[YKHong]

First post here!

I recently bought a CPO X5 and decided to...
- Chrome delete
- Black out grille (double kidney)
- Tint (70% front)/(20% sides)

I am attaching before and after pictures for anyone who would like to make this transition as well.

Last thing I need is... tires. Thoughts and advice on the below?

Option 1: Powder coat my factory 19" Style 734 Wheels to Gloss Black. Will probably run me around $600 to powder coat locally.

Option 2: Upgrade to 20" wheels and tires. If so, do I go gunmetal grey or gloss black? Will probably run me around $4k.

Any pictures from the community with mods would be helpful!

[fan25]

Definitely go with 20” and black if financially permitted. The bigger, the better

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by fan25

Definitely go with 20” and black if financially permitted. The bigger, the better

Thanks for the reply. Would you say 21" over 20"? Assuming yes since you said bigger the better

Any recs on wheel color? To match blackout theme.

[shawnchan2014]

Did you do Vinyl wrap for chrome delete? How much did it cost for you to do that?

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by shawnchan2014

Did you do Vinyl wrap for chrome delete? How much did it cost for you to do that?

Yeah chrome delete was vinyl wrapped - cost me $825 at a shop in Maryland.

[fan25]

Originally Posted by YKHong

Thanks for the reply. Would you say 21" over 20"? Assuming yes since you said bigger the better

Any recs on wheel color? To match blackout theme.

Definitely go with 21”, the downsize is the tires are hard to find when you need replacement.

About color: I’ll say gloss black since you already got everything in black

[doublezero]

I purposefully got the 20" M Sport wheels to have better and cheaper choices for all season tires. I think those stock wheels will look good blacked out. Personally, I'd not do a gloss, but a satin. It's just too hard to keep clean and look good due to brake dust. If you have the time and love washing vehicles, then go for it. But I have powdercoated wheels (not an X5) a black satin and love the look. Especially if you don't paint the wheelwell trim. If you go gloss black wheels, then I'd paint the wheel well trim as well. I like the look on a sporty suv but not a lux suv. All personal pref of course. Nice job!!

[Keyser Soze]

IMO, Save your money, keep the 19's and have them powdercoated gloss dark grey.

Also, did you have the other silver bits wrapped or painted? what about the rear exhaust ports?

[zgb2008]

Just got done doing the same thing to my X-Line. I was bored so decided to teach myself how to do the vinyl wrap and tint. Still want to do the roof racks and reflectors.

I am asking myself same question as far as wheels, have you looked at the BMW replica on ebay? I am leaning towards that route and keep the 20s as a winter wheel.

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by fan25

Definitely go with 21”, the downsize is the tires are hard to find when you need replacement.

About color: I’ll say gloss black since you already got everything in black

My man. I think I just needed to hear it from another person too. My friend also suggested 21” and I decided to go with it. Will post pics in the next few weeks once wheels come in! Thanks for your advice here.

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

IMO, Save your money, keep the 19's and have them powdercoated gloss dark grey.

Also, did you have the other silver bits wrapped or painted? what about the rear exhaust ports?

Had all the chrome wrapped, no paint work.

Exhaust tips could not be wrapped since the heat from the exhaust would mess it up. Thinking about buying gloss black tips to replace, or maybe have a shop paint them if they can.

Actually ended up ordering 21” gloss black wheels the other day. I’ll respond to another persons message with pics!

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by zgb2008

Just got done doing the same thing to my X-Line. I was bored so decided to teach myself how to do the vinyl wrap and tint. Still want to do the roof racks and reflectors.

I am asking myself same question as far as wheels, have you looked at the BMW replica on ebay? I am leaning towards that route and keep the 20s as a winter wheel.

Great work on the wrap and tints, probably saved a lot of money. Did you wrap the vent “teeth” that show through the grille? That part bothers me a bit so I was thinking about wrapping those bits myself.

Wheels - Funny you ask, I actually just ordered the “reps” from eBay. I don’t know if you’re referring to these but just ordered. Tire options are limited… but they are there, just expensive. I’m looking at a staggered set up for ~$1.8k for all four tires.

Wheels ~ $1.8k as well. I’m thinking I should’ve gotten an M sport at this price point but I think they’re still way more (plus insurance, maintence, gas) 😅

[fan25]

Originally Posted by YKHong

My man. I think I just needed to hear it from another person too. My friend also suggested 21” and I decided to go with it. Will post pics in the next few weeks once wheels come in! Thanks for your advice here.

