What do you think...latest pics M45x

[gatiman]

I have been following this forum for a while now, found a lot of very useful info and interesting mods. THANKS to all that contribute.
Thought I would post a couple of photos of my build. Tell me what you think...

[a.blanco0905]

Beautiful M, not feeling the wheels but that's a personal preference gotta get out of 4x4 mode man!!! ...Do you like fuga tails? I think they'd look amazing on your car, if not maybe black them out!?!?

[gatiman]

Thanks!
Staggered Wheels are my personal taste a.blanco, they feel great...fuga tails are not for me...

Here are the mods I have done so far...

Vossen VVS-085 Black/Machined 20 x 9 os +38 FRONT
Michelin PS2 245/35/ZR20

Vossen VVS-085 Black/Machined 20 x 10.5 os +45 REAR
Michelin PS2 285/30/ZR20

Stillen Stainless - Cat back exhaust
Painted Roof Spoiler from essen.sema on Ebay
Painted Factory OEM Rear deck spoiler
6000k LED conversion throughout cabin from VLEDS
3m Crystalline window tint 40% all around + sunroof
Nav Hack per instructions on this site
K&N Filter for stock box
Midnight Front Grille with custom painted chrome pieces
6000k HID fogs and Headlight bulb replacements
VLEDS turn signals, backup and parking lights

Thinking about Injen CAI, uprev and dyno tuning next.
Peace.

[nolmt50]

Looks clean, I like the wheels. I agree with the 4x4 look, You def need a drop and tint the tails.

[Ilya]

Leave it be. If anything, drop. Fuga tails would look TERRIBLE on that car (in fact, I think they look terrible on any car). "Altezza"/Lexus RX lights are very 2001. And fast and furious.

[DaSerb]

Nice.....

Drop it an inch or so. Quad tips would look better but that's just me.

I was thinking about taking off the front plate but here in IL both are required. I am very annoyed by it.

[The Bodyguard]

Nice setup on the wheels! I'm actually feeling the five spoke wheels(split or not) on this car... Keep in mind, a slight drop may just finish the job!! Looks too high for sure.
IMO do your research on the cai, I've been told the performance increase is not increased.... But overall nice job with the mods so far!!

[gatiman]

I've looked into dropping it but can only find the 1 supplier of springs for the all wheel drive X. Burtman Industries, (Espelir springs) they come ( came ) from Japan, but haven't read anything here from someone who has dropped a M35/45x.

http://www.burtmanindustries.com/zoompr ... 5615459328

[Ilya]

I was going to drop on that set and they are good from what I read. Go ahead and do it. I just decided to not mod my car at all, so I sold the set I had waiting for installation. I'm the kind of person who mods with comfort in mind or keeping the characteristics as stock as possible...the Espelir's supposedly would do the trick.

[a.blanco0905]

Ilyakol, I dont know why you keep CAPITALIZING your dislike for fuga tails, lol... taste is a very subjective thing man, & coming from a close minded person... nvm...

OP, I dont know if u read what bodyguard told you, but the Injen CAI actually hurts the car performance wise (I have a dynosheet proving it) basically it's a waste of money.

[gatiman]

Thanks a. blanco..I have read that you have done just about every mod you can to your M so I value your advice on the CAI. Haven't seen anyone post they were "ecstatic" about having done it..probably why I haven't pulled the trigger either.

[jhuerto23]

Nice set up so far. Could you take more pictures of the front but farther away. I wanna paint my grill but I would like to see how it looks in different angles.

Thanks,
Jeff

[a.blanco0905]

Lmao @ Jeff... your grill or my OEM grille will never look that good, lol... even if you paint it. They're pretty different.

@Gatiman, yeah man, the best thing to get (backed up by a dyno sheet) is a reg K&N filter, I had one but sold it to da serb... or maybe other brand CAI... Injen's a no go tho.

