Whats that plastic thing under E36 3 series

[E36Bimmer]

if you look under the side skirts there is a little piece of plastic hanging down looks like a miniture mud flap? i dunno anyone know what im talking about? what the hell is it?

[KERSCHER]

if you get some nice sideskirts then you wont be able to use the stock jack. thats what those are for.

the stock jack will work if you get some oem m3 sideskirts or what not but then they dont look good either.. I have to use those onder the car everytime i jack it up..

[tb0ne]

if you get some nice sideskirts then you wont be able to use the stock jack. thats what those are for.

the stock jack will work if you get some oem m3 sideskirts or what not but then they dont look good either.. I have to use those onder the car everytime i jack it up..

I don't think he's talking about the jack pads. It's a little plastic flap that hangs down - I have no clue what it's for either, but I have seen it.

[KERSCHER]

hmmmm

could it be for the aerodynamics or something?

[E36Bimmer]

I don't think he's talking about the jack pads. It's a little plastic flap that hangs down - I have no clue what it's for either, but I have seen it.

yea thats the thing

[jwogen1]

those have perplexed me as well, the only thing I came up with is maybe it helps deflect water from the front tires, due to it being RWD?????????????????

[Winkster25]

those have perplexed me as well, the only thing I came up with is maybe it helps deflect water from the front tires, due to it being RWD?????????????????

hmmm maybe you are onto something...

[Fly N Drive]

hmmmm

could it be for the aerodynamics or something?


Due to the high power these cars will generate (certainly close to an F1 car) you need those flaps to help keep the car from lifting off the ground. So when you go from 0 - 100mph in 1.5 minutes...you'll be happy you had those flaps. No, now seriously..BMW's handle so well because of those flaps..its all about the flaps...uh...yea...the flaps.

[Jam Boy]

...it helps deflect water from the front tires..

This is what I have been told as well.

They are commonly refered to as "porkchops"

They are in front of the rear, as well as the front tires...

[lovesm3s]

well it's probably something with aerodynamics. I don't think it's meant to really deflect water coming at your car although it could. But it's just moving air around the tires when you're driving so you can get grip and not lift. That's my guess

[FierySphere]

Ok, here's the theory *I've* heard:
They deflect air around the tire, to reduce cabin noise. Since the tires are aerodynamically very turbulent, by streaming some of the airflow around, rather than at them, there is less wind noise.
Of course, mine had been ripped off by various jacks and lifts over time ...

[Robert]

Since no one seems to know the part numbers to these:


plastic rear flap - Drivers - 51 71 8 130 071

plastic rear flap - passenger - 51 71 8 130 072

In the parts catalog those flaps are labeled "Trim Pnls".. Trim Panels I guess..

[kyleabaker]

Since no one seems to know the part numbers to these:


plastic rear flap - Drivers - 51 71 8 130 071

plastic rear flap - passenger - 51 71 8 130 072

In the parts catalog those flaps are labeled "Trim Pnls".. Trim Panels I guess..

interesting, i've wondered this my self. all i could come up with is that they were used to keep mud and water away from the joints up behind them. they look cool tho i think.mine are showing signs of wear and tear.

[XR7Gto328iS]

interesting, i've wondered this my self. all i could come up with is that they were used to keep mud and water away from the joints up behind them. they look cool tho i think.mine are showing signs of wear and tear.

They're "lift flaps". Someone else in this thread had it right - they're there to help keep the car on the road at speed.

[Dnz]

You must be kidding..?

I was pretty sure it would be more to do with smoothing the air around tyres rather than keeping car better grounded..

[extremebigdog]

They are bump warning plates. When you drive over the bump on the dirt road before your old house and they get scraped off then you know that was too high of a bump.

[FierySphere]

If'n yer house has wheels, and yer car doesn't...you might be a redneck. :evil2

[Robert]

It seems these flaps don't last long at all.. I'm glad they are only $3.60 each.

[kyleabaker]

It seems these flaps don't last long at all.. I'm glad they are only $3.60 each.

what are they call? so i know what to look for at bavauto.com.

[Jeffrie]

Lol lift plated........
Their their to help keep road grime off the rear calipers.
In 4 wheel disk cars an old problem was the rears calipers kept seizing making people think 4 wheel disk was crap. theis flaps makes them last alot longer.

[Shogun328I]

Jeffrie,
That is an interesting take however, if that were true why are they behind the front tires and in front of the rear tires? The Air theory makes sense too but again it seems that noise would be reduced with only the rear set?

[leedawg]

Um actually they are both in front of their repsective wheels. BUt I have no idea what these are for either ive always wondered. My rear ones are afalling apart so I just tore them off :D The fronts are in great shape.

[Jeffrie]

Same reason for the front, their are calipers at the front too, road spray/grim doesn't always come from the car your driving, following traffic is just as bad as your own front tires are to the rear. Less of a degree since theirs alot more heat produced by breaking up their then the rear produces so they dry off quicker.
Can see both flaps in my sig pic. I still have them,can't say the same for my hockey pucks.

[CdnR328i]

I took mine off years ago.. I noticed an increase of about 10whp!!!!!! Someone please chime in and give a definitive answer on this!

[M52 POWER!]

Deflects air downwards to push water/debris out of the tires way.

[leedawg]

I took mine off years ago.. I noticed an increase of about 10whp!!!!!! Someone please chime in and give a definitive answer on this!
FOr sure I dynoed out at bout 15 RWHP increase when I removed mine. It goes even higher if I put on my leather driving gloves. :D

[kyleabaker]

guys, come on, if you read this you would see that it was answered a little while back, that was settled, the last post you guys did read was when i asked what they were actually called. I am wanting to replace mine sometime soon because they are looking pretty rough these days. thanks

[anawrot]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I want to replace these too.

So is this what they really are (from bavauto.com)? And does anyone know the part number for the little plugs/screws that hold them in.

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