Painting fender flares to match body??

[imtheant]

I love the look of the X5 M sports which have the painted, color matched fender flares and matching side skirts. What are my options since I own a 50i with the traditional black plastic flares? I would like to sell the running boards (PM me if you want them) and replace them with side skirts. Can my original flares be painted or do I need to replace them with a different kind (a traditional primed, ready to paint type) and then have them painted to match?

[gixxerboy63]

I may be doing this soon with my wife's X5 35d... already swapped the aluminum running boards for side skirts.

[imtheant]

Originally Posted by gixxerboy63

I may be doing this soon with my wife's X5 35d... already swapped the aluminum running boards for side skirts.

So can my existing fender flares simply be painted black or do I need NEW fender flares? Can you paint the stock textured OEM flares that came on the car?

[socale39]

You can have them painted but the paint shop will have to do some prepping which will inevitably be reflected in the total cost.

[KayTees]

I quoted a reputable paint shop that specializes in BMWs and they told me they would need to sand down the textured black pieces. They said it would cost roughly 1200CAD for all the black trims (flares/front lip/rear bumper) to be prepped and painted.

Originally Posted by imtheant

-SNIP-

[socale39]

if I have a black X5 I probably wouldn't even think about painting the flares and side skirts at all since the colors blend. Also you do have to remember that painted flares are prone to getting chipped easily from the dirt. That being said if you do paint them I'd throw some clear bra on it right away.

[P1]

Why don't you just buy the M Sport fenders and have those painted?

[socale39]

I don't think the m sport fenders will work on non m sport bumpers.

[mark_tdot]

I had mine painted in the summer.

I got quoted by a few places as well and you'd be surprised how clueless some of the reputable shops are regarding painting textured plastic.

I decided on a shop that does a lot of custom work..he knew his stuff!

The key is to paint everything and then sand it down after painting to get rid of the texture, then apply the clear coat.

Mine came out perfect and is as smooth as butter.

Paid approx $1500 CDN to have the front & rear bumper, fender flares, side skirts, and aero kit painted.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by socale39

if I have a black X5 I probably wouldn't even think about painting the flares and side skirts at all since the colors blend. Also you do have to remember that painted flares are prone to getting chipped easily from the dirt. That being said if you do paint them I'd throw some clear bra on it right away.

Agreed here, only because OP's X5 is black. Just keep the black plastic fender flares. They nearly blend in, and no risk of paint chipping.

Originally Posted by socale39

I don't think the m sport fenders will work on non m sport bumpers.

Hmm, the part #'s are different, but one appears to come 'primed' while the other doesn't. I can't imagine these parts are any different in regards to fitment

[mark_tdot]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Agreed here, only because OP's X5 is black. Just keep the black plastic fender flares. They nearly blend in, and no risk of paint chipping.



Hmm, the part #'s are different, but one appears to come 'primed' while the other doesn't. I can't imagine these parts are any different in regards to fitment

M-sport fenders will require a different rear bumper for sure (m-sport).

The front fender flares might work.

I would just stick with the plastic ones and paint them, really changes the look of it

[KayTees]

Originally Posted by mark_tdot

Paid approx $1500 CDN to have the front & rear bumper, fender flares, side skirts, and aero kit painted.

That sounds about right, I was quoted 1200 for front/rear bumper, near running boards and flares, basically any black textured painted. I was told, sand, prep 20-22 layers of paint? and then clearcoat

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by mark_tdot

M-sport fenders will require a different rear bumper for sure (m-sport).

The front fender flares might work.

I would just stick with the plastic ones and paint them, really changes the look of it :thump:

I'm not disputing the M Sport rear bumper is different front the Sport rear bumper (it obviously is, at least in terms of looks), but do you know for certain the M Sport wheel arches won't align with the Sport rear bumper? Not saying they will, but have never seen/read anything on here that said they wouldn't

[mark_tdot]

M-Sport rear bumper:

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...tonMeet102.jpg

Stock rear bumper:

http://data.motor-talk.de/data/galle...9357694530.jpg

Notice the shape of the flare won't match up with the bumper...not worth it unless you convert to m-sport bumpers.

[imtheant]

I have the textured side skirts arriving next week so once I swap them with the running boards, I will see how that looks. If anyone is interested in buying my alum running boards, shoot me a PM.

[mister_e46]

Originally Posted by socale39

if I have a black X5 I probably wouldn't even think about painting the flares and side skirts at all since the colors blend. Also you do have to remember that painted flares are prone to getting chipped easily from the dirt. That being said if you do paint them I'd throw some clear bra on it right away.

Thanks, I was just in my local shop discussing this and my contact says the fender flares look fine unpainted with black X5's. Good point about not having to worry about chipped paint. Plus cost savings of not painting is nice if both the unpainted and painted options look good.

Does the group feel that OEM fender flares are important, or would non-OEM options from eBay and other places look and fit just as nice?