The V8 Bike Bus
Discussion
It looks so much better now than compared to when you picked it up.
Did you need new wheel bolts 30mm spacers are relatively huge or do the spacers bolt on and the wheels bolt to the spacers?
If we're being picky then I think lighter tints would look better, the factory glass is probably tinted anyway.
Did you need new wheel bolts 30mm spacers are relatively huge or do the spacers bolt on and the wheels bolt to the spacers?
If we're being picky then I think lighter tints would look better, the factory glass is probably tinted anyway.
573 said:
It was a one off at a car show (Retro Rides) last weekend, as it was I slept in my tent anyway.
I also locked the keys in the boot when getting a beer out of the cooler. My mate drove all the way home to get the spare set.
Oh, didn't recall seeing this, did you leave it on the camp site? I'm one of the RR show staff.I also locked the keys in the boot when getting a beer out of the cooler. My mate drove all the way home to get the spare set.
Yeah it was on the camp site, too new for the show.
I know who you are, we've spoken a few times. We've come to all of the shows since the first one, usually in interesting retro stuff.
I built a '71 Viva De-Luxe to bring, but ended up selling it and being inbetween fun stuff at the wrong time.
I'm currently doing a house renovation and will lose the garage for a while. When it's done I'll have a 4 car garage to put fun stuff back into though.
I know who you are, we've spoken a few times. We've come to all of the shows since the first one, usually in interesting retro stuff.
I built a '71 Viva De-Luxe to bring, but ended up selling it and being inbetween fun stuff at the wrong time.
I'm currently doing a house renovation and will lose the garage for a while. When it's done I'll have a 4 car garage to put fun stuff back into though.
Edited by 573 on Saturday 25th May 12:41
573 said:
Yeah it was on the camp site, too new for the show.
I know who you are, we've spoken a few times. We've come to all of the shows since the first one, usually in interesting retro stuff.
I built a '71 Viva De-Luxe to bring, but ended up selling it and being inbetween fun stuff at the wrong time.
I'm currently doing a house renovation and will lose the garage for a while. When it's done I'll have a 4 car garage to put fun stuff back into though.
You should pop down to our monthly RR pub meet at the Black Rabbit in Arundel. 2nd Weds of the month.I know who you are, we've spoken a few times. We've come to all of the shows since the first one, usually in interesting retro stuff.
I built a '71 Viva De-Luxe to bring, but ended up selling it and being inbetween fun stuff at the wrong time.
I'm currently doing a house renovation and will lose the garage for a while. When it's done I'll have a 4 car garage to put fun stuff back into though.
Edited by 573 on Saturday 25th May 12:41
OP. This is awesome stuff love what you have done. I am looking at a 4.8 on Saturday and something pretty terrible will have to be wrong with it for me to back out now.
Very interested to know more about some of the ad ons you have done - in particularly the intravee unit. If I wasn't sold before I read your post I am now. Will post pics on the topic here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Very interested to know more about some of the ad ons you have done - in particularly the intravee unit. If I wasn't sold before I read your post I am now. Will post pics on the topic here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The ride is fine, most pics in the thread are in the 'access' setting. It automatically rises slightly when driving.
I've done a few more small tidying jobs, I'll try to update the thread soon. Other than that it continues to be good at what it does. It's recently started to receive a few compliments from complete strangers whilst filling up, something I'm more used to with the more interesting cars I've had but not so much an old X5. I even had a guy hanging out of a van filming it on the M25; He stopped alongside me in traffic and seeemd to know it was lowered on the original bags and told me he had a diesel one the same colour that he'd fitted the 4.8is wheels and bodykit to.
I've done a few more small tidying jobs, I'll try to update the thread soon. Other than that it continues to be good at what it does. It's recently started to receive a few compliments from complete strangers whilst filling up, something I'm more used to with the more interesting cars I've had but not so much an old X5. I even had a guy hanging out of a van filming it on the M25; He stopped alongside me in traffic and seeemd to know it was lowered on the original bags and told me he had a diesel one the same colour that he'd fitted the 4.8is wheels and bodykit to.
Lovely car OP. I used to kinda dislike these but probably because they were more common and thus more often modified with tat and driven by a certain type..
However now they're somewhat of a rare sight, an example like yours really does look quite handsome and the modifications you've made definitely for the better.
Regarding the tints, perhaps an option could be replacing them a subtle, light tint and picking up some detachable window blinds to use when you're sleeping inside? Something like this (not sure if an OEM option was ever available):
However now they're somewhat of a rare sight, an example like yours really does look quite handsome and the modifications you've made definitely for the better.
Regarding the tints, perhaps an option could be replacing them a subtle, light tint and picking up some detachable window blinds to use when you're sleeping inside? Something like this (not sure if an OEM option was ever available):
I recently came back to the Bike Bus to find another e53 parked next to it. I thought this nicely illustrated what the pictures don't always show very well; That is, how differently it sits compared to a standard X5.
One weekend over the summer we used it to go camping in the New Forest. It's smaller size compared to the later X5s was quite apparent and as a last minute effort to get everything in, removed the spare wheel and stored all the sleeping bags in the spare wheel well and attached the Thule roof bars I had from a previous E53 and put the remaining stuff on the roof.
I've also tidied a few things. First up I changed the cracked towball cover for a new one.
...and fitted a new bonnet badge in place of the old weathered one.
In a departure from changing most things back to standard I decided the black grille suited the car. So I bought a black plastic grille to fit in place of the chipped, painted, standard one. Unfortunately BMW don't make a black one for the E53 and the aftermarket one turned out to be a piece of ill-fitting crap. So I ended up stripping and repainting the OEM one until I can find a better solution. Whilst it's not a perfect solution as it's likely to chip again, it looks much better for now.
The MOT is due later this month so the next priority is to get the missing cat replaced and the rest of the exhaust changed to suit my preference.
Particularly like the shot next to the std X5. I never thought I could like an X5's looks, not least a lowered one, but it just looks so right, and that gen is ageing so well.Looking great - the little details will really finish it off. Actually really like the black grills. Mine has what I think are the original silvery / pearl coloured ones which need repainting along with the vents on the bonnet.
Would love to know where you got the wheel spacers and how they are holding up? I think that makes such a huge difference to the overall look of the car even though it's such a discreet little change.
Would love to know where you got the wheel spacers and how they are holding up? I think that makes such a huge difference to the overall look of the car even though it's such a discreet little change.
They're H&R spacers. More expensive than lots of others in the market but they're fully TUV approved and made in Germany. I wanted to trust them to hold a heavy 20" wheel on a 2 tonne truck and most of the cheaper ones available didn't give me that confidence.
Exhaust place is booked up past my MOT date so I'm now considering alternative places to have the new exhaust made.
Exhaust place is booked up past my MOT date so I'm now considering alternative places to have the new exhaust made.
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