and i am assuming coding as well given all the sensors etc involved.

I can take a picture next time I am in the car to let you see what it looks like, so you can get an idea. The reason this mod is so popular is because it's an inexpensive way to dramatically change up the look of the car, is not invasive as an install and can be easily reversed later.
Yeah I’d appreciate it if you can take a photo from the mirror side, I think that’ll help me better understand it visually from that side. Everything else you mentioned makes a lot of sense, I’m definately leaning caps now rather than full replacement based on your feedback. I would love to just see it before taking the next step. Thanks for taking the time.

Also, which brand did you end up going with?
03-17-2026
Megapixel wrote
Yeah I’d appreciate it if you can take a photo from the mirror side, I think that’ll help me better understand it visually from that side. Everything else you mentioned makes a lot of sense, I’m definately leaning caps now rather than full replacement based on your feedback. I would love to just see it before taking the next step. Thanks for taking the time.

Also, which brand did you end up going with?
I have to check on brand, it's saved on my computer. Honestly as crazy as it sounds, got it from Amazon (as have many on this forum).

Here is a pic of the mirror from a driver's perspective. I think it looks good, adds an aggressive element for sure.
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster
03-17-2026
PCar2Bcar wrote
I have to check on brand, it's saved on my computer. Honestly as crazy as it sounds, got it from Amazon (as have many on this forum).

Here is a pic of the mirror from a driver's perspective. I think it looks good, adds an aggressive element for sure.
Awesome, I haven’t seen the perspective from drivers side like this when doing research. This has been super helpful, thanks for taking the time for the additional photo. I definately like how it looks!
03-18-2026
Just my 2 cents, I think it looks incomplete. For all the money you spent on the car why not spend a few hundred dollars more to do it right?
03-29-2026
Got the full retrofit kit used in great condition in same body color paint for $280 out of pocket. Did some quick DIY research and installed it in less than an hour. very happy with how it turned out! Thanks for all thr insight. I too think the caps are missing a little something, happy I went full replacement, the additional work was very simple to do.
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster
05-09-2026
Megapixel wrote
Got the full retrofit kit used in great condition in same body color paint for $280 out of pocket. Did some quick DIY research and installed it in less than an hour. very happy with how it turned out! Thanks for all thr insight. I too think the caps are missing a little something, happy I went full replacement, the additional work was very simple to do.
Where do you get it? Could you pls pass me the link? Thanks a lot.
05-10-2026
I had bought it in the classifieds here from another user. Doesn’t show up on there often, and just so happened to be in my same body style, so it’s a deal I couldn’t pass up.
05-10-2026
Thank you for your info.