I wanted my BMW X7 to look like an X5M, just without pretending to be one

This is a real owner story about a BMW X7 G07 customized with a body kit. The owner explains why he chose a restrained styling upgrade, how the installation experience went, and what it feels like to live with a visually sharper X7 in everyday use.

He is based in Lithuania and uses his BMW X7 60i as a family vehicle. For him, this project reflects owning a customized BMW with a focus on proportion, balance, and real performance alignment rather than visual exaggeration.

I drive a BMW X7 60i — big, powerful, fast. A proper family car. But when I first saw it in stock form, I felt the design didn’t fully reflect the way it drives. Too soft. Too polished. It looked more like a luxury shuttle than a car that can move the way this one does.

I wanted it to look more like an X5M — just without pretending to be one. Sportier, sharper, more in line with the engine under the hood.

I had already wrapped the car in matte PPF over the original Davit Grey paint and liked the contrast. I wanted a body kit that supported that — something that felt balanced, not overdone.

From an ownership perspective, LARTE Design stood out for its sense of proportion. I explored other brands, but many options felt either too aggressive or poorly integrated. The BMW X7 G07 body kit from LARTE looked precise and coherent. Even though I initially considered a carbon body kit, I chose a gloss black configuration instead. It aligned better with how I see the X7 — confident, not demonstrative. That balance is why LARTE felt like the right choice.

I saw the full carbon version first, but decided to scale it back. No hood, no carbon. I picked gloss black parts that matched my stock elements. To me, carbon suits an X6 Competition more than an X7. I wanted confidence, not show.

I spent about a week weighing the decision. I don’t make emotional purchases — not even with cars. I confirmed with my local BMW dealer here in Lithuania that the BMW X7 G07 styling wouldn’t affect the warranty, and once I was sure, I reached out to LARTE.

Alina was my contact, and she was extremely helpful — no pressure, just clarity. It was my first time working with the brand, but I felt confident in the quality and communication.

The installation was done locally. The local shop hadn’t worked with LARTE kits before, so there were some small challenges. The only part I wasn’t fully happy with was the tow hook cover — it didn’t feel quite as solid visually as the rest. But that’s a minor thing. Overall, the kit came together very well.

After the body kit installation, the X7 immediately looked more grounded and composed. Once the body kit was installed, most elements integrated cleanly with the factory panels. Over the first few months, the car proved stable in everyday use with a body kit. Looking back, the installation experience showed that even subtle upgrades require careful alignment and communication, especially when the work is done by a shop new to the brand.

Driving a custom BMW X7 G07 like mine feels more intentional than exciting. In real-world conditions, the car behaves exactly as before, but the perception changes. From a practical standpoint, the everyday driving experience remains calm and predictable, yet the vehicle feels visually more in tune with its performance. Living with a modified BMW in this form brings satisfaction through alignment, not through excess.

One year after installing the body kit, my own BMW X7 G07 body kit continues to feel appropriate and well-judged. The configuration hasn’t lost relevance in real-world use, and the gloss black elements still complement the matte finish. Looking back, this setup proved to be a long-term styling decision — subtle, consistent, and aligned with how the car is actually driven.

It’s still a family SUV — but now it looks the way it should have from the start. Not aggressive for the sake of it, just well-proportioned and more aligned with its performance.

I’ve owned Audi, Mercedes, and now BMW. I don’t care about the logo — I care about the outcome. And with this tuning for the BMW X7 G07, I got exactly what I was aiming for.