What are you must have mods?

[B-1Pilot]

So I recently found out I may be sent off on a deployment this summer. What this means is that I will likely give my M5 back (BMW has a nice military clause for that) vs. it sitting in my garage for 6 months or a year. If this does happen, I will most likely order another car (MY15 or 16) to be picked up via ED upon my return.

Since this may only give me about 7 months with the car, I am at a crossroads about what I want to do to the car... I dont want to sink a bunch of cash into modding the car on things I won't get much value out of.

My question is what do you consider to be must have modifications / things that can be moved over to another car a year down the road?

Right now, my only immediate changes are iND cosmetics and Opticoat. I am debating the Bel Stir+ and LI setup, but may just go the portable detector route.

Any other quick, day one changes you would consider?

[stealth.pilot]

I think you're thinking the right way. The other day one mod I do is clear bra but I would skip that since it's a lease so you don't care.

[Ovella]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

Any other quick, day one changes you would consider?

Tint.

I'm planning to go same route of IND painted reflectors and side vents, opticoat + tint. I will likely get Stir+ and possibly LI, tho likely down the road.

[RPiM5]

Dude, I've been in your position before too.

I would just Clear-Bra the car as soon as you can, do little mods like IND stuff and then wait until you recieve confirmation on the deployment orders. The Military Clause is great and I've used it before myself. It will be a tough decision if you go and then come back because there will be some great options. M4 and M3 look appealing, as well as a 15' M5, heck even the new 14' GT3 will be out by next summer.

[greentrbo95gst]

Catless downpipes and enjoy it for 7 months.

[B-1Pilot]

all good puts...

Tint is the other one I totally forgot... this one will happen soon as I get the car because I think silverstone really needs it.

the clear bra thing I am really debating... and I am leaning against it at the moment... I know I take risk with chips and RIDS though.

[greentrbo95gst]

The reason why I mentioned downpipes is because you can transfer the downpipes to your new car and that mod actually adds more fun to driving the car.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

all good puts...

Tint is the other one I totally forgot... this one will happen soon as I get the car because I think silverstone really needs it.

the clear bra thing I am really debating... and I am leaning against it at the moment... I know I take risk with chips and RIDS though.

With the F10 most of the chip risk is on the bumper. So you could do just the bumper. That's not expensive.

[Salespunk]

I am 6 months/5K miles in and I don't have a single chip on the front of my car. Just drive a little farther back than normal from the cars in front of you!

[avlnch]

Don't worry about doing a clear bra. You won't accumulate that much damage in 7 months, and BMW won't charge you for rock chips. They only charge for scratches over an inch or something like that.

For mods I would do:
- Tint Film
- Hardwire V1 (mount left of mirror)
- IND Front Grilles
- IND Side Gills
- IND Reflectors
- IND License Plate Frame
- Carbon Filter Delete

Don't do the STiR+ setup because it's expensive to install. I usually leave my radar and jammers in the car when I return my lease.. then get new setup for my next car. You could easily make due with just a V1 for a short period of time.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by avlnch

Don't worry about doing a clear bra. You won't accumulate that much damage in 7 months, and BMW won't charge you for rock chips. They only charge for scratches over an inch or something like that.

For mods I would do:
- Tint Film
- Hardwire V1 (mount left of mirror)
- IND Front Grilles
- IND Side Gills
- IND Reflectors
- IND License Plate Frame
- Carbon Filter Delete

Don't do the STiR+ setup because it's expensive to install. I usually leave my radar and jammers in the car when I return my lease.. then get new setup for my next car. You could easily make due with just a V1 for a short period of time.

This is very close to what I am thinking... I already have some iND stuff here awaiting my car... no blacked out front grills for the LCI yet, though.

Good reminder on the filter delete... i thought about different drop-ins too.


