Aluminum Running Boards
 

I did a search and checked out the articles, but I'm still not clear on one thing: If I buy the aluminum running boards (I found some on eBay), do I also have to buy fenders? I have an '03, 3.0, non-sport. Should I just order OEM from my dealer? what's the deal? Help! :(

thanks, guys!

Juan

Fenders are included in the OEM set and they are wider (than stock) at the bottom part where they connect to the running boards. The eBay seller should have them as part of the set, if not then skip it and buy somewhere else or from the dealer. The set should also include the plastic rivets and bolt screws.

Thanks, Eugene. I may just have to buy them from the dealer to ensure proper fit... :thumbup:

Juan

OK, now I'm confused. I happen to be at the dealer right now -- car's in for service, and I was looking at the X5 accessories catalog. The running boards on the catalog also stated "not compatible with fender flares," but I don't have the fender flares. Mine is the "normal" non-flare, non-sport X5. The flares to which the catalog refers are these bolt-on flares, and I KNOW I don't have those.

I asked my SA and he says they fit my car... so, what gives? :dunno:

thanks!

Juan

When they say "its not compatible with the fender flares",they mean that if you have a 4.6/4.8 you need to buy separate fenders when you buy the aluminium RBs.

Thanks, man. That's what I needed to know. :thumbup:

Juan

Juan, I have the fender flares set which come with the OEM running boards as I bought the flared arches. In case you buy just the running boards from eBay, you can have the brand new non-flared wheel arches from me.

Juan, I got mine from this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-X...spagenameZWDVW

$550 + $50 shipping, total out the door for $600. Kit included everything. All I needed to buy was the Napa rivet gun for $25. Good luck.

Yup! That's the same one I was looking at. I've also heard that there is some issue with rivots, and that one would be wise to buy extra ones? True? If so, is that something that is readily available at the stelaer?

Thanks for all the info, guys! My SA wants to buy my original wheels and tires, the funds from which I am gonna use to buy the RBs. :D

Juan

I fitted the Bmw oem RBs kit and although I have a lift(elevator),I was able to fit the kit without jacking up the car or removing the rear wheels.It is correct that there is an issue with the plastic rivets in the kit(or should I say ,the lack of them!) but fortunately the RBs kit also comes with spare "push-in" plastic plugs and these are your godsend because instead of using the rivets on the bottom of the rear fenders,you use the plugs because you cant get the rivet gun in the bottom holes without removing the rear wheels! The finish of these plugs is similar to the rivets.
Furthermore,you will be able to re-use some plastic plugs from your existing fenders.