Regarding quality of plastic, it's not the rigid plastic you get with Genuine. But seems sturdy enough and the thickness is about the same roughly 2.4mm.

 

Thanks for the post and review of the aftermarket piece. Generally, I've found any aftermarket plastic "skid plates" or covers to be somewhat or completely subpar. That's excluding some of the "porkchop" options from Ukraine. Some of those are quite good.

For the side pieces like you show, a thinner plastic is fine IMO as the main goal is reducing the general road debris from getting on components and hiding them from misc items that could grab on to lines, etc. if there was no cover. Even the stock/OE piece isn't strong enough to withstand much of an impact without transmitting it up to what's being covered.

 

Thanks for the post and review of the aftermarket piece. Generally, I've found any aftermarket plastic "skid plates" or covers to be somewhat or completely subpar. That's excluding some of the "porkchop" options from Ukraine. Some of those are quite good.

For the side pieces like you show, a thinner plastic is fine IMO as the main goal is reducing the general road debris from getting on components and hiding them from misc items that could grab on to lines, etc. if there was no cover. Even the stock/OE piece isn't strong enough to withstand much of an impact without transmitting it up to what's being covered.

Yeah agree on your comments here, as far as the sub-par options, there are several "bad" products out there.

I'm going to do the pork chops too and so far like this option: BMW E39 M5 2pc L+R SPLASH PANEL with rubber FRONT M5 BUMPER splash guard | eBay

If you or anyone knows of any reasonably priced alternatives, I'd much appreciate it.

 

Yeah, the prices are madness. That seems ok. I’ve thought about doing that and adding a coat of epoxy to hidden side to add some stiffness. Mine is also in bad shape ( just a 540iT, but the same part.

 

I will add that I just tried some front fender liners from Amazon. I think $60 for both sides. They are very flimsy and some of the holes needed opening to line up correctly. They are probably fine for normal conditions but I dont think they'd last on top speed runs or in winter with snow and ice being thrown at them.

 

An overdue update: I didn't use the right rivets and this happened on a 1-hour round trip to a friend's house. Put tape to hold it on for the return trip, but it failed in about 15 seconds. I have ordered another one and new OEM rivets. Also will get these installed with replacement wheel well shield and try to sure up fitment.

 

Aren't these underbody panels attached with metal screws and not plastic rivets ?

 

Assuming that broken part is 17 it gets fastened with 15 and 16.

 

The outer edge along the frame rail uses plastic push pins, the panels use a couple of #18s along the transmission tunnel too... 15&16 are for the upper edge of the pork chops where they connect to the fender liner

 

I just did my front fender liners with OEM - perfect fit and easy install. I was able to reuse the original push pin rivets. I’ve never seen plastic get so crumbly and brittle - they literally shattered into pieces taking them out. My underbody panels not in much better shape so need to do next - hope they are all still available.


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The pork chops and fender liners are also disintegrating. This was installed into broken parts and why it wasn't going to work. I've got pork chops on the way, and will try to install all of the new items at once. It's possible I get a new bumper too if I can find a paint shop I like.

Picture of the inside of the bumper currently. Remember this car parked outside for about 5 years in ATL suburbs before I got it.

 

^^ Are you guys LEGIT tossing out $1000 for a pair of OE fender liners??

BMW Fender Liner Front Right Lower (E39) - Genuine BMW 51712498990

BMW Fender Liner Front Right Lower (E39) - Genuine BMW 51712498990

www.fcpeuro.com

BMW Fender Liner Front Left Lower (E39) - Genuine BMW 51712498989

BMW Fender Liner Front Left Lower (E39) - Genuine BMW 51712498989

www.fcpeuro.com

 

^^ Are you guys LEGIT tossing out $1000 for a pair of OE fender liners??
That is insane! I replaced mine with genuine BMW porkchops back in 2014 for $56.00 per side.

 

Prices have gotten insane/NLA. Don't get me started about fuel tank breather valves...

