(Knock-Off) 4.8is Wheel Arch Flares
 

Hey guys, I'm absolutely dying for wheel arch flares and since there just not to be found, at least for a price that I can afford at the moment..., does anyone have any experience with or an opinion on the knock-offs, such as these or others?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-X5-E53-...-/123719400510


Thanks in advance for your input, I'm open to all suggestions.

The 4.6iS comes with the rear ones from the factory and I purchased a full set of the fiberglass ones from eBay just for the front flares. They are not OE and have been fitted with mini aluminum rivets and I love them for the price. I still have the rear ones and would probably sell them if anyone was interested. These are the ones I purchased. They are already finished in black and did not require painting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143318218499https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1e4e89f2bc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b8fa2b4e93.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...abf18988e6.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...863278a971.jpg

Thanks Purp! That is exactly what I was looking for, a real world assessment. Those look great and I think I’ve had all the “convincing” that I needed in order to go ahead and pull the trigger. I also love the idea of attaching them with more than just the double sided tape that they suggest.

Did they come with the rivets or was that something you did yourself?


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They did not come with the rivets or anything to mount them. My friend had them and the tool and popped them in for me. Added some black paint to help them blend in. I've seen others including Jordy use small screws to mount them. Also, remember my rear ones are OE and fronts are eBay aftermarkets. These are a must have for any E53...

Are those 25mm spacers up front? Looks great.

I don't have any spacers installed.

Copy. A little closer look and I see just rotor. The wheel edge just seems to be out a little more than mine but I guess it is just an optical illusion from the picture. Thanks!

Could be! I think my 87s are italian aftermarkets with OE specs...

The aftermarket front flares look identical to mine. I debated years going with them and I was one of the guys that bought the factory front flares that come from the front edge of the rocker panel all the way to the edge of the bumper. $720 later :doh:

I have to say I can tell a difference in the OE vs Aftermarkets. If OE was in my budget I would have definitely gone that route...

I agree @Purplecty, the cost is what chased me away for several years. But once they started to become NLA, I pulled the trigger and bit the bullet. Once I installed them, stood back and looked at them, my reaction was, well, meh. Given what I know now, I probably would have left them off.

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...208_155506.jpg

That’s kind of where I was, but with the challenge of actually finding them and the exorbitant cost... I’ve decided aftermarket are going to have to be OK for me.

Roger that on the rear being OE and the fronts aftermarket, looking at yours I am totally OK with the outcome and am creative enough that I’ll get them on there, situated and blended in nicely [emoji106]

Looking at yours has me convinced that for less than $150, worst case.. that I really can’t go wrong. Looks like there’s going to be some knock-off flares on my E53 here in the near future!


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That's the thing with the E53 love affair, you just can't stop modding... :bustingup

You won't be disappointed!

I know... totally off my own topic, I got in touch with supersprint the other day and they said they could/would still make me a set of full length headers... but that they’d set me back $2900 bucks! - DOH. Needless to say I, sadly, knew that was coming, those suckers will have to wait - and will probably always remain just a dream of mine 🤪

I don’t know what it is about the E53 - but I just love the damn thing... problems and all, we just work through it!


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I have OEM set of fender flares for sale.

PM if interested.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9dfe5748fd.jpg
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