[forza1976]

No pictures of the car, but we did a hike to Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. With the X3MC. It was damn dirty!

[Vettethret]

Originally Posted by forza1976

No pictures of the car, but we did a hike to Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. With the X3MC. It was damn dirty!

Wow, thos pics are Epic!!!!

[aw305]

So this younger guy was looking for a used f15 x5 and happen to find mine for sale at the dealer I traded her in for the X3mc. He also found my youtube video i did on the x5. Long story short we spoke and he felt comfortable with the car. He ended up buying it, and also came by and bought my summer wheels! What a small world!

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by BrockDM

MSS kit installed! May lower the front more but more pics to follow

[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c250c0d2_o.jpg[/img]

It will settle.

Originally Posted by Max Well

Looks great BrockDM - all of you MSS converts with your excellent images are making it difficult to resist the temptation to order a set.

Why wait?

[gallagher]

Question for the group: After initially wondering why spacers were such a popular mod among this group, I’m starting to see why they might enhance the curb look after my first month with my X3MC. In the stock setup, especially when viewing the car from the rear, the wheels almost look like they are inset too much relative to the fenders. So I’m changing my tune and want to ask the group if it still makes sense to do spacers even without lowering the car (still not into that but keeping an open mind now). If so, is there a more moderate spacing setup that people could recommend that maybe isn’t quite as aggressive as most of the pictures I’ve seen posted here (where the wheels are visibly protruding beyond the wheel well even at the top)? Lastly, are there any complications or other considerations for such a setup w/r/t tire wear, steering, etc.? Thanks in advance.

**Cue the sarcastic quips about the forum’s search function**

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by gallagher

Question for the group: After initially wondering why spacers were such a popular mod among this group, I’m starting to see why they might enhance the curb look after my first month with my X3MC. In the stock setup, especially when viewing the car from the rear, the wheels almost look like they are inset too much relative to the fenders. So I’m changing my tune and want to ask the group if it still makes sense to do spacers even without lowering the car (still not into that but keeping an open mind now). If so, is there a more moderate spacing setup that people could recommend that maybe isn’t quite as aggressive as most of the pictures I’ve seen posted here (where the wheels are visibly protruding beyond the wheel well even at the top)? Lastly, are there any complications or other considerations for such a setup w/r/t tire wear, steering, etc.? Thanks in advance.

**Cue the sarcastic quips about the forum’s search function**

Wheel spacer is a cheaper way to enhance looks as if you are buying a wider wheels.
Some are not willing to spend thousands to get a new set of wheels that will give more flush look.
So, wheel spacers come into play.

For not lowering, 12mm all around is a conservative setup.

Here are the pictures with 12mm not lowered.

It doesn't not have negative effect to the car or to your tires.

Hope that answer your questions.

[Turbo1204]

[QUOTE=MrItaly;26235094]

Originally Posted by Vettethret

Nice sound. So you still run the factory primary cat? And the H-pipe deletes the rear resonator if I remember correctly. Please confirm. I went with a super sprint high-flow primary cat, myself.

Yes I'm on factory cats. H pipe deletes mid resonator.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by BrockDM

Thanks Max! … I haven't thought about doing that {referencing blacking out the chrome lettering on the side and front grill badges like the new F95/96 Competition models} but I may look into it. I didn't want to go overboard with blacking everything out but that might be a nice subtle touch

In case you want to try it, here are two posts documenting my method to save you time searching:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=25
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=35

And here’s a view of my side badge next to my wife’s OEM version. IMO does give it a more aggressive appearance and is more in line with the intent of the 'High-gloss Black finish'* trim of the Comp models.

*From p.12 of BMW's initial long version press release of the F97/98 - "The BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition models come with a number of distinctive design features to bring their exclusive character to the fore, including a High-gloss Black finish for the BMW kidney grille surround, exterior mirror caps and M gills (and the rear spoiler of the Sports Activity Coupe)."

[Midtown2020]

Visor Airbag Decal Delete. Not perfect, but I'm happy with it! The sticker "shadows" are pretty visible in this picture. They are less visible from other angles and different lighting.

[crst4s]

Originally Posted by Midtown2020

Visor Airbag Decal Delete. Not perfect, but I'm happy with it! The sticker "shadows" are pretty visible in this picture. They are less visible from other angles and different lighting.

Did you remove the stickers or cover with overlays? Details appreciated.

[Midtown2020]

Originally Posted by crst4s

Did you remove the stickers or cover with overlays? Details appreciated.

I removed the decal which is more like a silkscreen. I removed the visor, laid 3 paper towels over the decal, soaked them with 91% alcohol and plastic wrapped the visor and let it sit for about 15 minutes. I then removed that and with cotton balls and 91% alcohol started circular rubbing to remove the decal. I also used Ronsonal Lighter Fluid on cotton balls which seamed to be more effective. I had to use a lot of cotton balls. It was important not to let the milky liquid residue sit on the visor too long, otherwise it would settle into the material and be harder to remove. I actually took the visor over to the sink and rinsed it off with water a couple times during.

I think if you are to tackle this project, you need to be patient, not let the dirty residue sit on the visor too long, and willing to accept a less than perfect result. I put a lot of elbow grease into it. I think the leftover shadow is unavoidable as I believe it is an actual change in the texture of the material that occurred when the silkscreen decal was applied.

