[Hmarga98]

If the rear fog light situation was figured out I’d love to see or know how, maybe Pm me if possible?

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Hmarga98

If the rear fog light situation was figured out I’d love to see or know how, maybe Pm me if possible?

Funny you should mention that.

Yes, it was figured out (sort of)

No, I haven't done the installation yet. Since the car is now due for it's first Belgian inspection, it's on my list of things to do as well.

Long story short - The local BMW dealer (in Belgium) had my X5 torn apart... sitting right next to a European X5... also torn apart.

The wiring harness that exists on European X5s for the rear fog lights??? The wiring harness doesn't even EXIST on a US Spec X5.

So...... the solution is:

OEM rear (European) foglights..... plus an aftermarket relay/switch to operate them.

Or.... one of those stupid little lights that hang off the rear bumper... which I won't do.

[Ninefourteener]

Just in case you are "considering" this "upgrade"?????

Don't. It's not worth it. What a pain in the ass.

If you are like me and require rear fog lights for "legal" reasons..... just get the cheap aftermarket dangly rear fog light.

It's done. It works. I'll pass Belgian inspections now.

Never again.

[PNWM50I]

thanks for giving us closure!

[Ninefourteener]

And..... after MUCH research, I've decided to go back to stock-sized tires..... but the tread width and section width between tire manufacturers varies WILDLY..... I had to start digging into the technical specifications of each tire manufacturer, each tire, and figure out who made the widest street tire in stock sizes.

Why? Because OEM rims are 9.5 and 10.5 inches wide, respectively.

My wheels are 10.5 and 12.0 inches respectively.....

So to minimize the "stretched" tire look as much as possible..... I needed to find the manufacturer and model.... that is the widest, in OEM sizes.

PS4s? Nope
P Zeros? Nope

The winner?

Continental Conti Sportconstact 7

In the exact same size (315/30/22)..... the Pzeros have a tread width of 10.8 inches. The Contis? 11.6 inches. On a 12 inch wide rim? that'll work just fine.

Just over $1500 USD, they are on the way.

As soon as the wheels come back from powdercoat (satin black), they are going back on the car.

[Ninefourteener]

I "think" I can add this to my 6-piston X5M front brake retrofit to my list of "first person to do it" mods.

F95 X5M quad-tip exhaust retrofit. I did another full post on this..... but the finished product belongs here.

[JujufromNYC]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

I "think" I can add this to my 6-piston X5M front brake retrofit to my list of "first person to do it" mods.

F95 X5M quad-tip exhaust retrofit. I did another full post on this..... but the finished product belongs here.

Was installing these straight forward ? What needed to be modied ? Sounds abosolutly amazing speacially higher RPMs , great work

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

I "think" I can add this to my 6-piston X5M front brake retrofit to my list of "first person to do it" mods.

F95 X5M quad-tip exhaust retrofit. I did another full post on this..... but the finished product belongs here.

Sounds great, like a V8 should!

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by JujufromNYC

Was installing these straight forward ? What needed to be modied ? Sounds abosolutly amazing speacially higher RPMs , great work

It was definitely NOT a direct install. The pipes, and the hangers are in identical places, but there were a couple of concessions I had to make:

rear (muffler) hanger brackets had to be re-used from the M50i.... they are shorter, because the M50i muffler hangs lower.

Almost the entire undersidenof the car (including chassis braces, and center chassis mount) had to be removed for removal & installation
(AKA.... it was a LOT of unexpected work)

exhaust bezel removal was more of a PITA than the rest of the underside of the car.

Much of the plastic.behind the OEM exhaust bezels had to be removed.

Much of the under-trunk (above muffler) heat shielding had to be removed to make space for the (higher-sitting) X5M muffler.

On a positive note though;

Pipes, hangers, and even the X5M flapper valve motors/electronics were all a direct fit. So, that helped a little.

[Ninefourteener]

Powder coater just messaged me. They are ready!

[Ninefourteener]

Rear BBK all finished...... front X5M 6-pistons refinished in red. Wheels re-powdercoated in satin black.

And..... the suspension back down where it belongs.

Thanks to @dentprotony@gmail.com for the rear BBK

[PNWM50I]

Welcome to the Satin black club. Looking sharp!

[Ninefourteener]

First day in Belgium that got well into the 70s (Farenheit).

Cleaning up all my toys for a short, but enjoyable Summer.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

First day in Belgium that got well into the 70s (Farenheit).

Cleaning up all my toys for a short, but enjoyable Summer.

Now that's quite a collection of toys! Summer in Belgium...July and August just like Cleveland.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by LDT

Now that's quite a collection of toys! Summer in Belgium...July and August just like Cleveland.

CLEVELAND!?!? Oh boy.... I thought my winters were long.

It doesn't get that "cold" here. Not nearly as cold as Cleveland. It does however... rain.... for about 8 months straight. Every day. All day. non-stop.

The worst part, is that we'll go months without ever seeing the sun, because of constant grey cloud cover.

I'm strictly a "warm-weather rider", and the 4C never gets taken out unless it's 100% dry.

So.... consequently, I own 4 vehicles, and 3 of them share usage only 3 months out of the year.

I miss Florida.

[Ninefourteener]

Now that I've decided to keep the car, I figure I might as well do the "lifetime" service from BMW..... but that literally EVERY expert recommends doing at 50k miles. I have just under 60k miles...... so let's get it done.

Engine oil (Royal Purple 10w40)
Engine oil filter
Transfer case fluid (BMW DTF-1)
Front diff fluid (Royal Purple 75w90)
Rear diff fluid (Royal Purple 75w90)
Transmission pan + filter
Transmission fluid (Liqui-Moly ATF 1800)

[Ninefourteener]

transfer case fluid, location, and the tool I needed to get to it. Had to reach over the cross member. Tight squeeze.

[Ninefourteener]

front diff..... has a drain plug AND a fill plug. Nice. Fill plug had to be reached by going through the wheel well, but not too bad.

[Ninefourteener]

rear diff.... only has one plug. Fluid has to be sucked out, and pumped back in. Special tool ordered online - an absolute necessity.

[Ninefourteener]

And the transmission pan and filter out (it's one unit).... new one back in.

It only took 3 liters, so I:

a) ran it up to operating temp.
b) shifted through all the gears
c) drained the pan AGAIN.
d) Refilled the pan w/ 3 liters
e) ran it to operating temp
f) went through all the gears
g) Left it RUNNING
h) added another 1.25 liters to top it off.
i) buttoned it all back up again.

[Ninefourteener]

And..... the mileage. 96k Kilometers.... whichbis just under 60k miles.

[Ninefourteener]

Wow..... all that money I spent having my rims professionally restored and re-powdercoated...... lasted 1 month before another pothole dented the front, and cracked the rear.

.... Again. F-ing Belgium.

For the 4th time.

Back on my stockers...... again.