Running Boards & Flares Explained

[TwinsPoppa]

First, this is not the end-all/be-all for running boards and flares, etc. For example, I didn't list parts for 4.6/4.8 spoilers/diffusers - there's already an article on this.

I did this to help answer most of the common questions. Another thing, I took some liberties on some things like the amounts of blind rivets you may need. If it is part of a kit, I listed what BMW says comes with the kit. Also, I renamed some items so that its easier to identify what is what.

Later, I will add pics and diagrams so you can see what they look like installed.

I may add more later when I have time - like the black RB and other related items.

Please let me know if I missed something or listed some incorrectly. I'm not perfect!

Lastly, I wanna say it was a BITCH to format this post! LOL!

How to use this guide:
Just look for the heading with your model and what you want to end up. It will explain what you need to achieve that package. Pay attention to the NOTES for each configuration.


3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards ONLY.

NOTE: 51710017315 = Brushed Aluminum Running Board Retrofit Kit (contents below).

Running Board Retrofit Kit Instructions


Part Number ------ Description -------------- QTY
07 11 9 915 093 -- HEX BOLT WITH WASHER ----- 18
51 11 1 944 537 -- EXPANDING RIVET ---------- 20
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET -------------- 26
51 71 8 267 301 -- CLIP --------------------- 4
51 71 8 402 333 -- WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT --- 1
51 71 8 402 334 -- WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT -- 1
51 71 8 402 335 -- DOOR SILL COVER, LEFT ---- 1
51 71 8 402 336 -- DOOR SILL COVER, RIGHT --- 1
51 71 8 402 337 -- WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT ---- 1
51 71 8 402 338 -- WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT --- 1
51 71 8 403 077 -- FOOTBOARD, LEFT ---------- 1
51 71 8 403 078 -- FOOTBOARD, RIGHT --------- 1
51 71 8 408 677 -- FOOTBOARD COVER, LEFT ---- 1
51 71 8 408 678 -- FOOTBOARD COVER, RIGHT --- 1


3.0/4.4 – Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares (NO Running Boards).

NOTE: No Retrofit Kit available. You must buy all the pieces separately.

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 11 1 944 537 -- EXPANDING RIVET --------------------- 6
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 046 919 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT ------ 1
51 12 7 046 920 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT ----- 1
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 30
51 71 7 049 867 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 049 868 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1
51 71 7 049 869 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 049 870 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1


3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares.

NOTE 1: Must buy RB Retrofit Kit (51710017315). Also, get the additional parts below which will REPLACE the wheel arches in the RB Retrofit Kit with FLARES.
NOTE 2: If you already have RBs, then you ONLY need the the parts listed below and 26 Blind rivets (51717002953).
NOTE 3: The Front and Rear Flares are DIFFERENT for vehicles with or without RBs.

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 046 919 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT------- 1
51 12 7 046 920 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT------ 1
51 71 7 051 035 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 051 036 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 037 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 038 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1


3.0/4.4 – LeMans Special Edition Style Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (NO Running Boards).

NOTE: 51710398335 = LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (contents below).

Install Instructions for LeMans SE Retrofit Kit (Thanks PeteM)

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
01 29 0 402 662 -- TEMPLATE FOR REAR SUPPORTS ---------- 1
51 11 1 944 537 -- EXPANDING RIVET --------------------- 6
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 148 517 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT ------ 1
51 12 7 148 518 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT ----- 1
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 30
51 71 7 049 867 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 049 868 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1
51 71 7 049 869 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 049 870 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1
51 71 8 219 511 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 2


3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH LeMans Special Edition Style Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit.

NOTE 1: Must buy the RB Retrofit Kit (51710017315) and LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (51710398336 - contents listed below).
NOTE 2: If you already have RBs, then you ONLY need the LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (51710398336).
NOTE 3: The LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kits are DIFFERENT for vehicles with or without RBs.

