chrome wheel arches...

Post Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:44 pm

I'm probably going to have a look at a 320i Touring on Saturday...but the pictures I've seen suggest it has chrome wheel arches...and that leaves me with a couple of questions:

-I think they're ugly, so, are they easy(ish) to remove?
-will they be hiding a multitude of rusty sins? similar arches are famous for doing so on R107 Mercedes SLs...

I could be tempted into buying if the car is as solid as it appears and people suggest favourable answers to the above, but otherwise I'll hold out for better!

Post Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:24 pm

Very easy to remove but you have awnsered your questions. Like a tech 2 kit, they hold an endless amount of water and other crap.

Post Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:26 pm

Your right to want them off, I reckon they look awful.

Post Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:49 am

cheers! good to know.

by very easy, is it along the lines of "just pull" because they're only stuck on with some sort of adhesive, or is there more to it than that?

leaning more towards not buying it now, even though I haven't even seen it yet!

Post Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:56 am

lloydp wrote:cheers! good to know.

by very easy, is it along the lines of "just pull" because they're only stuck on with some sort of adhesive, or is there more to it than that?

leaning more towards not buying it now, even though I haven't even seen it yet!

you are right to be cautious, as i found out

i put these on my car and took them off 3 months later to find bubbling on the arches

they are not stuck on but clipprd on under the arches and are easily removed by just bending the lugs back, only took me about 5 mins to take all 4 off

but don't be put off by chrome arches, if they are fitted correctly they can do no damage atall when fitting all you have to do is smear a small amount of grease on the area that will be covered and make sure the arches are a tight fit.

Post Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:05 am

Get the seller to take them off when you go look at the car, and don't take no for an answer!

Post Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:12 am

I had chrome arches fitted (screwed and glued) to my old E28 back in the mid 80's and made sure the arches were properly prepped to prevent rust forming beneath. The car was still around up to a year or so ago and the last time I managed to get a good look, the arches still appeared to be in good nick. Odd how tastes change - I thought the car looked the dog's bo**ox' at the time, but I'd never commit the same travesty nowadays.

Post Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:35 am

Urgh, chrome arch extensions. I agree, ask the owner to remove them so you can assess any potential rusty nuggets hiding under there. It's more INSIDE the rear arches that is the problem though, easily identified by doing a burnout and seeing if any smoke seeps into the boot/cabin through the "ventilation" holes haha.

Post Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:35 pm

I hate these blooming things! makes the car look like a dog in my opinion. Just rust traps or rust hiders!!!lol

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:26 pm

If anyone's interested, I did go have a look at it on Saturday and took my dad along as well, being as he was able to give me a lift and a second pair of eyes is always good! The summary is that I didn't buy it, but I might have considered it if, a: he halved the price (and agreed to take the arches off) and, b: I had access to a garage/workshop.
I wouldn't mind a project but I'm just not equipped for facilities or time at the moment. I'd rather find something that is mostly right that is usable as my primary car but I can fiddle with a bit a time to get the rest just so.

So, we rocked up and he took us straight out to the car, at which point dad comments "those tyres look soft". Lo and behold three of the four are looking decidedly squishy. Not a good start. A wander 'round and squint along the lines doesn't show up any obvious rust or misalignment, but asking for the arches off didn't go down well. A quick poke from behind only showed a thick cake of dirt, but no apparent rust..(does no-one else rinse out the arches and underneath when giving the car a proper wash??

) Starting it up took a fair few turns of the starter, which suggested it had been sat for a bit, and it sounded pretty rough once it did get going. Not all the warning lights went out, and there were a couple lit on the check panel as well...at this point we pretty much stopped paying attention as I'd decided it was likely to need more work than I'm currently prepared for. The spin around the block was ok, no pulling on the steering at any point and it braked in a straight line...and then we left. Never mind, keep looking!

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:33 pm

ive got them on the car ive just bought ive taken them off and the arches are a bit rusty but that s ok with me i bought it to restore so gives me another job to do

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:34 pm

What was the sellers reason for refusing to remove the chrome arches?

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:39 pm

didnt ask them to be removed i wasnt bothered what its like

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:41 pm

my message was for lloydp

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:42 pm

oh sorry

Post Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:58 pm

He didn't really give a straight answer: something along the lines of 'I don't want to' and 'I think somebody will want to buy it with them on and I can't refit them afterwards'...I couldn't help but feel something wasn't quite ok there.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: the heater/fan controls appeared to do...absolutely nothing!