Xoutpost.com - Plastic front fenders?!

Xoutpost.com (https://xoutpost.com/forums.php)

- X5 (E70) Forum (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/)

- - Plastic front fenders?! (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/65727-plastic-front-fenders.html)

Retired Profile

09-18-2009 09:29 AM

Plastic front fenders?!

I never knew this, but I recently discovered that the front fenders on the X5 are plastic!

Penguin

09-18-2009 09:39 AM

Yup.

rh71	09-18-2009 12:50 PM

it reduces weight, but does it reduce replacement cost?

FunfDreisig

09-18-2009 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkinner (Post 661325)

I never knew this, but I recently discovered that the front fenders on the X5 are plastic!

The whole front clip is composite: Fenders and bumper.

FWIW I've seen X5s that have been in a bad hail storm. Windowshields and rear hatch windows smashed in, roof, rear fenders (the flare out) and even the doors so severely damaged they looked like thugs had bashed on them with base ball bats. But the front fenders were unscathed :)

Funf Dreisig

rh71	09-18-2009 01:59 PM

Are they similar to what Saturn was touting quite a few years back with their dent-free exterior?

AUU 555

09-18-2009 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rh71 (Post 661386)

Are they similar to what Saturn was touting quite a few years back with their dent-free exterior?

While I was turning , I hit an OLD Toyota Hilux :confused: front side near the fog light !! and nothing happened except some paint scratches ! I think if it wasn't plastic more damages would happened.

AzNMpower32

09-18-2009 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rh71 (Post 661386)

Are they similar to what Saturn was touting quite a few years back with their dent-free exterior?

Yeah, pretty much. Except because its a BMW, no one will laugh at it. :rolleyes:

Naz24

09-18-2009 05:48 PM

If you look closely on the fender line on the right side, there is a little dent on all of them, the mold was not perfect

Weasel

09-18-2009 07:39 PM

If I remember right one of the reasone BMW went with the plastic on the front clip was due to more stringent pedestrian safety laws in either Europe or Germany... something about vehicle characteristics in the event of an accident with a pedestrian. I guess the plastic has more give and is easier of the person getting hit?

JCL	09-18-2009 09:51 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Pedestrian safety was a factor, but so was assembly cost. BMW outsourced the entire assembled fender. Good article on the Automotive Engineering website.

BMW X5 Plastic Fender Module

Quote:

Plastic Omnium, an established supplier of front end modules (FEM) as part of HBPO (Hella Behr Plastic Omnium), has developed the world’s first fender modules for the new BMW X5.
It says they offer better panel fit, improved pedestrian impact protection, weight reduction and greater freedom in the design of the front end as well as simplified supply chain and logistics and greater ease of assembly.
Pre-painted thermoplastic fenders are fixed to a structure that mounts the headlamps and washers, fog lights, indicators, windscreen washer reservoir, charge air and oil coolers and air guides, wheel housing, head impact absorber and airbag sensors. Modules are sequence delivered to the X5 assembly line fully assembled and ready to fit.

FunfDreisig

09-18-2009 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 661491)

Pedestrian safety was a factor, but so was assembly cost. BMW outsourced the entire assembled fender. Good article on the Automotive Engineering website.

BMW X5 Plastic Fender Module

Thanks for posting this link. While I was impatiently waiting for our 2009 X5 35d to be built I noticed that the Paint Shop at the SC factory only painted the metal parts. The front clip shows up later intact during Assembly. One of my questions was how they were able to match the paint. And now we know :)

Funf Dreisg

Fastbuck

09-19-2009 03:59 AM

16,000 variations of the fender module is insane. There must be a cost disadvantage there compared to a more rigid standardisation approach.

Bozz	09-19-2009 05:42 AM

So looking at this it should or would be easier to remove the headlight fitting by taking off the front side panel or not?

JCL	09-19-2009 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bozz (Post 661546)

So looking at this it should or would be easier to remove the headlight fitting by taking off the front side panel or not?

It appears it would be easier to remove the headlight once you had the entire front fender off (as in the photo) but that presumes you are taking the fender off anyway. I can't imagine that you would want to take the fender off just to remove the headlight, especially considering the potential for body and paint damage, and the time to disconnect the coolers. Also, the fender isn't the last thing installed; from the photo it appears that the bumpers and other items are installed after the fender, and so would have to come off first.

FunfDreisig

09-19-2009 02:41 PM

FWIW here is what the factory site says about the front clip...

"Like the drive train, a BMW’s front end is intricate and its assembly is choreographed down to the last detail. By the time it arrives at the main assembly line, it is a single unit, consisting of fender, headlamps, bumper cover, front grill, and radiator supports. The individual pieces arrive from suppliers and are assembled mechanically before the doors are added. Associates mount the now unified front end assembly to the vehicle, fill the AC lines with air, mount the vehicle’s wheels and tires and a new BMW touches ground for the first time. Approximately 36 hours after beginning its journey."

Funf Dreisig

meruyailir

09-21-2009 09:48 AM

The bad thing about the plastic fender (and extending to the upper front bumper part) is it doesn't seem to be molded well. It's very difficult to achieve a perfect symmetrical between the left and the right. If you notice the meet between the fenders and the hood between the left and the right, they aren't exactly identical. I notice that on new X5 in the showrooms.

rbryantaz

01-17-2019 01:01 AM

e70 fender to bumper mount missing and not replaceable...

3 Attachment(s)

My newly discovered issue with the E70 plastic fenders is that the mount piece breaks and isn't replaceable.... They look like they are originally attached with a tab but that can break free and also break off so they get lost.

My x5 had one missing so now I am out of luck unless someone has one or I can beg one off from someone selling a bumper on ebay...

If the plastic piece here breaks then there is no BMW part for it...

Attachment 75230
Attachment 75231

It comes only with a full fender (original picture shown with the part circled below:

Attachment 75229

Very annoying... Has anyone else encountered this?

I am tempted to have some of these made in aluminum if anyone else needs one let me know...

-Rich

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:17 PM.