As for the V1... still debating this one... but going cross-eyed watching comparison videos between the Valentine, the Bell/Escort, and the Passport Max. I need something removable from bracket incase my mil base gives me issues with it (they are a big no-no on base)
I like the escort live cable concept, but its an eyesore. Has anyone use the Valentine V1 app? I tend to use my iPhone mounted inbetween idrive and radio for Waze/Trapster already. I also know a couple members got passport max detectors, but no real reviews as of yet.

[skypx]

Originally Posted by Ovella

Tint.

I'm planning to go same route of IND painted reflectors and side vents, opticoat + tint. I will likely get Stir+ and possibly LI, tho likely down the road.

I'm a "keep it stock guy" so......... but most definitely for me, the windows need to be tinted. The rest of it (painted reflectors), I don't get it.

Do painted reflectors reflect orange light if the car is in the dark on the roadside? I'll chose safety all the time! Sorry.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by skypx

I'm a "keep it stock guy" so......... but most definitely for me, the windows need to be tinted. The rest of it (painted reflectors), I don't get it.

Do painted reflectors reflect orange light if the car is in the dark on the roadside? I'll chose safety all the time! Sorry.

The reflectors are a new US requirement that was non-existent before and is not required on US models. there are plenty of other reflected surfaces/lights/etc for safety. Painted reflectors make the car look clean and are a must have --- heres on my wife's three series


BEFORE:


AFTER:

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by greentrbo95gst

The reason why I mentioned downpipes is because you can transfer the downpipes to your new car and that mod actually adds more fun to driving the car.

I would, but I really don't want to throw a CEL. call it habit, but having the master caution light on non-stop would trip my OCD.


On another note, though.... when would the GXX M5 be expected to debut? 17 or 18?

[mstmng]

exhaust

u can always buy used and sell it for same price and dont have to wait for it to coat up/break-in

[dhirm5]

Charcoal filter delete. I realize that's not in the spirit of your post, but I just did it, so it's a "mod" to me..

Sorry to hear about your deployment.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

I would, but I really don't want to throw a CEL. call it habit, but having the master caution light on non-stop would trip my OCD.


On another note, though.... when would the GXX M5 be expected to debut? 17 or 18?

I just put a piece of black tape over my CEL light. No-one can even tell I have one. Not even the tech at the dealership noticed it until I said something to him.

As for the next generation GXX M5, it should be a 2019 model year M5. Each generation has lasted for 6 years:

E39 M5:

1 - 1998 M5
2 - 1999 M5
3 - 2000 M5
4 - 2001 M5
5 - 2002 M5
6 - 2003 M5

E60 M5:

1 - 2005 M5
2 - 2006 M5
3 - 2007 M5
4 - 2008 M5
5 - 2009 M5
6 - 2010 M5

F10 M5:

1 - 2012 M5
2 - 2013 M5
3 - 2014 M5
4 - 2015 M5
5 - 2016 M5
6 - 2017 M5

GXX M5:

1 - 2019 M5
2 - 2020 M5
3 - 2021 M5
4 - 2022 M5
5 - 2023 M5
6 - 2024 M5


Even just writing out the year models for the future M5's makes my head hurt and makes me crazy excited at the same time.

Anyways, we have a long time to wait before the GXX M5 hits American shores, but the GXX 5-Series is already in development right now and should hit our streets in 2016 as a 2017 model. So in reality we only have about another 2 1/2 years before we get to see the new GXX 5-Series.

[Orich]

ceramic tint and PPF IMO are must haves.

[turbolag]

Black grilles
black side markers
painted reflectors

[turbolag]

Originally Posted by skypx

I'm a "keep it stock guy" so......... but most definitely for me, the windows need to be tinted. The rest of it (painted reflectors), I don't get it.

Do painted reflectors reflect orange light if the car is in the dark on the roadside? I'll chose safety all the time! Sorry.

Right because when a car is on the side of the road, you cans ee the front reflectors from behind the car.

[mstmng]

Originally Posted by turbolag

Right because when a car is on the side of the road, you cans ee the front reflectors from behind the car.

I wonder how ppl in other countries survive...!

[///SAL]

Cant go wrong with a v1