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 Are these aftermarket flares?

 Created by: benino
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 Posted: Nov 28, 2019 08:40AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by benino
Thanks for your detailed reply!  I see some sportpack arches here on minimania here's the link:
https://www.minimania.com/part/DFK100470LML/Austin-Mini-Rover-Sportpak-Flare-Left-Rear-Side

but they are $200 each!   Do you happen to know of someone who makes decent reproductions?  I'd rather not spend $800 on new flares!

When you say they are 3.5" wide, is that a measurement straight out from the fender to the widest point, or measuring along the surface of the flare at the 45 degree angle along the surface of the flare.
You can find quality ones at Mini vendors in the UK but shipping costs will need to be considered.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Nov 27, 2019 07:20PM
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Yes, the genuine arches are expensive, but if time is money (i.e. if you pay someone else to install and paint them), probably worth it.

I don't have experience with the repro arches, I've only heard (indeed from the vendors themselves) that they are harder to fit and take more finishing time that the genuine ones. Maybe someone else has experience with them.

They are ~3.2 inches measured along the underside of the arch (basically representing the distance between the body and and outer edge of the arch) or ~4.2 inches measured along the top side of the arch from the top inner edge to the outside edge.

DLY
 Posted: Nov 27, 2019 03:52PM
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Thanks for your detailed reply!  I see some sportpack arches here on minimania here's the link:
https://www.minimania.com/part/DFK100470LML/Austin-Mini-Rover-Sportpak-Flare-Left-Rear-Side

but they are $200 each!   Do you happen to know of someone who makes decent reproductions?  I'd rather not spend $800 on new flares!

When you say they are 3.5" wide, is that a measurement straight out from the fender to the widest point, or measuring along the surface of the flare at the 45 degree angle along the surface of the flare.

 Posted: Nov 25, 2019 04:09AM
 Edited:  Nov 25, 2019 04:09AM
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They appear to be an aftermarket Sports Pack style arch, only enlarged (the original Sports Pack arches were of course original equipment to many of the last run of original Minis in the late 90s, and a popular retro-fit, oft copied.)

However, your examples look abnormally wide, even if your Sports Pack style wheels for some reason didn't have the OEM offset. A real Sports Pack arch would be 3.5" wide. Also, while OEM is made of flexible plastic, it isn't the flabby type of plastic that wrinkles the way your arches appear to.

An easy replacement that would IMHO improve the looks a lot (because these are much too wide) would be to get accurate Sports Pack arches. Genuine items are expensive but the best fit and finish.

Reproductions (either in fiberglass or flexible plastic) are less expensive but need some body work time to fit them and give them a smooth finish suitable for painting. If you have to farm out the prep and paintwork the OEM items could be a better value.

DLY
 Posted: Nov 24, 2019 10:27AM
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CA
What ever they are...they look absolutely ridiculous !  Get some proper ones that the wheels fill out

 

"Everybody should own a MINI at some point, or you are incomplete as a human being" - James May

"WET COOPER", Partsguy1 (Terry Snell of Penticton BC ) - Could you send the money for the unpaid parts and court fees.
Ordered so by a Judge

 

 

 

 Posted: Nov 24, 2019 08:19AM
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They look aftermarket. If your Mini is not a 1997 through 2000 they are more than likely aftermarket as the factory ones are expensive.
The fiberglass flares are stronger but you do have to massage them to fit and the mounting holes may or may not align.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Nov 24, 2019 08:07AM
 Edited:  Nov 24, 2019 08:09AM
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From the photos can you tell if these are aftermarket flares and if so, which ones?  

fender flares

wavy fender flares
I don't know much about the flares that came on these cars.  Mine are made of a soft-ish flexible plastic.  They also appear to be warped.  I'm not sure if they were always like this or if it happened with age.  You can see in my close-up picture that the arch is wavy instead of smooth  ( sorry about the poor quality photo ).  Is this an indication that these are aftermarket units or does that tend to happen?    It also appears that the flares are a little too wide for the offset of my wheels/tires. 

I like that they mount with hidden screws and that they fit well (cutout for side marker light, bumper & fender pinch weld).  But I don't like that they look warped and are a little too big.

A few of the mounting points have ripped off on my flares so I'm trying to figure out what to do about replacing them.