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Arch Extension fitting guide

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Pewters
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Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Pewters » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:41 pm

I have just fitted a set of Le Mans arches to my X5 and here is the info and how it was done.
First of all the arch kit will will be different depending if you have running boards or not.


51710017315 = Brushed Aluminum Running Board Retrofit Kit

51710398335 = LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (NO RUNNING BOARDS)

51710398336 = LeMans Special Edition Front and Rear Flares Retrofit Kit (WITH RUNNING BOARDS)

If you want to fit the 4.8is rear spoiler you will need to buy the kit seperate as no full kit is available that includes the 4.8is rear bumper extensions


3.0/4.4 – Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares (NO Running Boards).
NOTE: No Retrofit Kit available. You must buy all the pieces separately.

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 11 1 944 537 -- EXPANDING RIVET --------------------- 6
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 046 919 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT ------ 1
51 12 7 046 920 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT ----- 1
51 71 7 002 953 -- BLIND RIVET ------------------------- 30
51 71 7 049 867 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 049 868 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1
51 71 7 049 869 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 049 870 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1


3.0/4.4 – Aluminum Running Boards WITH Front Flares and 4.8 Style Rear Flares.
NOTE 1: Must buy RB Retrofit Kit (51710017315). Also, get the additional parts below which will REPLACE the wheel arches in the RB Retrofit Kit with FLARES.
NOTE 2: If you already have RBs, then you ONLY need the the parts listed below and 26 Blind rivets (51717002953).
NOTE 3: The Front and Rear Flares are DIFFERENT for vehicles with or without RBs.

Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 046 919 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT------- 1
51 12 7 046 920 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT------ 1
51 71 7 051 035 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 051 036 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 037 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 038 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1

This is what you get in the kit

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And this is a few of the tools needed

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A quick note before we start, the front can be done with the wheels on but the rear will need them removed due to the cutting required to the inside of the bumper.

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OK fisrt of all you need to remove the center section under the running boards by using a small screwdriver and a light hammer to tap out the middle of the plastic rivets (dont worry about losing the center as you can use the center of the new arch rivets that snap off)

The 2 either end of the center need to be pulled and for some reason broke when removed.

Image

So 4 of these were bought new 51 47 8 166 992

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Be careful not to lose the 2 clips on the rear of the center

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Once the center under the running board is removed you will need to do the same again with 2 rivets that attach the arches to the running boards

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Then starting at the front arch again tap out all of the plastic rivets holding the arch in situ

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Once you have tapped all the centers out and removed the remaining of the rivets the arch will simply pull away as this is all that is holding onto the car

Image

You simply just pull the arch out and away from the direction of the running board (depending on which arch you are removing) and it will come away easily and you will be left wih this

Image

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Of course mine was cleaned before refitting LOL

As for the rear there is a slight difference but again you just tap the rivets out and the arch will come free but there is a clip that needs just to be pulled away from the car that you can just see the green holder. NOTE: WHEN REFITTING I COULD NOT GET THESE TO LINE UP SO I LEFT THEM OFF AND IT AHD NO EFFECT ON THE THE ARCH FITTING AT ALL.

Image

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Also before you can pull the rear arch away form the running board you need to unclip the weather strip and the arch will simply pull away from the car towards the rear.

Image

Refitting is just the opposite to all the above but just make sure you slide the arch into the running board first. It sounds that simple but believe me the 4 arches are easy.
Now for the rear bumper extensions.....this is where it get tricky

First of all IMO the templates that come with the kit i did not use as you cannot be 100% sure they are fixed on the car in the correct position so i did this the old fashioned way, by offering them up to the car and making marks as to where i thought needed cutting.
I decided to cut off the 2 longer bits to get the actual fixings to touch the bumper to make my marks

Image

Once i was reasonably happy with the marks i used a dremmel to make my incisions starting at the top and working my way down checking all the time with the extension until i was happy. NOTE: DONT BE TOO WORRIED IF THE EXTENSION WILL NOT FIT TIGHT AT THE TOP AS THIS WILL BE RESOLVED WHEN YOU TRIM THE INSIDE OF THE BUMPER.