If you are in the snowy area, and condition permitted, you can keep the 19 and wrap them with snow tires for winter, cuz 21” tires are scarce and they always in back-ordered.

[zgb2008]

Thanks! It was seriously tedious to learn all of it but I think it turned out ok. By no means professional looking but most people could never tell.

I did wrap the active shutters, it was pretty easy since they are barely seen anyway. Been debating on removing them to expose the intercooler but just ordered JB4, DP and CAI so going to refrain from a ton of mods at once that could screw with the CEL.

I love those rims for the price. Anxiously waiting to see them in to help me decide on rims or spacers.

Are you planning on dropping it at all?

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by zgb2008

Thanks! It was seriously tedious to learn all of it but I think it turned out ok. By no means professional looking but most people could never tell.

I did wrap the active shutters, it was pretty easy since they are barely seen anyway. Been debating on removing them to expose the intercooler but just ordered JB4, DP and CAI so going to refrain from a ton of mods at once that could screw with the CEL.

I love those rims for the price. Anxiously waiting to see them in to help me decide on rims or spacers.

Are you planning on dropping it at all?

Have you tried wrapping the roof rails?

I’ll post a picture of them when they are on my car so you can decide.

When you say you want to remove the wrap on the shutters to expose the inter cooler, wouldn’t the wrap not even affect the cooler though? Since it’s just on the flat side of the shutter.

[johnkriti]

Wow just posted about body kits on the forum. I have the same x5. Where can I start to chrome delete mine!?

[sharkymcpeterson]

Not sure if anyone mentioned but the front side and rear orange markers can be vinyl wrapped/deleted. It’s a must.

Also-I ordered reps from the guy you ordered those x5m wheels. I got a set of 742’s. Word of caution, one of the wheels he sent me was out of round and had to be replaced. You’ll also need to buy the little “M” emblem stickers off a vendor on eBay for the wheels once they come in. The wheels are baked without that little M on there.

Looks awesome, good luck!

[JK479]

Originally Posted by YKHong

First post here!

I recently bought a CPO X5 and decided to...
- Chrome delete
- Black out grille (double kidney)
- Tint (70% front)/(20% sides)

I am attaching before and after pictures for anyone who would like to make this transition as well.

Last thing I need is... tires. Thoughts and advice on the below?

Option 1: Powder coat my factory 19" Style 734 Wheels to Gloss Black. Will probably run me around $600 to powder coat locally.

Option 2: Upgrade to 20" wheels and tires. If so, do I go gunmetal grey or gloss black? Will probably run me around $4k.

Any pictures from the community with mods would be helpful!

I’m in the minority; keep 19’s and go with that m specific bronze. Match the kidneys. It’s so elegant.

[YKHong]

Originally Posted by sharkymcpeterson

Not sure if anyone mentioned but the front side and rear orange markers can be vinyl wrapped/deleted. It’s a must.

Also-I ordered reps from the guy you ordered those x5m wheels. I got a set of 742’s. Word of caution, one of the wheels he sent me was out of round and had to be replaced. You’ll also need to buy the little “M” emblem stickers off a vendor on eBay for the wheels once they come in. The wheels are baked without that little M on there.

Looks awesome, good luck!

Thanks for the heads up but what did you mean the wheel was out of round? Other than that no problems?

[JK479]

Originally Posted by YKHong

Thanks for the heads up but what did you mean the wheel was out of round? Other than that no problems?

Bent rim?

[sharkymcpeterson]

Originally Posted by YKHong

Thanks for the heads up but what did you mean the wheel was out of round? Other than that no problems?

The wheel wasn’t perfectly round to the point that the tire shop couldn’t balance the wheel even with excessive amounts of those little weights they stick on to help. The tire shop will know what’s up if there’s a problem they’ll let you know.
Here’s a few pics for reference on the side markers-

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by YKHong

Yeah chrome delete was vinyl wrapped - cost me $825 at a shop in Maryland.

nice! please let me know which shop you used.

i just bought a new 2023 G05 in phytonic blue with M sport package...and what's really annoying is that the factory shadowline trim that's included with that package does NOT include the front grill nor the exhaust tips.

i'm starting to look at options for replacing the grill and tips with gloss black...of course M performance options mean dropping a cool grand.