"Stealthing" an M5 Touring
Discussion
Saw an E61 diesel in the same colour as my M5 (Monaco Blue) and it had a black grill on the front. I thought it looked really good.
Did a quick google, and they're about £60, but not sure of the quality, and also not sure if there's an actual OEM black grill available.
On a US website I saw some side grills in black, without the M5 badging, and also thought they looked pretty good. That would just leave me need to de-badge the rear of the car, and then hide the quad exhausts.
Anyone got any views on this, or any links to reliable places to buy this stuff.
I'm am seriously considering getting rid of all the exterior badging, but not sure it's worth the effort when the quad pipes are such a dead giveaway.
Did a quick google, and they're about £60, but not sure of the quality, and also not sure if there's an actual OEM black grill available.
On a US website I saw some side grills in black, without the M5 badging, and also thought they looked pretty good. That would just leave me need to de-badge the rear of the car, and then hide the quad exhausts.
Anyone got any views on this, or any links to reliable places to buy this stuff.
I'm am seriously considering getting rid of all the exterior badging, but not sure it's worth the effort when the quad pipes are such a dead giveaway.
Hi,
The various detailers will be able to advise on how to cleanly remove the badge. I'd say it wouldn't really be worthwhile to try to hide the quad pipes, but if you *really must* then have an exhaust specialist make up two new back boxes with single exit pipes point downards, then get an E61 Sport rear bumper and fibreglass the single left side exhaust cut out and respray then fit.
Enthusiasts will still know you have an M5 due to the wing grille, unless you change those out with standard spec ones! enthusiasts will still know it's an M5 from the brakes as well !
Cheers, Dennis!
The various detailers will be able to advise on how to cleanly remove the badge. I'd say it wouldn't really be worthwhile to try to hide the quad pipes, but if you *really must* then have an exhaust specialist make up two new back boxes with single exit pipes point downards, then get an E61 Sport rear bumper and fibreglass the single left side exhaust cut out and respray then fit.
Enthusiasts will still know you have an M5 due to the wing grille, unless you change those out with standard spec ones! enthusiasts will still know it's an M5 from the brakes as well !
Cheers, Dennis!
To be honest, no one but enthusiasts (which there arent many in reality) know what the car is anyway so I wouldnt bother trying to be stealth.
I generally get a look of amazment when I tell peeps that it has a 5.0 V10 under the bonnet!
With this in mind:- shadow line grills...Yes (for looks only), exhaust mods.....No, imo.
Badges are dead easy to remove. Get a hair dyer on to heat and peel off!
I generally get a look of amazment when I tell peeps that it has a 5.0 V10 under the bonnet!
With this in mind:- shadow line grills...Yes (for looks only), exhaust mods.....No, imo.
Badges are dead easy to remove. Get a hair dyer on to heat and peel off!
omniflow said:
ok, genuine black grill ordered, and 3rd party black side grills ordered.
Any advice on removing the badge from the bootlid?
Thanks
hair dryer to soften the adhesive and then pry off with your finger tips or use dental floss. Mine has been debadged and I've thought about getting some side grills without M5 emblems and getting them painted in body colour.Any advice on removing the badge from the bootlid?
Thanks
Rear badge has come off no problem. Dental floss, then tar remover, then clay, then quick detailer - can't tell it was ever there.
Planning to put the side grills on without the M5 badging, but if there's a recess for the badge then that might look odd. Also MIGHT paint the side grills body colour, but I'll put them on as they come first.
For the moment I'm hanging on to everything that I'm taking off - I can always revert to current config if I don't like it.
Also, I need to take the sticker off from the supplying dealer - mine is on the inside of the back window. Contigo - I'd be focused on getting the dealer sticker off PDQ if that was my car !
Planning to put the side grills on without the M5 badging, but if there's a recess for the badge then that might look odd. Also MIGHT paint the side grills body colour, but I'll put them on as they come first.
For the moment I'm hanging on to everything that I'm taking off - I can always revert to current config if I don't like it.
Also, I need to take the sticker off from the supplying dealer - mine is on the inside of the back window. Contigo - I'd be focused on getting the dealer sticker off PDQ if that was my car !
omniflow said:
Rear badge has come off no problem. Dental floss, then tar remover, then clay, then quick detailer - can't tell it was ever there.
Planning to put the side grills on without the M5 badging, but if there's a recess for the badge then that might look odd. Also MIGHT paint the side grills body colour, but I'll put them on as they come first.
For the moment I'm hanging on to everything that I'm taking off - I can always revert to current config if I don't like it.
Also, I need to take the sticker off from the supplying dealer - mine is on the inside of the back window. Contigo - I'd be focused on getting the dealer sticker off PDQ if that was my car !
it is off now, that was from the dealers website prior to me having it.Planning to put the side grills on without the M5 badging, but if there's a recess for the badge then that might look odd. Also MIGHT paint the side grills body colour, but I'll put them on as they come first.
For the moment I'm hanging on to everything that I'm taking off - I can always revert to current config if I don't like it.
Also, I need to take the sticker off from the supplying dealer - mine is on the inside of the back window. Contigo - I'd be focused on getting the dealer sticker off PDQ if that was my car !
Why the sudden change to stealth mode? Surely the identifying factors like the quad pipes and strakes are what make this standout from the run of the mill rep diesels?
It's been on my mind since I brought the car, then on Friday night I saw a car with a black grill and that just re-started the thought processes. The car already has the shadowline trim round the windows, so the front and side grills are the only chrome on the exterior of the car. I just think it will look better. However, for some reason, I'm not keen on the idea of black or anthracite wheels.
I'll post up some pictures when I've done it.
I'll post up some pictures when I've done it.
Front grill now black, fitting them was a bit annoying but not too bad.
Side grills have now made it to Stansted according to the Fedex tracking site. Quite fascinating tracking a parcel from Taiwan - lots of stops en route. Worked out how to get the old ones out, and examined them. The little M5 badge is glued and clipped in, so I am assuming a couple of small holes, and maybe a flat recess. I think I might attack that with some bodywork filler and then a rattle can of black paint - but I'll leave the final decision until they arrive.
I will post photos when it's done.
Side grills have now made it to Stansted according to the Fedex tracking site. Quite fascinating tracking a parcel from Taiwan - lots of stops en route. Worked out how to get the old ones out, and examined them. The little M5 badge is glued and clipped in, so I am assuming a couple of small holes, and maybe a flat recess. I think I might attack that with some bodywork filler and then a rattle can of black paint - but I'll leave the final decision until they arrive.
I will post photos when it's done.
Finally worked out how to upload pictures (I hope)
De-badged, black front and side grills. Monaco Blue, black window surrounds and roof bars.
Don't think I want to colour the wheels, but I think a set of M6 options would look really cool - anyone want to swap + cash their way.
I'm also tempted to tint the front windows, but I think that might be a step too far.
Apologies if the photos are took big / poor quality.
De-badged, black front and side grills. Monaco Blue, black window surrounds and roof bars.
Don't think I want to colour the wheels, but I think a set of M6 options would look really cool - anyone want to swap + cash their way.
I'm also tempted to tint the front windows, but I think that might be a step too far.
Apologies if the photos are took big / poor quality.
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