quick guide to replacing e70 wheel arches.

[mcgroa]

In case its any use to people, I recently got rid of my 214 20" kerb grinders, and replaced with with some more boring 19" 213. Hence I then changed the arches to the less flared variety.

Anyways the wheel arches were a challenge to source cheaply including rivets etc, but a skoosh to fit..

i) for wheel arches try ebay.de I got a set of non flared OEMs from a company in Germany for <200 euro shipped. To buy them I had to change my ebay country to Germany so watch for that. But I got the guy to reprice delivery and invoice me the extra.

ii) rivets are easy to find on ebay - search for bmw plastic rivet. (buy 2x what you need unless you are a pro- they snap v easily).

iii) rivet gun - get a "plastic riveter hand tool" from ebay (<20quid)

Since I had 19" on I think i might have had it easier to access for removing and fitting new rivets without taking wheels off.

So to the fitting -rear first
i) remove the original rivets by punching out the centre with hole punch and hammer
ii) I then screwed a screw into the hole and pulled rivet +screw out with pliers
iii) rear 2 holes on rear arches are pop out and resuable so just prise out with a screw driver.
iv) rear arches then just pull off starting at front end. Keep the white clip mounts that you now see, and watch out for rubber o-rings that go with them (they may stay stuck to body work).
v) fit the white clip mounts back to new arches and then stick em back on
vi) rivet back on being gentle to make sure rivet squishes tight before the peg snaps off. remember the back two holes on rears are for the removable pegs that you should reuse.

vii) for front arches you'll need to turn wheels to get all exisiting rivets out. same thing as back -punch out centre and then use screw and pliers to get off - more rivets on front, but no reusable ones so they all need punched out.

viii) be gentle prising off front arches after rivets out, the clips which this time are part of the arch itself are easy to mash, and can bend back on themselves as they come out.

ix) on front arches the 20 and 19 inch arches have a top hole in different position - so you will end up with a hole you cant rivet. I just blanked off by cutting an old rivet head and sticking on with mastic.

easy - whole thing only takes about 1hr.

posting this as i couldnt find a straight description of how to do it, but was impressed how easy it was.

[Minda]

Great write up, Surprised to see some one change to the smaller arches, did you not consider spacers with the 19's to fill out the arches

[mcgroa]

Good point hadn't thought of that. Was sick of the wife grinding the big ones, and the tyres are rip off expensive. I much prefer the more rubber less alloy feel of the 19. And winter tyres easier to find. I save the sports car ride for the sports car

[ashyj]

Hi

yes great write up! Iam about to upgrade to the flared wheel arches.  I have a set of used arches, but no rivets or gun, can you recommend exactly what size rivets and the type of rivet gun needed.

Cheers