Mudflaps....

[Bigkid]

Ok so what's everybody's thoughts on mudflats on an '53 XJR...

I live up a private track and with a black XJR the slightest bit of rain and the car looks awful.

I realise to some the idea of mudflaps is at odds with the XJR's 'racing' demeanour, but I hate the mud up the side and the thought of stone chips damaging it too!

Has anybody fitted them (I'd get the genuine Jaguar ones) if so any photos of what they look like?

Cheers
Carl

[J44EAG]

Plenty on ebay or via OE Jaguar parts suppliers.

The front flaps are easier to fit than the rear ones. When parts searching, have a pad and pen handy. Grab part numbers and type into Google. You might be surprized at the bargains available. Use good strong key words when searching ie "Jaguar X350 mudflaps". Avoid aftermarket universal type flaps. They can be a huge pain to get to fit correctly.

I suffer the same mud annoyance as yourself when up at my muddy bolt hole in Kent. Just one trip up and back has the car looking as if it has been on the Lombard Rally. Flaps can be a double edged sword. Whilst the car stays cleaner, the mud gets between the flaps and the body work. When the mud is dry, it acts as grinding paste between the flaps and the panels. This acts as an abrasive which wears the paint down to the metal. I`d like to fit a set but that reason alone stops me doing it! I suppose you could bed the flaps into an appropriate coloured sealer and finger the joint in carefully. The problem is getting them off again if using a decent sealer. Don`t use poly-sulphide types such as Sikaflex 291...you will have to destroy the car to remove the flaps at a later date!

Mike

[BrianG]

I have the genuine Jaguar mudflaps fitted to my X350 and they are not that effective. As Mike says the rear ones are especially fiddly to fit, but they are reasonably unobtrusive, being actually quite small they don't hang down or stick out that much. Unfortunately this means that the bodywork can still get splashes - although I can't remember how bad it was like before I fitted them, so presumably better than with none fitted. The sills stay reasonably clean but the sides of the rear bumpers still get great splashes along their length. I'll take a photo when I get a chance.

[PaulGover]

Easy way to remove mudflaps: reverse over a kerb. Note: this may also bend or remove sills and other bits of car you'd rather retain

The danger of ripping the things when reversing is why I no longer fit mudflaps on any of my cars. I had them on my 1981 XJ6 for about a fortnight, by which time I'd reversed once to often, and all that was left on the near side was a mangled sill closing plate.

[J44EAG]

What we need then are some of those nice, big rubber floor mat types as fitted to the Lombard Group A cars! Practical if somewhat ridiculous!

Perhaps we should be driving Range Rovers at this time of year!!

Mike

[Bigkid]

Well thanks for the comments

I managed to find some photos of XJs with mudflaps fitted online, and they didn't offend me

So I took the plunge and ordered a set of genuine Jaguar front and rear mudflaps from Rimmer Bros.
At the same time (and to cut postage costs) I also ordered genuine Jaguar front and rear rubber mats, as my plush carpeted ones don't like the state of my driveway (aka mud/puddle infested track).
A non genuine boot liner has also been ordered, to try and protect the boot/stop things sliding about.

When its dry and I've fitted them all and cleaned her up I'll get some pics up

Cheers
Carl

[snaefell]

Hi Carl,hope you are enjoying your XJ,I bought my XJ back in October(not an XJR though,a 3.5 Sport,still a quite superb car IMO) & like yourself,one of my first thoughts were to fit mudflaps as it became a real mess really quick,I aquired the proper Jaguar mudflaps but have so far only fitted the front,I think like Brian I have been unimpressed by their effect,the car still gets to look a mess really quickly BUT something else has happened which has stopped me fitting the rears & prompted me to remove the fronts.
I also own another motor,to be specific a MK2 V6 Ford Mondeo,first registered in 2000,I have had it from 2004,at the time I was really into Ford Car Shows & spent silly amounts of money on it,one thing I did straight away was to fit the proper Ford Mudflaps front & rear,the rears have been removed a number of times for various reasons but recently the fronts were taken off ,first time since 2004,for a job which entailed removing the fender linings & I find that the paint has gone from behind where they were fitted showing rust forming,now sorry I fitted them in the first place as both front wings need attention to sort the problem,just something to bear in mind,OK probably not too many people keep cars that long but it just shows how doing something to protect the bodywork can end up damaging it!

[J44EAG]

As previously said, mud flaps in use can be problematical and their effect rather limited.

The flaps are either bolted or clipped to the bodywork. Unless sealer is used to stop up the gap between body and flap, then water and abrasive road detritus gets between the two parts and as the flaps move in general use and more specifically when hit on speed bumps or similar obstructions, the movement causes mud and filth to grind away the paint on the body work to leave bare metal.

Then there is the issue of trapped mud and water generally behind the flaps on the panel-work itself. Large quantities of damp road muck can collect. On a steel bodied car, that often causes rampant corrosion leading to perforated sections of panel work. No one needs that do they?

In theory, mud flaps should be helpful. In practice in my experience, they are just a pain which can lead to high repair costs in the long term. Are they ever worth the bother?

Mike K

[stypemike2245]

Hi all. just noticed my rear mudflaps are loose. after reading the threads i'll probably order some new ones. does anybody know what the brass coloured clip which has rotted and snapped away is called and where to find them. is there anywhere in particular on the web who can supply all the screw and bolt fittings for a x350. cheers mike.

[J44EAG]

If the X350 parts supply is anything like S-type, you will probably find the clips only come with the set of mud flaps.....typical Jaguar!

Best of luck.

Mike

[stypemike2245]

Hi all. Found the clips I mentioned. Apparently there called chimney clips and I’ve ordered a few sizes to play with.
Mike