2025 is the year I’ve decided to start sharing my journey—the ups, the downs, and all the lessons in between. As a BMW enthusiast, my passion for these machines has always been more than just driving; it’s about solving real problems, creating meaningful solutions, and collaborating closely with the incredible BMW community that makes it all possible.
Today, I want to tell the story of E60/E64 belly pans—how your feedback shaped every feature, why we cut out the middleman, and how this allowed us to build a better product at a lower cost. This isn’t just another aftermarket part; it’s a community-driven solution to a frustration that’s plagued M owners for years. When I started designing these undertrays, I had one goal: create something I'd genuinely want on my own car—no half-measures, no unnecessary complications, just a high-quality, carefully engineered product that directly addresses the OEM shortcomings we've all experienced.
And like every EPM project, it all starts with a story.
The OEM Problem (and the Aftermarket Gap)
I learned the hard way about BMW’s felt-and-plastic design. Mine split 4 months into having the car, and for the next week, I heard it scraping on everything taller than a leaf. Clearly, the factory approach was focused on lightweight materials and aerodynamics rather than long-term durability. That’s fine in theory, but in the real world of potholes, track days, and daily commutes, it starts to fall apart—literally.
So I went looking for a better alternative. The handful of aftermarket options I found were either crazy expensive, cheaply manufactured, or required questionable modifications like drilling holes or cutting corners (sometimes literally). Even worse, some manufacturers simply slapped a flat piece of metal underneath, failing to address airflow, weight, or clearance properly.
I knew we could—and had to—do better. My vision was straightforward: create an undertray that solves every one of these shortcomings without any trade-offs. I wanted something durable enough for real-world use, that improves ground clearance rather than reduces it, enhances airflow for better cooling, and most importantly, installs with zero modifications. And I wanted to do it at a price point that any enthusiast would feel good about.
Why I Decided to Bring Production In-House
I knew that if I wanted to keep innovating, improve quality, and keep prices low, I needed total control over production. Bringing everything in-house was the obvious answer, but honestly, it scared me a little. Manufacturing isn’t easy. It means endless late nights spent refining designs, testing prototypes on my own cars, and constantly experimenting with new ideas (some brilliant, some not so much). But it also means freedom. I can spot an opportunity to improve something and have it ready to test in weeks, not months. No more waiting on other people's schedules or dealing with unexpected price hikes.
And here’s the best part: without the middleman markup, distributor fees, or extra hands in the pot, I’m able to deliver these undertrays at prices far lower than anyone else. For me, this isn't about making money—it's about getting as many enthusiasts as possible access to great parts without breaking the bank. I'd rather see a hundred more BMWs rocking our parts than charge premium prices and limit who can purchase them.
Another major reason for bringing production in-house is how much closer it brings me to the community. Your feedback has always driven what we do at EPM, and now, instead of just listening and wishing I could act faster, I can immediately incorporate your ideas into new designs. At the end of the day, taking control of production means I get to build exactly what I—and all of you—really want, without compromise. Sure, it’s more work, but it's work that I absolutely love. Because every time I send out a tray and hear someone say, "Man, I should have done this sooner," it reminds me exactly why I started this whole thing in the first place.
Listening to the Community: How Your Feedback Built the Perfect Undertray
To show everyone what I’d been working on, I shared an early prototype of the E60 M5 belly pan on Facebook—and honestly, I wasn’t ready for what came next. The response was incredible. Within hours, my inbox and DMs were flooded with amazing ideas from the community, each one offering a way to make the product even better.
I listened to every suggestion, tested the best ideas, and incorporated your feedback directly into the final design. Now, the E60 M5 undertray features a precision-cut opening for easy oil changes—no more removing the entire tray—and a removable wing that gives direct access to the oil filter housing. I decided to switch from powder coating to Cerakote Elite Blackout for our E60 M5 and E63/E64 M6 pans. Yes, powder coating would’ve been more affordable and good enough for most applications—but after hearing what they had to say, it was clear: Cerakote is the better choice, especially for those of us in harsh, wet, and salty climates like Michigan. But it still retains all the original features everyone loved: a full-width vent for heat extraction, protective grilles to shield the oil cooler and radiator from debris, and a seamless fit with OEM wheel liners—zero trimming required. Crafted from CNC laser-cut 2mm 5251 aluminum and finished in a durable satin-black powder coat, it bolts right up using the original hardware, just like a factory part.
Honestly, this kind of direct interaction with fellow enthusiasts is what makes running this business worth all the sleepless nights and manufacturing headaches. Talking cars with passionate BMW owners around the world and turning their ideas into real solutions—that’s my favorite part of the job. Could I have made things easier by outsourcing and charging higher prices? Sure. But that’s never been what EPM is about. I started this business because I wanted to give people parts I’d actually use myself, at prices everyone can afford. Cutting out the middlemen and controlling production directly isn’t always easy, but it’s the only way I can deliver exactly what the community wants—on my own terms.
This Is Just the Beginning
The overwhelming support from the community and the success of our current products have me fired up to keep expanding. Right now, we’re hard at work developing new undertrays and belly pans for the latest-generation G and F series BMWs, and I can’t wait to share more details soon. But to keep making these high-quality parts available at affordable prices, I need your continued support and input. Mass production is the only way I can keep costs down; small-batch runs could easily push these trays over $500 each, and that’s the last thing I want.
So keep sending your ideas, keep sharing the word, and let’s make sure every M enthusiast out there can upgrade their cars without breaking the bank. Making these products directly is a huge undertaking, but every time someone messages me saying, “How did I not know about these?” I’m reminded exactly why I started this journey. It’s not just about a better undertray—it’s about building a better BMW experience for all of us.
- Abdul