• H&R’s VTF (Adjustable Lowering Springs) is a lowering solution tuned to work with the OE M Adaptive dampers to help BMW M enthusiasts dial in the perfect fitment.
• BMW M Performance add-ons, like the pass-through roof spoiler and carbon fiber mirror caps you see here, bring OE-quality fitment into the aftermarket world.
• 22” Vossen Forged S17-04 wheels in a unique marbled finish exude a high-end Alpina feel that befits our Velvet Blue X5 M Competition’s overall aesthetic.
• Future Classic’s newest accessory—titanium Ferrari-style M14 lug bolts—gives our X5 M Competition the perfect finishing touch.
• Thompson Performance Group (TPG) helped us install our latest X5 M Competition mods flawlessly and this round of upgrades brings it one important step closer to its debut.

Aside from adding performance, there’s no greater satisfaction you get from modifying a car than from visual upgrades. Standing still, improvements to suspension, aero, wheels, tires, and other accessories help distinguish your car from the pack, and on a BMW Individual M SAV, that separation matters.

Choosing the right components is the most difficult part. On the aftermarket side, there’s no shortage of suspension, wheel, tire, and accessory options in today’s marketplace, which makes the vetting process a long and cumbersome endeavor. The relationship between each of these is extremely important; pick the wrong wheel or tire size in relation to your suspension’s lowering range, and the car will look disjointed. After all, the phrase “a sum of its parts” is predicated on the parts working in harmony rather than a hodgepodge of “stuff” that you had lying around.

(OE)M PERFORMANCE

Opposite the gargantuan menu we had available for suspension, wheels, tires, and accessories, the Turn 14 Distribution x BMW CCA F95 X5 M Competition is a Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) model. The update is still relatively fresh, which means aftermarket aero companies haven’t gotten their hands on the M SAV for development. As a result, our options here were slim; only one company stood out as a viable option: BMW M Performance. BMW M Performance parts benefit from the extensive achievements of the BMW motorsport programs, a trickle-down of technology that supplies enthusiasts with traditionally aftermarket upgrades straight from the dealer.

Understandably, the manufacturer has a massive jump over any aftermarket outfit, so the BMW M Performance program—for any chassis—is often the first available. In our case, we were still out of luck, so we chose two mods that are cross-compatible with other G05/F95 models: a flow-through roof spoiler (51-19-2-471-124) and carbon fiber mirror caps (51-16-8-077-001).

The former is a “stacked” roof spoiler (a base with a flow-through upper attachment) that comes pre-painted gloss black as a ready-to-install piece. Although the factory X5 M Competition roof spoiler is neatly channeled and paint-matched, it fades into anonymity against the M SAV’s towering profile. The flow-through spoiler’s base is admittedly a downgrade on its own, but once the upper section has been fitted, the rear of the X5 M Competition takes on a sportier appearance.

You might not be able to tell the difference between stock and BMW M Performance carbon fiber mirror caps from 30 feet away, but up close, there’s a perceivable upgrade between the two. As you’d expect from an OEM part, the directional weave is millimeter perfect and snaps into place with a satisfying click.

HOW’S YOUR GERMAN?

For years, SUV owners have had slim pickings when it comes to aftermarket suspension solutions, and often at opposite extremes: fixed-level lowering springs or full-blown coilovers. H&R found a way to close the gap between these camps; its “VTF” line (23023-1)—its version of the Adjustable Lowering Spring—is an enthusiast-focused kit that affords its owners three important things: 1.) a more aggressive lowering range (1.8” vs 1.5” on fixed lowering springs), 2.) the ability to adjust the suspension’s height to suit a variety of fitments and usages, and 3.) a way to achieve these aims without breaking the bank.

Right out of the box, the springs are top quality (as you’d expect from H&R), and the adjustment collars are equally well-engineered for the task at hand. Replacement bump stops and lubricating fluid—which makes turning the collars on the car a breeze—are both included, too. If you need to lower your M SAV any lower than this, you’ve probably bought the wrong car.

LOOKS TO KILL

Vossen isn’t a company that has 40-50 years of history to back up its brand, but what it lacks in experience, it makes up for in ingenuity, imagination, creativity, and an intimate connection to what its fanbase craves. Today, its “we can do anything” approach has allowed the company to create over 200 wheel styles and nearly 50 unique finish options for a wide breadth of platforms. And as the modern enthusiasts have gradually moved into the SUV market, so too did Vossen. It’s the reason why Vossen was at the top of our list for this Turn 14 Distribution x BMW CCA Dream Car Raffle build.

We ultimately picked a 22” S17-04 wheel, a striking radial style that evoked serious Alpina vibes. Jereme Montenegro, Vossen’s account manager, urged us to go adventurous with the finish: “Marbled with Brushed Face Light Smoke” is what we ended up with, and much like the color on the X5 M, eagerly awaited their arrival to know whether we’d made the right choice.

Once we pulled the first wheel out of the box, our choice was quickly validated. It was a seriously handsome combo that we knew would complement the other discerning mods well. To our surprise, there was a personalized touch from Vossen on the backside of each wheel barrel, an engraving that read: “Built for BMW CCA x Turn 14”.

A FINISHING TOUCH

The 22×10 and 22×11.5 wheels were mated to Vossen’s recommended tire sizes and rolled back over to the X5 M Competition for fitting. But before we did that, a surprise showed up: a Future Classic M14 titanium wheel bolt set. It was so new that the company’s signature packaging wasn’t finished, but that didn’t take anything away from how beautifully machined these lug bolts were.

These titanium replacements were designed to mimic Ferrari’s OE bolts with a 17 inset as opposed to the more traditional six-point impact socket. As you can imagine, FC’s set looks considerably high-end compared to the factory BMW bolts and comes with the right tool to fit the lugs correctly. You couldn’t have asked for a better pairing with Vossen’s wheel finish. After popping the center caps in, we were excited to finally see the Turn 14 Distribution x BMW CCA X5 M Competition back on the ground.

ALL COMING TOGETHER

We were overjoyed with the outcome; all of the exterior upgrades, from the roof spoiler to the suspension and the wheels, lofted our X5 M Competition to new heights. We all had high hopes for what our first X5 build would become, of course. But I think we were unprepared for how good the result would look. The final task of the day for Thompson Performance Group? Getting it over to the alignment rack for a couple of tweaks. I still have a hard time believing that we’re giving this X5 M Competition away to one lucky BMW CCA member next month. Will it be you? Check out the full YouTube episode below to see how this chapter came together from start to finish.

Thank you to Akrapovič, BMC, CSF, Future Classic, H&R, Thompson BMW, Genie Company, Vossen, and XPEL for contributing to this year’s grand prize build.

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