2017 X5 wide body and carbon fiber build…

[X5Brian]

Prob gonna do camber arms and coilovers myself… they want 1300-1500 to install plus have my X for 1-2 days.
I can do it in a day.
I'll takes pics

[X5Brian]

So what do you do when your wife wakes you up sick? You go work on your car!!!
Got up and finished glassing the back side of dual air intake. Starling to now look like a factory piece
6 layers of mat to make sure it's strong. Once this hardens I'll lay the carbon fiber

[X5Brian]

Covered in fiberglass hair bondo, shortly sand and be ready for carbon fiber

[RED_Y_]

Nothing personal, if you like it this way- very happy for you, but what is up with the carbon fiber obsession? In my opinion the engine cover and air box looks absolutely horrible with colors not being close to the OEM M sport as well as this is just kills the purpose, CB was used to reduce weight but wrapping existing plastic down with CB doesn't make any sense to me, it adds weight and reduces heat dissipation form engine and air filter. Once again, don't take this personal just my opinion on the looks, that's all.

[X5Brian]

So the color is off on the light blue …omg … The engine cover is … well just a engine cover to cover the mess under it…. And lessen those loud magnetic injectors …. Air boxes don't drop air temp…. If you have air sitting in your air box that long to heat up you have a problem. This is just fun and for looks. If you don't like it and Worried about 1/2 extra pounds don't follow my thread. For those that do, enjoy. Geez, hate to know how you feel about people who put 22" rims on that add weight and no true performance ….
Btw… it's definitely personal to tell someone their hard work looks horrible…. Just saying …
Yes I know… a wide body is is going to add weight and increase some drag… it's for looks…
Yes I know the carbon fiber does nothing in engine bay… it's for looks…
Yes I know everything I'm doing it's just for looks….
Driving a BMW instead of a Ford Explorer ( not hating bought wife a new one and love it) is just for looks….
They both go point A to B and have same HP.
But damn the BMW looks good!

[X5Brian]

Sanded down and ready for omg CARBON FIBER … lmao….

[RED_Y_]

Originally Posted by X5Brian

So the color is off on the light blue …omg … The engine cover is … well just a engine cover to cover the mess under it…. And lessen those loud magnetic injectors …. Air boxes don't drop air temp…. If you have air sitting in your air box that long to heat up you have a problem. This is just fun and for looks. If you don't like it and Worried about 1/2 extra pounds don't follow my thread. For those that do, enjoy. Geez, hate to know how you feel about people who put 22" rims on that add weight and no true performance ….
Btw… it's definitely personal to tell someone their hard work looks horrible…. Just saying …
Yes I know… a wide body is is going to add weight and increase some drag… it's for looks…
Yes I know the carbon fiber does nothing in engine bay… it's for looks…
Yes I know everything I'm doing it's just for looks….
Driving a BMW instead of a Ford Explorer ( not hating bought wife a new one and love it) is just for looks….
They both go point A to B and have same HP.
But damn the BMW looks good!

Don't want to offend you by any means, just my opinion, that is all, suspension and other things are absolutely amazing, but wrap everything in CB for looks not my cup of tea, especially in the engine bay, unless this is a show car where you are pop a hood 3 times a day.

[X5Brian]

That's exactly what it is going to be… yes it's My daily driver but also to take to meets and shows for fun …
Why else would you ever put CB in a engine bay?! Lol

I see your South Florida and bay… Tampa ?

[RED_Y_]

Another side of the country, San Francisco Bay Area, not South Florida. Once again, nothing personal just sharing my opinion and do not want to offend you, this is your car and you can tweak it the way it looks the best way for you first of all, that's the entire point, right.

[X5Brian]

CF is on.

[RED_Y_]

Originally Posted by X5Brian

CF is on.

Well have, to admit, the air duct in CF looks nice.

[X5Brian]

Thank you, it turned out better than I thought. Love having the factor connection to air box. Still have 4 coast of epoxy to still go … have to wait 2-3 hrs between coats …

[X5Brian]

Engine bay is on point !

[X5Brian]

Got up this morning, 29 degrees outside and sanded down rough epoxy coat, 180 then 220 grit.
1st coat of finish gloss

[X5Brian]

Coat 2

[X5Brian]

So just did MHD stage 1 and XHP stage 2 tranny flash.
All I can say is damnnnnn
Why did I wait so long!
Def ordering a bigger FMIC and DP now !!!
Want to feel that stage 2!
BOV is def louder !!! Lol

[Seattlesquash]

Originally Posted by X5Brian

So just did MHD stage 1 and XHP stage 2 tranny flash.
All I can say is damnnnnn
Why did I wait so long!
Def ordering a bigger FMIC and DP now !!!
Want to feel that stage 2!
BOV is def louder !!! Lol

About to do the trans tune once my trans sorted, great to hear you liked yours!

[X5Brian]

Love the shifts, even in drive. So much snappier!
I hate slow shifts… slower the shift faster it wears clutches

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by X5Brian

So the color is off on the light blue …omg … The engine cover is … well just a engine cover to cover the mess under it…. And lessen those loud magnetic injectors …. Air boxes don't drop air temp…. If you have air sitting in your air box that long to heat up you have a problem. This is just fun and for looks. If you don't like it and Worried about 1/2 extra pounds don't follow my thread. For those that do, enjoy. Geez, hate to know how you feel about people who put 22" rims on that add weight and no true performance ….
Btw… it's definitely personal to tell someone their hard work looks horrible…. Just saying …
Yes I know… a wide body is is going to add weight and increase some drag… it's for looks…
Yes I know the carbon fiber does nothing in engine bay… it's for looks…
Yes I know everything I'm doing it's just for looks….
Driving a BMW instead of a Ford Explorer ( not hating bought wife a new one and love it) is just for looks….
They both go point A to B and have same HP.
But damn the BMW looks good!

BTW, I totally admire you for using your car as a canvas to express your idea. In the end, when it comes to art there will be differences of aesthetic opinions.

That you have the skills and opportunity to do this is all that really matters.

Like RED said, some things he loves and others not much. But that's Ok. I really like the CF cover idea, but I would have kept it stock colors. I think I mentioned it and you had your reason - which is cool.

So I have great admiration for what you are trying. Anyone can spend a lot of money and just buy or lease an expensive car and be done with it. What you are doing with this build is much rarer.

Just enjoy your passion and hobby 👍🏻

[X5Brian]

Thank you brother, appreciate that!!!

[///d]

I don't know much on CF overlays like this, but is it possible to do the same in a dry carbon look? Or a matte look?

[X5Brian]

You might have to use vaccine bags to do dry carbon or mat look