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
01 29 0 402 662 -- TEMPLATE FOR REAR SUPPORTS ---------- 1
51 11 1 944 537 -- EXPANDING RIVET --------------------- 6
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 148 517 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT ------ 1
51 12 7 148 518 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT ----- 1
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 30
51 71 7 051 035 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 051 036 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 037 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 038 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1
51 71 8 219 511 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 2

3.0d LeMans Blue Special Edition came with aluminum running boards and front/rear flares standard. These flares are the same as the retrofit kit sold when buying optional 20" wheels. The rear flares are different from the 4.6/4.8 rear flares.


4.6/4.8 – Front Flares ONLY (NO Running Boards).

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 14
51 71 7 049 867 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 049 868 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1


4.6/4.8 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH Front and Rear Flares.

NOTE 1: Must buy the RB Retrofit Kit (51710017315) and the additional parts below which will REPLACE all your wheel arches.
NOTE 2: The Front and Rear Flares are DIFFERENT for vehicles with or without RBs.
NOTE 3: If you already have RBs, then you ONLY need the Front Flares below and 14 Blind Rivets (51717002953).
NOTE 4: If you only want to add RBs, and no front flares, then just buy the rear flares below (If you don't want to re-use your old ones - NOTE 5).
NOTE 5: You can choose to save money by re-using your REAR 4.6/4.8 Flares. See this thread: How to re-use rear flares


Part Number ------ Description --------------------- QTY
51 71 7 051 035 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT ---- 1
51 71 7 051 036 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT --- 1
51 71 7 051 037 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT --- 1
51 71 7 051 038 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT -- 1

[mrbmwx5]

Thanks jose for tutoring me on this stuffs. LOL

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

Thanks jose for tutoring me on this stuffs. LOL

You're welcome!

This was a pain to cross-reference and double-check on realoem.com and the BMW ETK.

Hopefully, this will cut down on having to answer the same questions all the time about running boards and flares.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Hopefully, this will cut down on having to answer the same questions all the time about running boards and flares.

[X5 Meister]

Beautiful work! Attach pictures and post that sucker on the home page, pulleeeze.!

[X Foomph]

Wow, thanks Twins. That was a lot of work to put together, I'm sure all the members appreciate it, I certainly do.

I have intentions eventually of installing flares to my X, therefore I will be following item 3 being: 3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares.

I have one little question please. Will the fact that I have rear mud flaps installed already require deleting them or can they be left on post installation of flares ??

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

Wow, thanks Twins. That was a lot of work to put together, I'm sure all the members appreciate it, I certainly do.

I have intentions eventually of installing flares to my X, therefore I will be following item 3 being: 3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares.

I have one little question please. Will the fact that I have rear mud flaps installed already require deleting them or can they be left on post installation of flares ??

You're welcome!

I'm not positive but its a good bet you can't keep your mud flaps. The rear support bumper trims (lower parts of the rear flares) need to be installed where the mud flaps are attached.

[X Foomph]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

................... ........ ..........................
....................... ........................

I have one little question please. Will the fact that I have rear mud flaps installed already require deleting them or can they be left on post installation of flares ??

Hi Jose,
I was trolling through ebay (Aust.) today and came across something that reminded me of you and the above question. It appears that their is an oem mud guard to go with the flares (middle and bottom RHS). Interesting thing is that the appropriate mud guard to go with flares looks nothing like what I have.

Also the flares on the 2nd X with the yellowed out number plate look completely different to yours and others, what gives ??

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

Hi Jose,
I was trolling through ebay (Aust.) today and came across something that reminded me of you and the above question. It appears that their is an oem mud guard to go with the flares (middle and bottom RHS). Interesting thing is that the appropriate mud guard to go with flares looks nothing like what I have.

Also the flares on the 2nd X with the yellowed out number plate look completely different to yours and others, what gives ??

First, the X with the yellowed out plate is the same as in my first post under 3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH LeMans Special Edition Style Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit.

See the last link on my post before your post. It will explain about the Euro only Special Edition X5s.

Second, those pics of the mudflaps look like they are rubber mud guards that were added. I don't know if those are OE or not. I have never seen them. I've only seen the kind that you have. So, yet ANOTHER mystery to be solved

[X Foomph]

Thanks, I thought that might have been the case. When all said and done the flares win hands down as far as improving the overall look of the X. Plus I'm not into off roading whereby I'd need the flaps for mud n stuff.