Wide arches and no running boards?

[Smonkbmw]

Can the wide arches be installed and look ok with no running boards?
I just picked up a '13 35i with running boards and already ordered the parts to delete them. Now I'd like to add the wide arches but can't find a pic or search where it's been done.
It appears the arches stop where they meet the boards but I'm not 100% sure.
I plan to run the stock 19s with bc coilovers along with spacers. And now I'm thinking the wide arches would look really good as well.

[heatmizr]

Look at some close up pics. On mine I have no added running boards, just the stock M-Sport fender flare arches and whatever piece goes along the bottom of the doors. They are still "mini running boards", in body color.
The arches end at the top edge of this bottom piece. (the rear of the front arch, and the front of the rear arch).
So, if you are putting this same bottom runner piece on INSTEAD of the added running board, I assume they would fit together as designed.
Can you post a pic or link to the 'delete' piece you will be installing?

[Smonkbmw]

I believe it should be this piece with the support also

[heatmizr]

Hmm, hard to tell but that looks equivalent to what is on my vehicle, though possibly slightly diff where the top edge on yours is creased out a bit further.
So, if you mount that, and the top edge of the front 3" and the rear 3" protrude from your current fender body areas then the arches should mate to those top protruding edges... A bit difficult to put into words.
Post your address here and I can send you a pic of mine, you can see how the arches mate to the runner piece I have on my M-Sport.

[sunny_j]

I have the sports package trim without the running boards and I think it looks great

[Smonkbmw]

The painted flares look awesome on the m sport package cars. But my car and what I'm looking at is the add on textured black flares that come on the sport pack cars (315 rear tire cars). As much as I'd like to paint the flares it would be a serious respiratory as I'd end up painting the textured black sections on the bumpers as well.

[Smonkbmw]

Finally found a picture on Craigslist of all places (ad for 22" Forgestars)

I have the pieces in my garage to delete the running boards and I bought the flares already. Just waiting to get a hitch so I can do it all at once. I'll have to wrap my gnarly chrome trim too.

I'm stoked, this will look good!

[CMendez]

The only issue I've noticed with this is where the rear arches meet the rear bumper. The M-tech painted arches meet up with the much wider M-tech rear bumper. I think the textured arches taper where they meet the bumper to meet flush. Let's see if these will work:

Could be my imagination, but it seems like the flare is different. If so, painted arches require changing the rear bumper.

[Smonkbmw]

Originally Posted by CMendez

The only issue I've noticed with this is where the rear arches meet the rear bumper. The M-tech painted arches meet up with the much wider M-tech rear bumper. I think the textured arches taper where they meet the bumper to meet flush. Let's see if these will work:

Could be my imagination, but it seems like the flare is different. If so, painted arches require changing the rear bumper.

Yeah I will be in the non painted category. Wish I could have found a m tech car but what I got was a good deal.

I'll update this soon as I can round up the last of the parts.

[CMendez]

Same, looking to do this with my diesel since the stock 18"s are no bueno.

[Smonkbmw]

Originally Posted by CMendez

Same, looking to do this with my diesel since the stock 18"s are no bueno.

Im going to run my 19s with spacers. Just don't have the money for bigger wheels and even worse the tires to chew through!

[jiggz]

The wheel arches and wider stance will definitely enhance your look.

Those black textured/non-painted wheel arches will also help you avoid paint damage that is well documented on the M Sports that have body matching painted arches - wide stance with no running boards to help keep the fronts from kicking up debris and causing paint damage. What color are you side skirts going to be, will you have those painted body color? If yes I'd have PPF applied right away.

I'm not good at posting pics here but my M Sport rear wheels arches and rear portion of the side skirts have significant paint damage - I have silver dollar sized patches of missing paint along with a ton of of smaller chips. In the process of getting quotes to have it all stripped and resprayed, along with PPF.

[Smonkbmw]

Originally Posted by jiggz

The wheel arches and wider stance will definitely enhance your look.

Those black textured/non-painted wheel arches will also help you avoid paint damage that is well documented on the M Sports that have body matching painted arches - wide stance with no running boards to help keep the fronts from kicking up debris and causing paint damage. What color are you side skirts going to be, will you have those painted body color? If yes I'd have PPF applied right away.

I'm not good at posting pics here but my M Sport rear wheels arches and rear portion of the side skirts have significant paint damage - I have silver dollar sized patches of missing paint along with a ton of of smaller chips. In the process of getting quotes to have it all stripped and resprayed, along with PPF.

No, I'm not having them painted. It will be all textured black as stock to match with the inserts in the front and rear bumper.

[Smonkbmw]

Installed the skirts and my eBay flares today. All in all it turned out ok. I'm not thrilled with the flare fitment. Yes I understand I get what I paid for but I didn't think these were something that would be difficult to screw up.
I'm leery of spending the money on OEM flares as I don't know if my issue is the part or the fact that the plastic I'm trying to clip new parts to is 5 years old.
I bought spacers from VRSF and they sent me ones that the hub bore is to small. so those will be going back which irks me as my car now looks REALLY funny with wide flares and these tucked wheels.
But it is what it is I'll get it figured out.

[Smonkbmw]

Pics

[Smonkbmw]

Pic set 1

[rodnex]

Pics are not working.

Wider flares and tucked in wheels are super hilarious.
I've had that too lol

[Smonkbmw]

Originally Posted by rodnex

Pics are not working.

Wider flares and tucked in wheels are super hilarious.
I've had that too lol

Yeah I was pretty annoyed when I figured out the spacers wouldn't work on top of the flares not fitting right.

[Smonkbmw]

Finally found correct hub bore spacers and now running 15mm front and 25mm rear. I ended up going back to the stock flares as the fitment of the eBay ones was driving me nuts and I couldn't see spending $4-$500 on the stock wide flares.
Now I'm just waiting for Bilstein B8s to come back into anyone's (national back order?) inventory so I can put my H&R 2" drop springs on.

[rodnex]

You can always use a heatgun and fix the ebay flares to good fitment.

When running stock wheels with wider flares, you can go 40mm spacers at the back and 30mm in the front.

I just installed ebay flares, but all color coded... and I am happy. No way I will go back to the base skinny flares