2017 BMW X5 F15 Very Mild Mod

[Jinnah]

Hello friends, I am posting this since it was very hard to find any info on lifting a BMW X5 F15. The only place where I could find a kit for it (they also make lifting spacers for all makes and models apparently) was Spaccer from Germany (Spaccer.com). They provide up to 60mm in lift solutions. I ordered 3 (out of a maximum of 4) spacers that provide 45mm of lift. But since I am testing the waters, I installed only 2 spacers for a total of 30mm (1.18 inches). I am posting photos of the spacers installed. Note that the ground where I took the pictures was not level, that is why you see the car a little tilted. Next stop will be tires. The OEM size are 29" diameter 255/50R19 on all four corners. I already ordered Cooper Zeon LTZ 255/55R19, that are 30" in diameter. Could not install a higher profile tire because of the suspension arms in the front tires, 30" is the most I can install without having to do some extra modification, which I do not want to do. As soon as I install the tires I will post photos.

 

[haaken675]

Its too bad there aren't a lot of mods for these suv's. It's one of the main reasons i bought an lr4 for my wife over the x5. I think some companies are starting to make "lifts" for the older x5's, so maybe that will start trickling up.

 

[Wasting Time In The Woods]

Looks like you've got room for another inch or two of rubber now. You might benefit even more from dropping rim size to the smallest you can fit on the rotors to get some more air in there too. I drove an MDX for the last dozen years and took it a bunch of places it had no business being but I gave up on lifting it because there were not a ton of good options and I knew finding a lift for it would have been the end of the journey rather than the beginning. I switched to a GX last year. I'd be interested to see how a crossover fares with a set of KO2's and a mild lift. I think AWD is more sure footed because of torque vectoring, just not sure how the half shafts would hold up to a bunch of slipping on a more hardcore trail. On the other hand an AWD cross over can do 45MPH around hairpin turns on graveled forrest roads, so... that's fun too : )

 

[Jinnah]

Looks like you've got room for another inch or two of rubber now. You might benefit even more from dropping rim size to the smallest you can fit on the rotors to get some more air in there too. I drove an MDX for the last dozen years and took it a bunch of places it had no business being but I gave up on lifting it because there were not a ton of good options and I knew finding a lift for it would have been the end of the journey rather than the beginning. I switched to a GX last year. I'd be interested to see how a crossover fares with a set of KO2's and a mild lift. I think AWD is more sure footed because of torque vectoring, just not sure how the half shafts would hold up to a bunch of slipping on a more hardcore trail. On the other hand an AWD cross over can do 45MPH around hairpin turns on graveled forrest roads, so... that's fun too : )

I am also a Toyota fan, and have had 4Runners, Tacomas and Prados (this are the GX twins, albeit less luxurious), and I can confirm that this AWD system is a little better for getting traction (just traction in 4WD High, I am not counting the low range, etc), the only one that I had with better traction was a 2007 Prado with factory rear lockers, that thing was almost unstoppable, I really liked that SUV. But it had one mayor flaw. And it was that when the air suspension failed (it failed me twice in the 5 years I had it), it failed 100%. You had to drive it to the dealer for repair at 25 km/h at the most, otherwise risking spine injury because of the harshness of the ride. Imagine that happening outdoors. Now, on the durability of the suspension components, that might be quite the opposite. But since I do not plan to do anything prohibited jejej, it might just work, we'll see.
As for fitting a bigger tire, the limiting factor is this suspension arm, that just allows a little bit bigger tire.

 

[Wasting Time In The Woods]

Oh, yeah, looks like you're stuck with what you got. I hear you on the GX air suspension I have it and love it but I know it's a risk. Mine has 150K on it and the dealer says the air springs still look great but it does cross my mind once in a while. Good luck with the build!

 

[dhwood]

What about going with aftermarket suspension all together? I am wanting to buy a X5 35d, and am toying with the idea of putting aftermarket struts on with double shocks in the rear for better towing capability and would support a larger range of lift kits.