 

I'm going to try these for the fender liners first: https://www.carparts.com/fender-liner/replacement/set-b222111

And these for the pork chops: probably same guy makes it as @ssclassa80

BMW E39 M5 2pc L+R SPLASH PANEL with rubber FRONT M5 BUMPER splash guard | eBay

Suitable for all m bumpers e39. box 2pc liners. Fenders are easy to install.

www.ebay.com

 

I'm going to try these for the fender liners first: https://www.carparts.com/fender-liner/replacement/set-b222111

And these for the pork chops: probably same guy makes it as @ssclassa80

BMW E39 M5 2pc L+R SPLASH PANEL with rubber FRONT M5 BUMPER splash guard | eBay

Suitable for all m bumpers e39. box 2pc liners. Fenders are easy to install.

www.ebay.com

Those are the same brand liners that I tried. Very flimsy and needed massaging to fit.

 

I was referring specifically to the pork chops. And yes I’ve seen those recent eBay ones with the rubber splash guard attached, and will probably order a pair myself.

I got the ones made in Latvia that were pretty rigid and it worked OK but I had to transfer the rubber over from the old ones and rivet it in place so the Fitment is kind of just OK.


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I got my pork chops from a manufacture in Ukraine.
Soft material with rubber attached .
All mounting points are accurate .
I did need to use a heat gun and wet towel , to make the fit perfect .
120.00 us is a decent price .

 

More pics, one of the liner where the mating area has disintegrated, and another of the inside of the front bumper.

 

This is ongoing. I've talked to a local shop, and will be getting a new front bumper. This stuff is hard to remove:

 

Looks like your bumper was previously repaired. Think that's light showing through the crack.

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Yeah, there is a hairline crack on the front side, bunch of scuffs and the two holes for front mounted plates.

 

Before you skewer me personally. Just want to clear up this was from the PO who kept the car outside in humid wooded Georgia and drove it infrequently for 5 years. Prior to that it was California owned by an Apple employee.

 

Ok so a long over due update... I've ordered additional liner/panels and have taken off the old ones. Some pictures should elaborate on the condition of the worst areas.

 

WOW, I think you win the award for most beat up chops/fender liners!!

 

Bumper is completely off as well, and taking a look at it further it's clear this was abused and glued back together. A new bumper is in my future, but for now will try to make this work.

 

So I'm replacing #17, like the OP. On my 6/2000 M5, along the outer edge, the forward most expanding rivet was different than the others. It didn't have the center post you tap in to lock it. Instead, it had a solid head with no center post. It was much more difficult to remove without breaking. Should all the expanding rivets along the outer edge be the same?

I'm planning to replace all the expanding rivets along the outer edge, but can't figure out the correct part(s) from the RealOEM diagram below and the photos I find on the internet. Is it #30,#27 or #24? Thanks, Cory

 

So I'm replacing #17, like the OP. On my 6/2000 M5, along the outer edge, the forward most expanding rivet was different than the others. It didn't have the center post you tap in to lock it. Instead, it had a solid head with no center post. It was much more difficult to remove without breaking. Should all the expanding rivets along the outer edge be the same?

I'm planning to replace all the expanding rivets along the outer edge, but can't figure out the correct part(s) from the RealOEM diagram below and the photos I find on the internet. Is it #30,#27 or #24? Thanks, Cory

View attachment 978127

All the ones for me were the #24 PN: 51498166702. It's possible your car had a rivet that was from an another area of the car, I believe those should be all the same. Part #26 on my car was shattered, but likely that's where #27 should have been installed.

 

Before/during/after cleaning behind the fender liner...

 

All the ones for me were the #24 PN: 51498166702. It's possible your car had a rivet that was from an another area of the car, I believe those should be all the same. Part #26 on my car was shattered, but likely that's where #27 should have been installed.

@TechKey - Thank you for responding. I'm finally back on this after months of dealing with a race car.

I ordered what was supposedly an aftermarket version of 51498166702 from FCP, but the diameter of the shank is too large, so I went to the dealer and bought the BMW part. It looks completely different than what's on my car. I think this might be a case of a prior owner (or more likely a subpar shop) putting incorrect parts on an old high mileage car.

Do the 51498166702 rivets on your car look like this?

The rivets along the rockers on my car look more like this, with a center pin.

Thanks, Cory

 

Sorry took a little time away myself. The second image there is what I had on my panels, should work. The other one looks like it could go on the radiator/front bumper area.