[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Jrunr

When you do the subwoofer mod, can you please post that process here. I really want to add one to my 40i, but I keep hearing about how complicated it is..

I will. I'm learning as I go. I've never built one yet, but I've watched a ton of videos, and have all the fiberglass to get started. I haven't bought the hardware yet, but I'm thinking I'll most likely go with an 8" sub and a 500w mono amp.

Still need to finish my Coyote mount. It fit perfectly, but then I put too many layers of epoxy resin on it to get it shiny.... and then my coyote wouldn't fit.... derp. I cracked it trying to jam it in there
Fixed, and now waiting another 3 days for it to dry. Then I'll carve enough away with a dremel to get it to fit right. More to follow.

I'll definitely document the sub build once I get started.

[Ninefourteener]

Welp..... it works. Not my best work, definitely not my prettiest work..... but it's functional, and quite frankly, I'm kinda tired of messing with it.

I absolutely, brutally hate.... with the utmost of passions.... random "wires" hanging to various devices, plugged in to various outlets, attached to various accessories, hanging from various windshields, A/C vents, etc. Perhaps it is my OCD speaking, but I'd rather not have it at all.

Coyote speed camera detection device. Worth it's weight in gold. Works FAR better than Waze, a radar detector, or anything else I've found. So how do I mount it, and wire it... PERMANENTLY in the car, so it isn't visible from the side (it's illegal in Germany), isn't obstructing an A/C vent, and is still visible from the driver's seat?

You design a mount, make it out of clay, mold it into a large block of silicone, and then fill said silicone mold with black dyed epoxy resin. Mount it with double sided sticky tape, and then hardwire it into the fusebox with a voltage reducer.

Again.... not the prettiest.... but it's my first time ever doing anything like this. It works. Go easy on me... lol

[Ninefourteener]

Soooo...... this morning was arguably, the foggiest morning I've ever come across in the 2 years I've been in Belgium. The initial plan was to just skip the rear foglight requirement, because we'd be gone before the car was ever due for an inspection...

But recently, circumstances changed, and we've decided to stay the full 5 years, and probably even extend a couple years.

Which means.... I had to bite the bullet.

Just spent $120 on a used headlight switch (with rear foglight button) from Bulgaria....... and a Pair of left and right rear foglight assemblies for another $250 from Latvia.

Is the wiring pre-installed from the factory? No one knows.
Will the switch work once everything is installed without coding? No one knows.

But we will soon. More to follow.

[Ninefourteener]

Custom made 3" double H-pipe, with cross sections 12" apart from one another. Resonator delete.

Happy with tone. Very rumbly and low.
No crackles or pops (I hate that)
Zero drone whatsoever

I wish it were a "little" more volume. I didn't want "obnoxiously" loud. I just wanted "healthier". I did get a bit more volume, but not as much as I'd hoped. I definitely got the "healthier" tone I was looking for though.

Overall very happy

[Ninefourteener]

[bforbrian]

That sounds beastly!!

[TomCat6065]

Matt, Great work...sounds fantastic.

[Dr. Jekyll]

Did I miss how you painted your calipers?

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jekyll

Did I miss how you painted your calipers?

I did. I had every intention of disassembling them and taking them to a powder coater..... only to learn that I'm in Belgium, the closest powdercoater was 2.5 hours away, and would need the calipers for a WEEK. The last calipers I had powder coated in the US were back in my hands in under 24 hours.

If this stuff doesn't work.... I'll rent a car for a week, put the X5 up on stands, and just do it. But..... so far, I must admit, I'm pretty impressed. They've withstood 135+ mph braking on the autobahn and still look great.

After a ton of research, I went with the G2 system. It's not a "paint".... it's actually a dyed high-temp epoxy. It's more difficult and slow to use than paint, but the finish is phenomenal..... so long as you do the prep work properly. With a new car, it's easy.

With old, rusty calipers.... they would need to be sandblasted. I wouldn't have used this stuff if that were the case.

[Ninefourteener]

And the process of retrofitting rear foglights begins.

First part arrived today

[Ninefourteener]

And.... parts 2 and 3.

I really hope this works ok.
I really hope the wires are re-installed from BMW
I really hope I don't have to have them coded.
I really hope I didn't just waste a ton of money.... lol

[Ninefourteener]

I mean..... sometimes it's ok to splurge, right?

OEM F95 X5M 6-piston calipers, drilled rotors, and pads on their way from Poland

[TomCat6065]

You've done a lot in a short period of time!

[Ninefourteener]

Looking for some help, pictures, video, advice, etc..... from European or Australian X5 owners.

Please watch. Gotta figure out this rear foglight thing.

[Ninefourteener]

Hey look! The sun is out in Belgium!! LOL

[bforbrian]

Car looks great! Is that loading mode with the lowering links?

[Alan l.]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

Hey look! The sun is out in Belgium!! LOL

Dayam! That looks awesome.

I almost feel like you need to redo the side stripe where the grey portion should be gold tone instead of grey to flow with the wheels/calipers.

This thread reminds me of my F15 build thread. Sadly nothing is available for the F95 so mine is still bone stock at the moment which has never happened before lol.

Alan

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by bforbrian

Car looks great! Is that loading mode with the lowering links?

Thanks. Yes. I'm going to go about 10mm lower with it.... just haven't had a day with no rain. Belgian weather sucks.

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Dayam! That looks awesome.

I almost feel like you need to redo the side stripe where the grey portion should be gold tone instead of grey to flow with the wheels/calipers.

This thread reminds me of my F15 build thread. Sadly nothing is available for the F95 so mine is still bone stock at the moment which has never happened before lol.

Alan

Trust me...... I'm just as eager for F95 aftermarket parts to be released as you are. Many of them will be direct fit for my car.

I did manage to pick up a set of F95 front 6-piston brakes recently. They should arrive next week, and I'm excited about installing them.

And one of these days..... a reputable company will make a rear BBK that is compatible with our EPB. Still waiting though. I don't trust D2 and Ksport.

[bforbrian]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

Thanks. Yes. I'm going to go about 10mm lower with it.... just haven't had a day with no rain. Belgian weather sucks.

I was going to say! It looks like the stock load height, maybe even a bit higher...

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by bforbrian

I was going to say! It looks like the stock load height, maybe even a bit higher...

No, its 1/2 inch lower in the front, and 1 inch lower in the back.

[Ninefourteener]

If there was ever a vehicular version of "jizzing in your pants"..... this is it.

Drilled X5M rotors arrived (which are only a moderate 10mm taller, and a few mm thicker.)

But...... the 6-piston X5M calipers also arrived.... which are MUCH bigger than I expected them to be.

New M decals arrived today. The new gold epoxy paint should be arriving soon. Stupid excited to get these installed. I think it will make a dramatic impact to the vehicle.

Oh..... and it'll likely help it stop a bit better too.... lol.

[bforbrian]

Wow that's gonna look superb! Where did you source the calipers and rotors?