Subtle Mods

[superdog]

I'm not yet at a month, and just under 2,000 miles. And I love the car.

The paint job and fitment are exceptional. The ride is super comfortable. And the styling is something that inspires me to look back and smile as I walk away from it in the parking lot. The interior and the tech = fantastic.

I replaced the front kidneys with black gloss. I put in all weather rubber floor mats.

I like the idea of personalizing the car. Any other quick and easy mods that add subtle differences? I'm going to tint the front windows shortly.

I'd appreciate any ideas you all have. Or have done. Pics would be appreciated too.

I am thinking exhaust or even replacing the break calipers. But I worry about the warranty and the maintenance plan being voided. So I'm looking to go small first.

[Doanster]

Replace front amber reflectors with color matched ones. Debadge the side XDrive emblems is another easy one.

[Kzang]

Removing the side emblem that reads xdrive 35i/35d/50i cleans up the side profile nicely. If you are worried about reselling, keep the emblems in a ziplock bag and buy a 3M double sided tape to reinstall the badges when it is time to sell. Adding a rear trunk spoiler is an easy / affordable mod as well. Look through my build thread for pics. Kzang's 2015 F15 Space Grey Msport Build http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1094893

[alphaod]

I'd remove all the badges except for the roundel.

[HomeIn2]

While not necessarily all considered ‘subtle’ here’s a list mods either planned or completed for my 2015 Space Grey X5 35i M Sport. I also realize not all of these are even applicable to your 50i, but was thinking this could perhaps give you some more ideas.

Exterior
1. M Perf. carbon fiber front splitter
2. M Perf. gloss black front grills
3. M50d style front bumper grill trim w/carbon fiber vinyl wrap
4. Gloss black hood & trunk roundels
5. Removed chrome door emblems
6. Gloss black side vent trim
7. Painted front & rear reflectors
8. Gloss black rear trunk emblem
9. M Perf. gloss black roof spoiler
10. Gloss black exhaust tips
11. M Perf. carbon fiber rear diffuser
12. Tinted front side windows

Performance/Tech.
1. M Perf. Power Kit
2. K&N intake filter
3. M Perf. Exhaust
4. Aftermarket backup camera

Interior
1. M Perf. foot pedal covers
2. M Perf. floor mats
3. BMW Cargo liner

Tires/Wheels
1. 20” aftermarket gloss black wheels
2. Non run flat (Continental) tires
3. BMW emergency wheel/tire kit
4. Painted brake calipers

[FourDoor]

Powdercoating your wheels black also is a nice subtle mod I like on a lot of cars.

Of course adding front/rear diffusers in CF is also nice (but some may not call it subtle)

One other thing that you can do is code your X5 for extra features. My favorites are:

Video playback while driving
Autofold mirrors on close
Close rear tailgate from the remote (I still have no idea why this isn't std)
Tire temp added to the TPMS display

[mermar]

Originally Posted by HomeIn2

While not necessarily all considered ‘subtle’ here’s a list mods either planned or completed for my 2015 Space Grey X5 35i M Sport. I also realize not all of these are even applicable to your 50i, but was thinking this could perhaps give you some more ideas.

Exterior
1. M Perf. carbon fiber front splitter
2. M Perf. gloss black front grills
3. M50d style front bumper grill trim w/carbon fiber vinyl wrap
4. Gloss black hood & trunk roundels
5. Removed chrome door emblems
6. Gloss black side vent trim
7. Painted front & rear reflectors
8. Gloss black rear trunk emblem
9. M Perf. gloss black roof spoiler
10. Gloss black exhaust tips
11. M Perf. carbon fiber rear diffuser
12. Tinted front side windows

Performance/Tech.
1. M Perf. Power Kit
2. K&N intake filter
3. M Perf. Exhaust
4. Aftermarket backup camera

Interior
1. M Perf. foot pedal covers
2. M Perf. floor mats
3. BMW Cargo liner

Tires/Wheels
1. 20” aftermarket gloss black wheels
2. Non run flat (Continental) tires
3. BMW emergency wheel/tire kit
4. Painted brake calipers

I would skip nearly all of this (Cargo liner and Non run flats are useful ) - set the money aside for a BMW warranty when yours is about to run out. The 50i can kill your wallet if repaired out of warranty.

[mermar]

Originally Posted by FourDoor

Powdercoating your wheels black also is a nice subtle mod I like on a lot of cars.

Of course adding front/rear diffusers in CF is also nice (but some may not call it subtle)

One other thing that you can do is code your X5 for extra features. My favorites are:

Video playback while driving
Autofold mirrors on close
Close rear tailgate from the remote (I still have no idea why this isn't std)
Tire temp added to the TPMS display

People will argue about the distraction w video playback while driving. The anti dazzle led lights sound like a great addition.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by mermar

I would skip nearly all of this (Cargo liner and Non run flats are useful ) - set the money aside for a BMW warranty when yours is about to run out. The 50i can kill your wallet if repaired out of warranty.