I got the idea from the M2 Competition forum and did it to my M2C, however the decals on the X3MC are not the same material as the M2C and the visor material is also different.

[crst4s]

Thank you. Has anyone used the overlays?

[_x3M_Competition]

@r33_RGSport
👀[IMG][/IMG]

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by gallagher

Question for the group: After initially wondering why spacers were such a popular mod among this group, I’m starting to see why they might enhance the curb look after my first month with my X3MC. In the stock setup, especially when viewing the car from the rear, the wheels almost look like they are inset too much relative to the fenders. So I’m changing my tune and want to ask the group if it still makes sense to do spacers even without lowering the car (still not into that but keeping an open mind now). If so, is there a more moderate spacing setup that people could recommend that maybe isn’t quite as aggressive as most of the pictures I’ve seen posted here (where the wheels are visibly protruding beyond the wheel well even at the top)? Lastly, are there any complications or other considerations for such a setup w/r/t tire wear, steering, etc.? Thanks in advance.

**Cue the sarcastic quips about the forum’s search function**

I personally hate using spacers for a number of reasons but I did upgrade my tire widths which I feel improved the aesthetics substantially and similarly to spacers. Benefit was also getting more traction and tire upgrade from Continental to Michelin PS4S. I was evaluating the "stance" yesterday and while spacers would push the tire lines out a bit, it looks quite good to me. Upgrade from 265 to 295 rears pushed tire edge out by 15 mm. In the front, going from 255 to 265 pushed out 5 mm.

[MJDBMW]

Brother, I'm taking your advice. Getting rid of the contis and going with your setup.

[gallagher]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Wheel spacer is a cheaper way to enhance looks as if you are buying a wider wheels.
Some are not willing to spend thousands to get a new set of wheels that will give more flush look.
So, wheel spacers come into play.

For not lowering, 12mm all around is a conservative setup.

Here are the pictures with 12mm not lowered.

It doesn't not have negative effect to the car or to your tires.

Hope that answer your questions.

This was super helpful thank you! I’m going to do the 12MM spacers all around. That setup is exactly what I was looking for. More filled out, like the X5M.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by gallagher

This was super helpful thank you! I’m going to do the 12MM spacers all around. That setup is exactly what I was looking for. More filled out, like the X5M.

Let me know if you need a quote.

[Sebap3]

I installed a 2ch Blackvue DR-900s Dashcam Using a blendmount and a power magic ultra battery under the passenger seat. I love the set up and my cam now records up to 16hrs while parked using the installed battery.

Also installed show n go license plate mount. Originally wanted to use magnets to install the plate but couldn’t get behind the bumper without removing it. So chose this option. Not as stealth as I’d like but will have to do for now.

[Turbo1204]

Originally Posted by Turbo0823

Little sound clip of my supersprint H pipe with secondary cats delete. I have the open valve mode fuse 203 removed, so this is much louder than sports plus Bc the computer toggles the valves open n close in different rpms. The car was in sports mode just regular acceleration then my girl pulls harder. Sounds deep and a nice growl and then a nice upshift bang. I'll try and get some hard accelerations, but it was late and it would be real loud.

Here goes a harder acceleration video of my setup.

[ltym5]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I personally hate using spacers for a number of reasons but I did upgrade my tire widths which I feel improved the aesthetics substantially and similarly to spacers. Benefit was also getting more traction and tire upgrade from Continental to Michelin PS4S. I was evaluating the "stance" yesterday and while spacers would push the tire lines out a bit, it looks quite good to me. Upgrade from 265 to 295 rears pushed tire edge out by 15 mm. In the front, going from 255 to 265 pushed out 5 mm.

I want to put some Toyo R888R for the rears, do you know what's the widest width our 21s can accomodate?

Originally Posted by Turbo0823

Here goes a harder acceleration video of my setup.


[url]https://youtu.be/jQf07HXVkmw[url]

That sounded really good, do you notice any droning in the cabin?

[Will Pwr]

Originally Posted by Sebap3

I installed a 2ch Blackvue DR-900s Dashcam Using a blendmount and a power magic ultra battery under the passenger seat. I love the set up and my cam now records up to 16hrs while parked using the installed battery.

Also installed show n go license plate mount. Originally wanted to use magnets to install the plate but couldn’t get behind the bumper without removing it. So chose this option. Not as stealth as I’d like but will have to do for now.

Nice work on the dash cam! I still need to do my rear, but I used a Blendmount on my front install too. I recycled the mount kit from my F80 and bought an extension piece to make the camera tuck up a bit more. I might have been able to get away with the shorter extension piece though.

[ltym5]

Originally Posted by Sebap3

I installed a 2ch Blackvue DR-900s Dashcam Using a blendmount and a power magic ultra battery under the passenger seat. I love the set up and my cam now records up to 16hrs while parked using the installed battery.

Also installed show n go license plate mount. Originally wanted to use magnets to install the plate but couldn’t get behind the bumper without removing it. So chose this option. Not as stealth as I’d like but will have to do for now.

Was the install of the show n go plate pretty easy? Got any DIY pics or vid of the procedure?