[cjallstar]

Hey guys,
Just took delivery of a '17 X3 35i M and it is gorgeous in Carbon black. I want to do something about those silly chrome faux turn signals in the front fenders. Has anyone ever done anything to these? I ideally would like to find a set in my car's color, but was otherwise thinking of just having them wrapped in a gloss black vinyl, not ideal but better than chrome. Thoughts?

[smytw]

Hi,
I painted mine in flat black 2 days after purchasing my '15 X3.
Easy removal from fender. Sanded with 1500 grit to take the shine off.. gray primer and 2 coats of flat black. I dont like chrome.. did the chrome around the windows the same way.. but used gloss black instead

[Scout10]

or i wonder if the side marker assembly is available in U.S. or only in UK?
And does the U.S. elec harness have plugs for the side markers?
>
or back to black.

[smytw]

No elec wires on my side markers.. just the hole and the chrome "covers".. now flat black

[Scout10]

Originally Posted by smytw

No elec wires on my side markers.. just the hole and the chrome "covers".. now flat black

chances are the If the u.s. harness did have wires to side markers
they would not be sitting next to the fender hole. They would be
wrapped / secured to a near by harness.
It would be a long shot on them using the same harness, but then
we don't have side markers and yet there are hole for them ?

[smytw]

Must be one of those corporate decisions..

Lets see what is cheaper on us and we can still sell for the same price to US Customers.. fabricate a "World" and an "USA" electrical harness.. or change the programming on our CNC machines so that it cuts the whole based on vehicle region...

... then again, the harness is complete for the operation of the Euro rear Fog Lights (just a matter of swapping the dash switch to operate here in USA).. so you are probably right.. the harness might be complete.. just a matter to search for the cable end tied somewhere near the hole perhaps.

[Barbera335]

I believe all X3s no matter what country they are sold in have the turn signal repeater in the mirror and not the fender. This change was made during the LCI for the 2015 model year. It is expensive to create new stamping dies for the fenders without the turn signal hole so they created the chintzy chrome cover instead. If it were me, I would weld up the hole and repaint the fender, that way it would be like they never existed. Luckily, my 2011 has the turn signal repeater in the fender.

[Lurcher]

Another option would be to get earlier blinker and have 2 on each side (mirror & fender)

[CalCarNut]

Funny, I'd rather have the repeater in the mirror. Wife's 2012 has them on the fenders, so no ugly chrome slug there. I wonder if I can retrofit a new mirror setup and have both?

[///MPECABL]

Originally Posted by smytw

Hi,
I painted mine in flat black 2 days after purchasing my '15 X3.
Easy removal from fender. Sanded with 1500 grit to take the shine off.. gray primer and 2 coats of flat black. I dont like chrome.. did the chrome around the windows the same way.. but used gloss black instead

How do they remove? I'd definitely like to either make these gloss black like the shadow line trim and the front black grill on my m-sport.

[smytw]

Originally Posted by EnginerdVT

How do they remove? I'd definitely like to either make these gloss black like the shadow line trim and the front black grill on my m-sport.

Website wont allow me to attach video or photos for some reason
send me your email on PM and I will share an 8 second video on removal and 6 on install.. sorry.. it takes that long as I was holding my phone to take the video.. probably can be done in 5 or less..
Its simple.. just lift/reach under it from the front side. and wiggle a little toward the back.

[pookguy]

I just vinyl wrapped mine...