[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

Sooooo..... I'm feeling pretty lucky today. One of the things I hate about my car is the way the trailer hitch "stands out" so much, totally interrupting the lines of the car. It's an ugly black "hole" behind a white diffuser panel.

Of course.... mperformance (or anyone else) doesn't make a carbon diffuser for a g05 with a trailer hitch. Plus, I don't really like the look of large carbon pieces anyway.

Low and behold..... after a random ebay search..... I come across a brand new OEM gloss black diffuser..... complete with cutouts for a trailer hitch. The price? A whopping $30 plus $30 shipping.... lol.

From Vilnius, Lithuania of all places. Bizarre.

I think it's going to clean up the back.of my car nicely. It'll match the shadowline trim.... the lip spoiler I just installed
... and I think it'll give the rear end a much more aggressive look..... and hide the trailer hitch.... at least a little.

Pics when it arrives and I get it installed

Link?

[Ninefourteener]

Haven't been around much lately...... The K-bike cafe racer took up a year of my time...... and then I bought the Alfa 4C..... which takes up most of my time now.

But...... the wife just jumped on board with her first BMW..... and yes, the color combo she chose was very intentional

Added a 2023 X1 M-sport to the stable today. In case anyone cares:

Alpine white
Shadowline
20" M wheels
Red interior
Executive pack
Harman Kardon

[boneca]

congrats, they look great side by side!

nice house u got there but that steep driveway OMG

[mad villain]

Nice addition! How have you/your wife enjoyed the X1 so far!? My wife has an F48 and I love how the new X1 looks. Seems like it’s now a good size (I find the f48 on the small side after getting my X5) and I love the new styling!
That being said I’m always hesitate to get the first year of a redesign.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by mad villain

Nice addition! How have you/your wife enjoyed the X1 so far!? My wife has an F48 and I love how the new X1 looks. Seems like it’s now a good size (I find the f48 on the small side after getting my X5) and I love the new styling!
That being said I’m always hesitate to get the first year of a redesign.

Thanks! I mean, we picked it up in Germany (US military auto sales, US spec car), and drove it back to Belgium..... so we only have about 4 hours of "seat time".... but, so far, so good. I like it.

We averaged 32mpg on the highway, rides smooth, plenty of power (for what it is, of course)..... and the new 2023 X1s, are actually the same size as last year's X3. They have grown a LOT in size.

The Harman Kardon impressed me to pieces. It's a necessary upgrade. I'm really pleased with the Eucalyptus dash inserts (only $300 upgrade, and worth every penny).... and the 20" wheels fit the car perfectly. The standard smaller sizes don't fit right (IMO)

I don't like the new exterior door handles.... and I don't like the fact it doesn't have a dipstick. But everything else, I'm quite happy with.

And.... unlike most internet reviews..... the new "touchscreen only" Idrive, is quite easy to use, very intuitive, and we had it 100% figured out withing 2 hours. Everyone complains about the lack of buttons - didn't bother me at all.

[bizfiend]

Nice build. I thought only north American builds include front orange side markers, do the European builds come with it now too?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

Nice build. I thought only north American builds include front orange side markers, do the European builds come with it now too?

He has a US spec vehicle, American stationed in Belgium.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

Nice build. I thought only north American builds include front orange side markers, do the European builds come with it now too?

THANKS!!!!!

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

He has a US spec vehicle, American stationed in Belgium.

Correct - All my vehicles are US Spec:
2020 BMW X5 M50i
2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
2023 BMW X1
2017 Indian Chieftain

I also have a EUROPEAN spec 1990 BMW K-100, that I built into a cafe racer over the Pandemic. The ONLY reason i was willing to buy a European vehicle.... is because "whenever" I rotate back to the USA, I cannot bring a Euro spec vehicle with me, unless it is over 25 years old.

I don't know when I'll rotate back. My wife and I have already decided we'll stay here as long as they let us. But "eventually" the US Government will force us to come back home. At that point, I need to be able to take all my vehicles back with me. If I had a Euro-spec car vehicle that was less than 25 years old, I'd be forced to sell it before I leave.

[alexnk7]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

Been away for awhile.... focusing on a 1991 BMW K100 cafe racer build.

Thought I'd show off my new "beefy" tires.

Belgian 3rd world roads..... hit a BAD pothole.... dented the front rim, cracked the rear rim.... and had the front tire literally EXPLODE (sidewall blew out like a gunshot).

So..... beefier tires it is.... at least until I move to a country that doesn't have roads worse than war-torn afghanstan.

Hi. Are the front wheels not touching the wheel arches or levers? Send more photos with these wheels, please, I also want such tires.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by alexnk7

Hi. Are the front wheels not touching the wheel arches or levers? Send more photos with these wheels, please, I also want such tires.

Honestly... yes, I do have a little bit of rubbing. I never intended to buy tires this "tall". I bought them out of necessity.

