BMW X6m build... BIGGEST. JOB. EVER.

like most projects, this one started as "Dave, I'm going to ship my car up to you for new wheels and tires", a month later, we are a little past that and coming down the homestretch with this build. This is possibly the largest project I have done with a TON of time in researching parts, talking to vendors, etc.

 

In the end, the build list is as follows:

 

2014 BMW X6M in Monte Carlo Blue

- 22" ADV1 ADV10 MV2 CS

- Pirelli P-Zero tires (285/30/22 and 335/25/22)

- KW V3 Coilovers

- AR Design Downpipe's with highflow cats

- Vorsteiner Complete carbon fiber lip kit

- Akrapovic Evolution Titanium exhaust with carbon fiber Akrapovic tips

- OEM M-Performance alcantara steering wheel with color matched 12 o'clock ring

- Mansory Carbon fiber hood (We are painting and leaving the vents exposed carbon)

- OEM M-Performance side skirts

- A ton of stuff from IND Distribution (Painted Front Reflectors, painted gloss black rear badges, gloss black front kidney grills, painted rear reflectors, painted and tinted side markers)

- Tint the windows (50% over the factory rear tint, 15% on the front two)

- Hamann carbon fiber engine cover

- painting the side pieces around the hamann carbon pieces to color match the car

 

 

I am having a local shop do the paint work. Karosserie is one of, if not the best guys in the business. I am having them do a light tint on the rear taillights while the car is there getting the hood and engine covers painted)

 

so yea, its a big job. I can keep updating with pictures as we go!

 

when she arrived... totally stock.

 

M-Performance wheel installed

 

Painted IND parts arrrived and look great, I'm just going to have the body shop install them.

 

KW V3's installed

 

with the wheels, the rear needs to come down some

 

I'm happy with the fronts

 

vorsteiner lip kit nearly done

 

 

M-Performance side skirts need to be painted, I may have the silver section wrapped in carbon the match the vorsteiner parts

 

 

I will update as work commences, I am still waiting on the Mansory and Hamann parts to arrive. I will have better pictures up as soon as she's off the lift.

Wow that looks really good with just the new wheels.

 

thanks! I think they suit the car perfectly. We had the little logos color matched as well which is a nice touch.

Looks great David!

Nice..the parts all tie together well...looks oem but better

Looking good.

 

I myself have never really "Got" the X6M. It's not very utilitarian, and it's not a "sports car."

 

Is this a DD for the owner or just a weekend toy?

 

Congrats on the car and the build... but I agree with Destructo. I've never understood the X6/X6M - I think it looks about as good as a Pontiac Aztek

Nice..the parts all tie together well...looks oem but better

 

That's what I go for.. OEM+!

 

Looking good.

 

I myself have never really "Got" the X6M. It's not very utilitarian, and it's not a "sports car."

 

Is this a DD for the owner or just a weekend toy?

 

I don't know I think a little of both. He has a few cars, this is his third x6m though so I guess you could say he likes them!

 

Congrats on the car and the build... but I agree with Destructo. I've never understood the X6/X6M - I think it looks about as good as a Pontiac Aztek

 

I don't really get it either honestly. I used to really dislike it, after having this one here for the past few months it's growing on me. Also, I had it trucked off to Karosserie yesterday to have some paint work done (side skirts, Mansory hood, etc). Coming down the home stretch!

 

The Vorsteiner pieces fit like complete junk so I sent them back. They sent new ones we put on yesterday and they fit much better. The exhaust sounds great and the car is a complete beast with the tune, wheels are on, alignments done, suspension dialed in, downpipes and Akra rear section. The Mansory parts fit PERFECT and the quality is unreal. I am having the complete hood painted to match the car and the little vents on either side will be left exposed carbon.

 

Always loved the X6M's and this one is looking great!! Nice work.

I never really got the this ether until my boy got a white one that has 700+hp and all the other stuff(wheels, carbon hood, diffusors etc). Its an absolute beast and it has plenty of room inside. Im a believer now, Love it as a matter of fact.

That hood is so beautiful it's almost a shame to paint it.

Always loved the X6M's and this one is looking great!! Nice work.

 

thanks!

 

 

I never really got the this ether until my boy got a white one that has 700+hp and all the other stuff(wheels, carbon hood, diffusors etc). Its an absolute beast and it has plenty of room inside. Im a believer now, Love it as a matter of fact.

 

that's sort of where I am at as well.

 

That hood is so beautiful it's almost a shame to paint it.

 

I know, that's what I was thinking too. unfortunately the carbon doesn't match any of the other carbon on the car (weave and lack of clear)... it really is beautiful though, I also just learned that Mansory makes carbon fiber for F1 teams.. news to me!

 

Always loved the X6M's and this one is looking great!! Nice work.

 

 

I also just learned that Mansory makes carbon fiber for F1 teams.. news to me!

 

They do, also for Jims Glockenhaus new car.

 

 

 

They do, also for Jims Glockenhaus new car.

 

that's very cool. after seeing the quality it doesn't really surprise me. It's seriously a work of art. I think their carbon work is nicer than a lot of the OEM stuff that comes through here. all the weave lined up PERFECT.

Work looks awesome David!

 

Looking good.

 

I myself have never really "Got" the X6M. It's not very utilitarian, and it's not a "sports car."

 

Is this a DD for the owner or just a weekend toy?

 

I didn't either but DoctaM3 had one for awhile and it was a hoot. Totally ridiculous but fast as all get out and the car moved in ways it should not have been able to. Plus it would tear up the snow in the winter and destroy cars at the drag strip in the summer. It converted me for sure!

updates from the body shop!

 

Car is almost done and back to me for finishing touches. It looks UNREAL.

 

in no particular order

 

I had the clear section of the taillights tinted. goes along very nicely with the carbon accents

 

 

they disassembled the entire front end to paint and blend the hood and skirts. like i said earlier, the hood was being painted and the vents left exposed.. I think it gives it the perfect amount of "flair" while still looking mostly OEM.

 

I had the M-Performance side skirts painted, the center part came painted silver and was supposed to remain like that. I didn't think it matched so I had it re-done in carbon fiber.

 

 

 

I also had them paint the engine cover while they were at it.

 

 

and when I get it back I have this Hamann piece waiting to go on the center between the blue pieces.

 

 

I also found this picture I took a while back and never posted. A nice side by side of the Akra vs. OEM

 

I cannot believe you painted that hood. They spent all that time making the carbon weave perfect and you painted it? I see you pulled the fenders and shot them together with the hood to make them match, are you going to blend into the driver and passenger front door as well?

I cannot believe you painted that hood. They spent all that time making the carbon weave perfect and you painted it? I see you pulled the fenders and shot them together with the hood to make them match, are you going to blend into the driver and passenger front door as well?

 

I'm not sure what they're doing to make it right. I gave them the car and the parts and told them to make it perfect (short of re-spraying the entire thing). As for painting the hood.. yea, it was a tough call. It was gorgeous looking but a little too "racey" looking for an SUV. I think the little accents are perfect. If it were a coupe, or even sedan I suppose it may be a different story, on an SUV though I think a full, unpainted carbon hood would be overkill.