All done

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Then we need to move onto the inside of the bumper. All i did was to remove 2 srcews on the inner arch and using some wire hold the liner back (you can remove the bumper but it was done easily enough in situ). Then fit the extension and make where need to be cut away. Try and cut as little as possible as this gives the bumper strenth

All done

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All that needs doing now is to fit the extension and push on the fixings at the rear

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Once your happy the extension is a tight fit re-fit the arch liner. The last thing to do it one last rivet at the bottom bottom of the bumper extension that needs to be drilled and rivited to the bumper

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ALL DONE !!!
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Sanj
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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Sanj » Sun Aug 01, 2010 5:52 pm

I just wanted to post and say a BIG thanks to Pewters for his time and effort to put my arches on. They were done in May and they are still a better fit than any that left the factory! Nice one pal - here's one I took Friday with the skid pan but shows the arches...

Image
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Pewters
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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Pewters » Sun Aug 01, 2010 5:58 pm

Looking good with the skid plate matey :thumbsup:

Glad they are looking good still and i will fit them for others if you dont want to take them on yourself ;)
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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Hits553 » Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:28 am

[quote=""Sanj""]I just wanted to post and say a BIG thanks to Pewters for his time and effort to put my arches on. They were done in May and they are still a better fit than any that left the factory! Nice one pal - here's one I took Friday with the skid pan but shows the arches...

Image[/quote]


That Skid plate looks cool, is it OEM? Where did you get it from?

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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Pewters » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:04 am

It is OEM but it has to be imported from USA only.
Image

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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Sanj » Tue Aug 31, 2010 2:55 pm

As Pewters says, it's an OEM part from the US but I got lucky on eBay. The picture does it no justice - it's better in the flesh IMHO.
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Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by finnie » Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:09 am

What is the aprox cost for this and I'm a but confused. Which kit do I need for a car with alu running boards and mud flaps? 3.0d sport?

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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by x555 » Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:30 am

[quote=""finnie""]What is the aprox cost for this and I'm a but confused. Which kit do I need for a car with alu running boards and mud flaps? 3.0d sport?[/quote]

reading the above you will need the below mate..

NOTE 2: If you already have RBs, then you ONLY need the the parts listed below and 26 Blind rivets (51717002953).


Part Number ------ Description ------------------------- QTY
51 11 7 073 517 -- MOUNTING PARTS SET (REAR SUPPORTS) -- 1
51 12 7 046 919 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, LEFT------- 1
51 12 7 046 920 -- REAR SUPPORT BUMPER TRIM, RIGHT------ 1
51 71 7 051 035 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR LEFT -------- 1
51 71 7 051 036 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, REAR RIGHT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 037 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT LEFT ------- 1
51 71 7 051 038 -- FLARED WHEEL ARCH, FRONT RIGHT ------ 1
54 PLATE E53 3.0d X5 FACELIFT BLACK WITH BLACK

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Pewters
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Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Pewters » Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:57 am

From memory the kit is around £550 from Cotswold BMW (cheapest by far ) and all you need to order is the part number 51710398336....this is the Le Mans kit for use with running boards. Also with the kit the mud flaps cannot be fitted.


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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by jpbb_jonnyp » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:36 pm

Hi

Im new to the forum and just reading this topic.

I have a 2006 le mans x5 but i've lost the NSF arch extension.

The dealer quoted me £150 for a new one!

It this correct?

Can I get one elsewhere?

Thanks

Jonathan

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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Sanj » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:29 am

Welcome to the site Jonathan,

Sorry to hear about the wheel arch extension. These are suppossed to be difficult to get off (but not impossible).

The whole kit is around £475 from the $tealer and of course individual corners will be dearer. You are looking at the whole wheel arch for this price not just the extension piece that sits on top of this.

Stupid money for plastic. Unless you have any luck on eBay, a breakers yard, M-Style, cheaper fibreglass moulded kits sold on the web - they are your only option for the same look.
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Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Pewters » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:00 am

There has been a few questions about arch extensions recently so I case anyone missed this I'll just bump it up.


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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by Luigi_S » Tue Feb 06, 2018 11:35 pm

Anyone know how to get the photos working? I’m looking for some help in fitting my arches  :(

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Re: Arch Extension fitting guide

Post by X5Sport » Wed Feb 07, 2018 6:52 am

Photobucket stopped permitting 3rd party hosting so it will need the original poster to repost using a different uploader.  He is still about so you could try a PM  :)
Last edited by X5Sport on Wed Feb 07, 2018 6:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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