After finding tire dressing slung onto the underside of the car behind each wheel, I began to look at the body angles and wheel positions. I am certain after a few years that stones and road dirt will be thrown off the wheels right onto the underside of the rear panels because they are undercut so deep. It looks great for style, but the wheel well isn't wide enough to protect the body paint with these factory supplied tires and wheels. I would understand if I put 18 or 19 inch wheels on a car that came with standard 17. But these are factory design wheels (I blame bmw).
So I am contemplating adding mud flaps (maybe BMW option?) at least on the rear. (No, not like a truck splash guard with a naked girl silhouette.)

I don't see it as a looks issue. No discussion of this anywhere yet.

Now, chime in of pros-cons.

 

I think they are a good idea. I have seen a couple of pics with mud flaps here on the forum and they looked just fine. Plus I would rather protect the car anyway. Flaps would help a lot.

 

As you can see from my sig, I am a proponent of mud flaps. I have added to every car I have owned for years to protect the areas, front and rear, that are unprotected from tire-driven road debris and spray. I always thought of driving on wet roads as a high pressure dirty water blasting for the paint, particularly behind the wheels.

 

Can mudflaps be painted body color or does that somewhat defeat the purpose?

 

I had some custom splash guards installed on my 530i. Check this link for install pics.

It would be cheaper to repaint mud flaps than your fender. Probably wouldn't las long though because the texture of the mudflap wouldn't hold the paint very well.

I thought the truck had mudflaps and cars had mudguards or splash guards?

Anyway, its worth it to get some kind of protection because those areas are definitely exposed to damage from pebbles, dirt, etc.

 

I've fitted them front and back......essential in my mind!...The dealer added them as a throw-in freebie

 

another view

 

I like the mudflaps but I guess hardcore BMW fans are not too keen on them.. Spoke with people today about them and they tried to talk me out of it. Now I am undecided again.

 

I suppose It depends a lot on your climate, here in Scotland we have a lot of what I call "Glasgow wet floor "days....not actually raining but pretty damp underfoot...without mudflaps, the whole back end of the car gets covered in road crud.

Now if I lived in sunny florida or similar, I wouldn't bother with flaps!

 

I got the mudflaps. You barely notice them and keep the sides clean.
They don't like my chromed 124s either, but its my car.