That's funny.

I'm averaging about a year per car, at best. If I can manage to keep this thing to the point where I need to worry about that, I'll consider myself ahead of the game.

But I do hope to do so. And truly, if I were worried about the cost of an extended warranty, I'd not be driving a car at this price point.

[FourDoor]

Originally Posted by mermar

People will argue about the distraction w video playback while driving. The anti dazzle led lights sound like a great addition.

LOL I would just say back it's all up to the person behind the wheel and their maturity/intent. For us, I mostly load up the USB drive with music videos that overlay graphics so it looks like the screen has a really fancy real time visualizer for the music.

Plus I'd rather watch a movie or TV show on a real TV instead of the tiny screen (especially while driving).

[gt0279a]

I was going to do the painted reflectors but it is a PITA on the F15 compared to other BMWs.

My car also has the night vision camera which means painting the OEM grill is the only choice.

So far I have just the BMW weather tech liners, MPPK and X4 M-tech steering wheel.

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by superdog

That's funny.

I'm averaging about a year per car, at best. If I can manage to keep this thing to the point where I need to worry about that, I'll consider myself ahead of the game.

And truly, if I were worried about the cost of an extended warranty, I'd not be driving a car at this price point.

I think you missed his point but if you're not worried about costs then why even bother with the extended warranty, just pay for all of the out of warranty repairs out of pocket.

[Kzang]

Since when is a cargo mat / floor mats considered mods? just teasing.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

I think you missed his point but if you're not worried about costs then why even bother with the extended warranty, just pay for all of the out of warranty repairs out of pocket.

Actually, I think you might have missed the point.

Paying a few thousand dollars for an extended warranty or potentially tens of thousands for blown turbos, motors and transmissions is very different.

I state in the OP that I don't want to void my warranty and possibly accumulate huge costs.

My first decent car was an 1999 Audi A4. I had an aftermarket chip installed. Two weeks later I had a blown turbo. 6 weeks after that, the turbo went again. The cost far exceeded what an extended warranty costs.

There is a big difference between a known liability and a calculated payment vs a multitude of unknown liabilities.

Curious why anyone would have even brought it up in the first place, when the question was simply about adding subtle Mods.

What does one thing have to do with the other.

[alphaod]

M Performance cosmetic additions, open bottom grilles, X5M50d horizontal bar for open grilles, rear spoiler, side vents in black, black wheels and trims, debadged everything, tints, M Performance brakes, spacers, coilovers.

I think those can be considered subtle mods and none void the warranty.

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by superdog

Actually, I think you might have missed the point.

Paying a few thousand dollars for an extended warranty or potentially tens of thousands for blown turbos, motors and transmissions is very different.

I state in the OP that I don't want to void my warranty and possibly accumulate huge costs.

My first decent car was an 1999 Audi A4. I had an aftermarket chip installed. Two weeks later I had a blown turbo. 6 weeks after that, the turbo went again. The cost far exceeded what an extended warranty costs.

There is a big difference between a known liability and a calculated payment vs a multitude of unknown liabilities.

Curious why anyone would have even brought it up in the first place, when the question was simply about adding subtle Mods.

What does one thing have to do with the other.

Oh... so what you meant to say was "Thanks for extended warranty recommendation mermar , I will definitely get one if I decide to keep the car for that long".

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Oh... so what you meant to say was "Thanks for extended warranty recommendation mermar , I will definitely get one if I decide to keep the car for that long".

No quite.

More like "what's the point in bringing up the extended warranty when the OP was specific to Mods".

What am I missing here?

I asked about mod suggestions. In what way is the potential need of an extended warranty relevant to that?

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by superdog

What am I missing here?

Tact.

[alphaod]

The extended warranty if I'm not mistaken is not a mod.

In simpler terms, your friend says he want to dress up for a party so the recommendation is save the money buy some health insurance instead.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Tact.

Are you sure you know the definition of tact?

noun
adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

Please. Try again.

You didn't actually address why the extended warranty was relevant to the thread.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by alphaod

The extended warranty if I'm not mistaken is not a mod.

In simpler terms, your friend says he want to dress up for a party so the recommendation is save the money buy some health insurance instead.

Yeah. That sounds about right.

And thanks for the suggestions you posted above.

Can you post a pic? Sounds awesome.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by superdog

Can you post a pic? Sounds awesome.

I don't have many of those mods since i don't have M Sport, but there are a could pics on the meet-up thread with people that have this nice mods like drops, spacers, M performance splitter, diffuser, spoiler, mirror covers, etc:
http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1340639&page=3

wdimagineer has some of 50d additions and M brakes:
http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=965817

All very subtle changes that make your car stand out. I did get the side vents from RGSport and I think they look pretty good.

My garage link on the left shows what debadged looks like.