[gavnator]

I have one word for the work you've done on your "M". ""OUTSTANDING"

[bicsintegra]

i do not like the wheels either but to each his own, defintely a mild drop would help the SUV look tremendously.

[antzrus]

Don't drop it. The damn thing is an M45x. The "x" means 4x4-more utility than a CA low rider. I mean why did you get an "x"-but for the utility of a 4x4 which needs some good ground clearance too. Personally I'd like another inch.

And how do you paint over a chrome grill and expect the paint to stick? Someone tell me-I'd like to black out my grill too.

[mexillis]

Car looks good. You can put any springs on the X as other people have done so. Antz the grill isn't chrome but plastic so all you have to do is scuff it and paint it like anything else. There are some white M's with the grill painted black and it looks good IMO.

[a.blanco0905]

@Mex, I wasnt implying it wouldnt look good, I was saying it wouldnt look like the OP's... cuz they are different grilles...

@Antz, I dont think Gatiman will be 4x4ing anywhere in Atlanta, lol... and yes OP lots of people on AWD use "regular" lowering springs...

[antzrus]

So the grill on the '06 is plastic? Lowering a 4x4. Why not get RWD in the first place? Oh the humanity!

[Em35X]

Really nice. Get some sport headlights. The all black will look awesome.

[gatiman]

@Antrus re: Painting the grille trim.

I didnt paint the grille, I painted the trim. Bought the replacement Midnight Grille here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FACTORY- ... ccessories

After install I didn't like the leading edge chrome trim of the hood and 2 lower "smile" chrome trim pieces below the grille.

So I removed them and prepped for paint match. Follow these instructions for sand,prime,painting.
http://www.ripper1.com/tech/paint_over_chrome.php

Ordered 12 oz. rattlecan Aerosol Sandable Grey Laquer Etching Primer, Basecoat Color, and High Gloss Clear Top Coat to match the M.
http://www.automotivetouchup.com/

Take your time, multiple thin coats works best. Clear coat is the trickiest in terms of timing after base coats and to get the mirror finish or you may try this if you FU.
http://sprayking.ca/how_to_fix_a_clear_ ... _sag.shtml

Then I let the trim parts cure in sun for 48 hours, reinstalled and the M sat in garage for rest of the week. Washed and waxed after 2 weeks.
I wanted to insure paint would not flake off down the road. So far so good.

[antzrus]

Thanx for all the really concise info. I can't order a new blackout grill from your site-I've got an '06. But I'll consider getting my rusty bones in gear and trying your recommendations. Thanx again; good job, beautiful machine.

[edwin711]

I got the espilars on my 06 m35x I like them only thing is the front sits higher. It's just like factory but lower so the back is sitting at tire and front is pretty much like the back was before the drop. Somebody has a thread on here about the espilars with pics and measurements. I got them cheap off ilyakol but my opinion if your going to pay full price. I'd just get coilovers get even drop and be able to adjust whenever wanted.

I thought going staggered on the awd was something not to be done how's that working

[SiMpLyMoDiFiEd]

clean car not feeling the wheels either but just my option..

[1M2NV]

Definitely looks clean.


Its up to you if you want to drop it or not; the wheel gap doesn't look as bad as the '06 models. I'll tell you that I have an X and dropped it with Espelir's and the damn thing rides very close to stock.

[a.blanco0905]

the wheel gap doesn't look as bad as the '06 models.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

does you back wheel stick out?? it looks like it in the second pic..

[sunoco]

As much as I hate to say it, these would look good on this car:



blanco: these were the black ones I was talking about in the other post

Ahhhhh, I can smell PF Changs already.......

[DoN_BLaZe34]

I agree..

i think the Fuga tails for the 08+ look much nice than the 06/07's..

[jonlex99]

06 M35x drop. The car rides great... And its a must with aftermarket wheels.....http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz30 ... C01941.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz30 ... C01949.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz30 ... C01948.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz30 ... C01946.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz30 ... C01944.jpg