[Kyriva]

Effduration was kind enough to send a set of touring mudguards for me to scan. As most of ya'll know, they're no longer in production, and it's such a low volume product that it's really not worth creating in large batches. My goal is to scan and recreate a good CAD model. After verifying the fit of the CAD model on my touring, we can outsource the production to a company like Shapeways to produce the mudflaps out of either Nylon, TPU, or PP.

I'm in charge of 3d printing/scanning/rapid prototyping at my workplace. I have access to FDM printers, but we mainly print in ABS, which would not be a good choice for this application.

Here are some test fitting pictures on my touring of the mud guards Effduration sent. I will not be running these, as my touring has been lowered too much for New Orleans already.

The scanner used is an Artec Spider. It uses a combinations of cameras and light projection to scan to an accuracy of 0.05mm . The main issue with scanning these mudguards, aside from wear and tear, is there is slight deformation while they're sitting on my table, as they're made from LDPE to be tough and flexible.

The scanning process is relatively simple. I take a few scanning passes with the scanner on one side, then flip the part over, scan the opposite side. The software performs the task of lining up all the scan data together. After the raw scan data is aligned, the software performs a bunch of trigonometry and matching to reduce/refine the point cloud and fuse it into a solid model.

So far I've only managed to scan the mudguards. The passenger rear guard has some heat damage, but I can repair the model by mirroring the driver's side. These raw scans are good, but the next step is to fix any scan and parts defects. There were some blind areas that the scanner was unable to reach, but I will be able to extrapolate that data by applying a shell thickness. After the scan has been cleaned up, my next step will be to simplify the models enough to pull into CAD software to create a parametric mesh.

I am guessing I will not have that part finished until mid September, as this is just work done on my limited spare time.

 

[vtwagon]

Wow! This is awesome. That looks like way more work than I thought it would be.

Very happy someone with the knowledge and skills decided to take this up. With the carbon fiber mudguards dead on arrival, this is a very welcome initiative. Thanks to you and to Effduration for lending out the goods.

 

[yjsaabman]

This is where all the different walks of life car enthusiasts come from really comes in handy! Thanks for sharing the process with us!

 

[Effduration]

I love waking up and reading the words Parametric Mesh in the morning.....

Big-time THANKS to Kyriva for taking this project on, He is the right guy for this project and we are lucky to have him in this group.

Also a big shout-out to my 17yr-old nephew as well.. It was his decision to loan out these mud flaps for scanning.. After owning three E46's, a head gasket, a summer spent in mechanic's shop, and a current manual swap, he is well on his way to becoming a true Fanatic...

 

[daniel_f.]

So these are genuine BMW mudguards?

 

[///Mark_D]

Those are some clean scans. Pretty amazing how much better the technology has gotten recently.

For the mud flaps, I'd be interested in comparing these eBay parts to actual OEM to see what the differences are. Has anyone else installed these?

4x Mud Flaps Splash Guard Mudguards for BMW 318i 320i 323i 325ci 328Ci 330Ci E46 | eBay

BMW 328Ci E46 2000 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 330Ci E46 2001-2006 Convertible Front & Rear. BMW 330Ci E46 2001-2006 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 325Ci E46 2001-2006 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 325Ci E46 2001-2006 Convertible Front & Rear.

www.ebay.com

I bought a set a couple of months ago and they're still in a box uninstalled. Holding them up into place the fit seems pretty good. The rear flaps fit my standard touring bumper, but not so much on my MTechII rear bumper. The shape of the bumper is slightly different near the bottom with a larger radius on the MTech vs a more squared off shape at the bottom on the standard bumper.

It would be awesome to create a version of mud flaps that fit the MTechII rear bumper properly.

 

[Kyriva]

If you wait long enough, I'll have an Mtech2 bumper, but I'm spending that money on new bilsteins first 😂.

 

[daniel_f.]

Those are some clean scans. Pretty amazing how much better the technology has gotten recently.

For the mud flaps, I'd be interested in comparing these eBay parts to actual OEM to see what the differences are. Has anyone else installed these?

4x Mud Flaps Splash Guard Mudguards for BMW 318i 320i 323i 325ci 328Ci 330Ci E46 | eBay

BMW 328Ci E46 2000 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 330Ci E46 2001-2006 Convertible Front & Rear. BMW 330Ci E46 2001-2006 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 325Ci E46 2001-2006 Coupe Front & Rear. BMW 325Ci E46 2001-2006 Convertible Front & Rear.

www.ebay.com

I bought a set a couple of months ago and they're still in a box uninstalled. Holding them up into place the fit seems pretty good. The rear flaps fit my standard touring bumper, but not so much on my MTechII rear bumper. The shape of the bumper is slightly different near the bottom with a larger radius on the MTech vs a more squared off shape at the bottom on the standard bumper.

It would be awesome to create a version of mud flaps that fit the MTechII rear bumper properly.

How's the fitment at the front? I'm tempted to buy the exact same to match my Rough Road Package

 

[burntoutrubber]

In for a set when they are ready

 

[heyguyswaitforme]

Thank you, these seem like an awesome alternative. I'd also be interested in a set when/if available.

 

[Residew]

Great work. Interested, myself.

 

[///Mark_D]

How's the fitment at the front? I'm tempted to buy the exact same to match my Rough Road Package

I'll have to do some more test fitting on the fronts, I haven't really done a whole lot with them. I'll get some pics tomorrow.

 

[daniel_f.]

Just got my set of chinesium mud guards and for the price they are doing well.

 

[Residew]

Just got my set of chinesium mud guards and for the price they are doing well.

View attachment 960593
View attachment 960592

Been looking at a few cheapo ebay options but was concerned about fitment. These actually look pretty good. Which ones were they?

 

[George Hill]

What does a set of factory mud guards go for these days? I just picked up a car with them and not sure I'm gonna keep them.

 

[vtwagon]

What does a set of factory mud guards go for these days? I just picked up a car with them and not sure I'm gonna keep them.

Like $10 or so. Send em over here!

Honestly, I’d say probably $100 if they’re in nice condition. I bought a semi beat up set of sedan units for $60. Up to you though, the real answer is what someone’s willing to pay. BaT? 😂

 

[daniel_f.]

Been looking at a few cheapo ebay options but was concerned about fitment. These actually look pretty good. Which ones were they?

Pretty much the ones Mark_D showed up this thread, except i ordered a set from Germany. But they look identical.

 

[George Hill]

Like $10 or so. Send em over here!

lol

 

[Geo31]

What does a set of factory mud guards go for these days? I just picked up a car with them and not sure I'm gonna keep them.

While I don't know the going rate, they were going for mid $50s at ECS when they became NLA (literally just before I was going to order a set). I was able to acquire a NOS set from a member here, so I'm no longer in the market, but prior to that, I would have paid up to $100 for a set in really nice condition and $75 for even a well used set. I'm sure not everyone would place the same value on them, but it should give you an idea.

 

[George Hill]

I didn't realize they were that cheap. Makes the replica option a bit tougher if the market for genuine is that soft. I'll be curious to see how this turns out as I have had people ask me about flaps over the years.