[Paladin1]

Would be glad to post, but it seems to take longer to produce and ship a BMW from Spartanburg than it did to produce and ship an Audi from Ingolstadt....

[BayAreaBimmers]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

Would be glad to post, but it seems to take longer to produce and ship a BMW from Spartanburg than it did to produce and ship an Audi from Ingolstadt....

Haha I know the feeling...sitting here like

(Not pictured: spacers and CF mirrors)

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by BayAreaBimmers

Haha I know the feeling...sitting here like

(Not pictured: spacers and CF mirrors)

Will you be gathering pics and how too install all those when you perform the work?

[BayAreaBimmers]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Will you be gathering pics and how too install all those when you perform the work?

If it's helpful...I'll just be using some YouTube help myself I think...the exhaust tips are the only one I feel a little nervous about.

My wife walked in with everything on the floor and told me I should start a DIY channel...DI why not?

If I can do it, anyone can....

[bizfiend]

Originally Posted by Ken6096

Just got carbon fiber mirror cap and installed it today

What brand rims are those and are they 22".
Did you use the stock tires on these rims.

[BayAreaBimmers]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

What brand rims are those and are they 22".
Did you use the stock tires on these rims.

He's got Rohana 22's with the recommended/stock pirelli P Zero's on it. If you go to his profile, he has several other pictures in posts that he's added

[LexxM3]

Sometimes light cooperates ...

[gray_speedster]

Originally Posted by BayAreaBimmers

Haha I know the feeling...sitting here like

(Not pictured: spacers and CF mirrors)

I tried the color matched reflectors on mine and ended up taking them off again. They just looked out of place with the cut out. I found that the bumpers are first sprayed and then the cut out for the reflectors are made so you will get a light gray line around the reflector. I would recommend you buy some touchup paint and after taking the reflectors off, paint the exposed gray plastic so that when you put the color matched ones on they blend in without the outline. Just a suggestion based on what I saw on mine.

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by gray_speedster

I tried the color matched reflectors on mine and ended up taking them off again. They just looked out of place with the cut out. I found that the bumpers are first sprayed and then the cut out for the reflectors are made so you will get a light gray line around the reflector. I would recommend you buy some touchup paint and after taking the reflectors off, paint the exposed gray plastic so that when you put the color matched ones on they blend in without the outline. Just a suggestion based on what I saw on mine.

Agreed!

The color matched reflectors always looked out of place to me, not just on the X5 but many over on the R8 forum have done the same and I never liked the look.

That's why I put a light smoke film on the orange reflectors and it looks great on all colors. Its the most "OEM look" while hiding 90% of the orange out.

[BayAreaBimmers]

gray_speedster where did you find Mineral White touch up paint? I've had MW BMW's for 4 years and haven't found a good one at all...

SlammedR8 2 questions for you there, as I like this as an option, but really want the orange gone — when this film was added — were the reflectors removed from the bumper? Which film did you use and would you recommend it?

Edit to add — I wish I had the euro look, but hearing the feedback — I know there will either be a slight gap or some orange unless I use a very dark film...my thought process was to use the IND markers and get a film for them, so that they are distinguished from the car/not meant to be perfect, so the color is also somewhat different, but still a Mineral White base to it

[gray_speedster]

Originally Posted by BayAreaBimmers

gray_speedster where did you find Mineral White touch up paint? I've had MW BMW's for 4 years and haven't found a good one at all...

SlammedR8 2 questions for you there, as I like this as an option, but really want the orange gone — when this film was added — were the reflectors removed from the bumper? Which film did you use and would you recommend it?

Edit to add — I wish I had the euro look, but hearing the feedback — I know there will either be a slight gap or some orange unless I use a very dark film...my thought process was to use the IND markers and get a film for them, so that they are distinguished from the car/not meant to be perfect, so the color is also somewhat different, but still a Mineral White base to it

I have used https://touchupdirect.com before. The touchup wont be in your face noticeable and more of a way to blend the light gray plastic where the marker was cut out with the bumper better so that the outline is masked better. It will all really come down to how OCD you are about things and that was what ultimately made me put the orange ones back. A cleaner look in my eyes. But everyone has different tastes. Just wanted to give you a heads up since it will likely be more noticeable with mineral white paint.

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by BayAreaBimmers

SlammedR8 2 questions for you there, as I like this as an option, but really want the orange gone — when this film was added — were the reflectors removed from the bumper? Which film did you use and would you recommend it?

