Please tell me what the small piece of plastic that hangs under my car is

[Kram71]

Please tell me what the small piece of plastic that hangs under my car in front of each rear wheel is. I will post a picture to show the location. Is the plastic needed? Its a bit of a eye sore. Do people cut it off?

[SunzOut]

They are "Ducts" - designed to deflect air around the rear tire. Easy to remove - 2x10mm plastic nuts. Someone sells metal versions as well.

[BimmerBreaker]

I did some searching but couldn't find metal replacements, sounds like a great idea though. Know who sells em by any chance? My coupe is missing both of them and I'll snag some for the roadster too if they aren't too expensive.

[E.Hands]

Strong-strut: http://www.strong-strut.com/aerodevice.htm

[BobSarley]

Strong-strut: http://www.strong-strut.com/aerodevice.htm

Aluminum, $120.00 delivered for the pair.

[TexaZ3]

They are like $12 each from BMW for the plastic ones though, so...

[Tib]

BMW part numbers for them?

[ADAz3M]

Aluminum, $120.00 delivered for the pair.

you can really sell BMW owners just about anything lol

[BimmerBreaker]

They are like $12 each from BMW for the plastic ones though, so...

Yeah, thats the route I'm going to take...

[Kram71]

Thanks for the replies guys. I had no idea it was a functional piece. If it does a job I guess I might as well keep it. I thought it was just a broken piece of molding or something like that. Maybe I will paint it a darker black LOL.

[BimmerBreaker]

Thanks for the replies guys. I had no idea it was a functional piece. If it does a job I guess I might as well keep it. I thought it was just a broken piece of molding or something like that. Maybe I will paint it a darker black LOL.

Yours do appear broken though. They should be relative straight and standing upright. Yours may be mangled. Check the below links to see what intact pieces look like to compare to yours. As I recall on mine they sit a little closer to the tire when in good condition

BMW part numbers for them?

51718398827
51718398828
May be cheaper elsewhere FWIW

[jdmaflac]

Another part to I need to replace, thank you guys for the info!

[ScottMZ3]

Yours do appear broken though. They should be relative straight and standing upright. Yours may be mangled. Check the below links to see what intact pieces look like to compare to yours. As I recall on mine they sit a little closer to the tire when in good condition

51718398827
51718398828
May be cheaper elsewhere FWIW

LOL, what is with some dude's drivers license on that ECS website? Last photo if you scroll to the right on the 51718398827 part.

Glad I saw this page though, just went and looked at my car and both sides are obliterated! I'm guessing they have never been replaced. For only $16 a pop I think I'll replace them.

[BimmerBreaker]

LOL, what is with some dude's drivers license on that ECS website? Last photo if you scroll to the right on the 51718398827 part.

You get a driver's license for a Mr. Thomas Klayko with every order of that trim piece.

It is one of the many perks of buying through ECS

[Vintage42]

...
51718398827
51718398828
May be cheaper elsewhere FWIW

$16 each from ECST sounds good to me. But my car built in 10/96 and bought with 32,000 miles has no indication of ever being equipped with such air ducts. I wonder where and how they mount? To the rocker panel, or the fender liner?

[JoshS]

$16 each from ECST sounds good to me. But my car built in 10/96 and bought with 32,000 miles has no indication of ever being equipped with such air ducts. I wonder where and how they mount? To the rocker panel, or the fender liner?

6-cylinder variants only.

[BimmerBreaker]

1.9's don't go fast enough for these aero pieces to make a difference

[robb1887]

95 for some rivoted and coated aluminum?!?! I'd make my own before that!

[Nighthawk399]

you can really sell BMW owners just about anything lol

Lol I totally agree, We assume they cool brakes or setup air currents underneath the car for the rear wheel but....We arent quite sure how well they work.

[Vintage42]

1.9's don't go fast enough for these aero pieces to make a difference

That's why I need'em. Make me fast like a six. Up here in Kentucky we call such things Tennessee Go Fasters.