I've been "thinking" about buying an OEM-sized set of 22" tires. The Continental sport-contact brand measures out wider than all other brands.... I'm still not 100% sure if they will fit though. They may be a bit too "stretched".

Or, I may just go back to the low profile tires again. I've since found a guy locally that does wheel repair and wheel refinishing pretty cheap.

[91Eunos]

I was wondering if you were getting ready to rotate back to the ‘Staes when I saw the QQ plates on the X1…. But I guess you were ‘exporting’ in to Belgium; ergo the temporary shipping plates.

Had those on my Cayman as well as my wife’s LR3 when we moved back here …holy crap, 12 years ago now! Seems like just yesterday we were enjoying life in Germany; been retired 8 years now.

Those QQ plates saved us a lot in tolls with the camera-based billing system the first couple months back in the US too! LoL

Enjoy your time over there man, it goes by fast!

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by 91Eunos

I was wondering if you were getting ready to rotate back to the ‘Staes when I saw the QQ plates on the X1…. But I guess you were ‘exporting’ in to Belgium; ergo the temporary shipping plates.

Had those on my Cayman as well as my wife’s LR3 when we moved back here …holy crap, 12 years ago now! Seems like just yesterday we were enjoying life in Germany; been retired 8 years now.

Those QQ plates saved us a lot in tolls with the camera-based billing system the first couple months back in the US too! LoL

Enjoy your time over there man, it goes by fast!

It's a "little" different now... the German "QQ" plates are only good for 30 or 60 days.... and it's just enough to get the car from Germany back to Belgium... register the car in Belgium... and then wait a couple weeks for the Belgian plates to arrive in the mail.

Once the Belgian plates arrive.... those QQ plates g up on the wall in the garage.

Thanks! We've been here over 5 years now.... and have no intention of coming back to the USA... but we have to be prepared to, because one day they will "force" us to come back.

We're here for at least a couple more years.

I'm actually getting ready to trade in my car... on an X7.

[Ninefourteener]

March 1st, 2024..... 4 years later.....

The X5 was converted back to stock, to trade it in on an X7..... and plans change. I decided to keep the car.

Which allows me to "redesign" it..... and go a different direction with it.

First step? Something I've wanted to do a long time..... I'm goingbto retrofit an OEM X5M exhaust. The exhaust shrouds will be removed, and the quad tailpipes will fit snug inside the hole.

Just bought the exhaust today..... once it arrives, more updates coming.

[PNWM50I]

it’s a great vehicle. Looking forward to your exhaust results!

[Ninefourteener]

I have an idea..... Let's be the first person to retrofit a full blown X5M exhaust system..... onto a standard X5.

First step...... find an exhaust from a wrecked car.

Second step..... buy it, and have it delivered to the house.

Third step..... watch the delivery guy take out road signs because he can't drive.... or he's drunk..... or both.

Fourth step.... question why in the F I decided to do this.

[PNWM50I]

[Ninefourteener]

Looking Lookie Lookie what else is now officially paid for, and on it's way to my home.

Rear 4-piston dual-caliper big brake kit.

Many thanks to dentprotony@gmail.com

Front 6-pistons have already been refinished in red.

Rear F90 M5 drilled rotors for this kit already arrived.

22" wheels go in for satin black powdercoat in 2 weeks.

It's like I'm starting all over.

What to do first? The exhaust? Or the new brakes?

[Alan l.]

Very nice. Curious to know if you actually feel any difference with the upgraded rear setup.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Very nice. Curious to know if you actually feel any difference with the upgraded rear setup.

I felt absolutely zero when I upgraded from 4 to6 piston front brakes over 2 years ago.

Honestly.... I doubt it. They are going to look crazy-good though.

Maybe I'll get lucky? Maybe I will notice a difference?

That's not why I bought them though.

[PNWM50I]

I am waiting to see if the exhaust valve controller function on the OEM F95 exhaust works with the M50i settings before I purchase a Dinan setup. I know the Ms have an exhaust button in the lower center console area but our M50s can only adjust via setting “engine” sounds or sport mode.Let me know if it does once you’ve got in it in (assuming you’re going to try and retain this function).

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by PNWM50I

I am waiting to see if the exhaust valve controller function on the OEM F95 exhaust works with the M50i settings before I purchase a Dinan setup. I know the Ms have an exhaust button in the lower center console area but our M50s can only adjust via setting “engine” sounds or sport mode.Let me know if it does once you’ve got in it in (assuming you’re going to try and retain this function).

I am going to "try" to maintain the function..... and I'm about 90% certain it will work. You make a valid point, that the X5Ms had an exhaust button..... but that "shouldn't" affect the operation of the valves...

........ I think???

We'll find out soon enough. I have a 4-day break from work coming up.... and I think I'm going to try to tackle to exhaust before I do the new brakes...... because I'm still waiting on my wheels to get back from powdercoat.

For now..... It's propped up against a wall in my garage..... just waiting for a convenient day to do the installation.

I'll document the entire process, for sure.

[Hmarga98]

Was it ever figured out how to install the rear fog lights?