Edit to add — I wish I had the euro look, but hearing the feedback — I know there will either be a slight gap or some orange unless I use a very dark film...my thought process was to use the IND markers and get a film for them, so that they are distinguished from the car/not meant to be perfect, so the color is also somewhat different, but still a Mineral White base to it

I actually did it myself...I have no experience besides doing this to a few other cars I've owned over the years. I did not remove it as you don't have to, I cut out a large piece of film, I place it over the reflector and then with an exacto knife I traced the shape of the reflector perfectly because of that gap you speak of. It doesn't scratch the car or anything. It's actually quite easy and satisfying!

I purchased "Light Smoke Film" on amazon. But they have dark smoke as well. Actually, I can show you how it looks on Mineral White F15. I did my sister in law's X5 last year and looks great IMO. I actually don't mind the really dark orange look because from a far distance, it looks black but when you get up close it just looks like dark orange.

My personal opinion on your IND idea. Either do MW and leave it as MW. But don't try and make the color NOT match as that will just look like something went wrong IMO.

PS I also did my 2 rear reflectors in the light smoke to match the G05's dark themed taillights. (DISCLAIMER: The first time didn't come out good because I did them on the car, then I realized how easy it is to remove the rear reflectors so I popped them out and re-did them perfectly. So disregard the bubbles you see below)

[martinf79]

Originally Posted by gray_speedster

I tried the color matched reflectors on mine and ended up taking them off again. They just looked out of place with the cut out. I found that the bumpers are first sprayed and then the cut out for the reflectors are made so you will get a light gray line around the reflector. I would recommend you buy some touchup paint and after taking the reflectors off, paint the exposed gray plastic so that when you put the color matched ones on they blend in without the outline. Just a suggestion based on what I saw on mine.

Can anyone else comment on this. I removed the reflectors on my 335i in standard white, and never noticed any difference when I replaced them w the painted IND ones. Its literally the same part/size being swapped out, so not sure why any cosmetic difference would show?

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by martinf79

Can anyone else comment on this. I removed the reflectors on my 335i in standard white, and never noticed any difference when I replaced them w the painted IND ones. Its literally the same part/size being swapped out, so not sure why any cosmetic difference would show?

I think they mean it doesn't create a smooth body panel look as if it was always to be that way... Instead it shows the shape of the part and in some opinions it makes it stand out instead of blend in....

[martinf79]

Originally Posted by Tenac

I think they mean it doesn't create a smooth body panel look as if it was always to be that way... Instead it shows the shape of the part and in some opinions it makes it stand out instead of blend in....

I thought they said "you will get a light gray line around the reflector". I haven't seen that historically on other cars.

[gray_speedster]

Originally Posted by martinf79

I thought they said "you will get a light gray line around the reflector". I haven't seen that historically on other cars.

Both correct on this. It stood out too much for my linking. I have arctic gray paint on mine and after I had the IND reflectors in place, I was able to see the outline too much along with the light gray plastic color from where the painted bumper was cut out. It only showed at certain angles. Part of it might have also be my OCD and the non-uniformity of the area after.

[BayAreaBimmers]

I think what I'll do is try tinting the part that's on the car. If I like that look, great. If not, I'll pull them off and just pop in the color match ones (but not permanently adhere) and see if I like the fitment/look. If that doesn't look right, I'll lay some film over the IND and see if I like that... if that doesn't work, the car is totally ruined I'd think? Time to move to Europe and get a new life so I can get the reflectorless car...my family will understand.

[Aimster82]

Originally Posted by SlammedR8

Agreed!

The color matched reflectors always looked out of place to me, not just on the X5 but many over on the R8 forum have done the same and I never liked the look.

That's why I put a light smoke film on the orange reflectors and it looks great on all colors. Its the most "OEM look" while hiding 90% of the orange out.

What wax/polish did you use? Your car is shining

[BimmerVinyl]

^

[Pablo]

Initial impressions: Extremely quiet interior, comfortable seats, smoooooth transmission, user-friendly iDrive. This vehicle is infinitely more refined than my outgoing E70 X5, which was a fantastic vehicle in its own right, albeit brutish by comparison.

[BimmerVinyl]

Originally Posted by Pablo

Initial impressions: Extremely quiet interior, comfortable seats, smoooooth transmission, user-friendly iDrive. This vehicle is infinitely more refined than my outgoing E70 X5, which was a fantastic vehicle in its own right, albeit brutish by comparison.

Beautiful car

[BayAreaBimmers]

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone in this thread and all the X5ers on Bimmerpost for information and inspiration — took delivery this weekend. First mod out of the way, got rid of its braces and swapped out the new grille