DS5 £13.50 set of 4 mudflaps!

[NotAnInterestingName]

I've found that the DS5's wheels (19" in my case) are right out to the edges of the wheelarches which, together with the rounded-under sills, means that there's not much bodywork behind the tyres. After a few normal drives round the country lanes around here it looks like it's completed a rally. So I've decided to ruin that concept car styling by fitting some mudflaps.

Long story short - a full set from DS is over £100. But I've ordered these...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004 ... 1802rfhNqL

Currently £13.50 with free UK delivery.

The description is garbage, it's all for a Lexus. But the pictures and reviews are for the DS5. One review includes photos, look as good as the official ones to me. They must be a clone, or possibly even from the back door of the factory where they're made for DS.

Wish me luck! I'll report back when they arrive and I fit them.

[NotAnInterestingName]

Well, they arrived and look absolutely superb. Just like in the listing, and they are a really good quality semi-flexible plastic.

I will post some photos showing them fitted. This isn't about styling, I don't think they'll make it instantly prettier. But we live in the countryside, it will definitely be prettier without the brown splats up each front door.

For anyone wanting some I'd recommend them.

[Sloppysod]

I have always fitted front and rear mudflaps to my cars, for two main reasons, to stop stone chips and to cut down on spray when raining. Personally I think they should be a standard fitment, like the third brake light, same as commercial vehicles

[GiveMeABreak]

I agree - and stops all the crap from the person in front who can't be bothered to fit them.

It's the first accessory I get fitted when I change my car.

[myglaren]

They are compulsory in Sweden.

[GiveMeABreak]

Sensible lot they are Steve.

[NotAnInterestingName]

Well the back ones are fitted, they fit great, I'm extremely impressed. All aligns perfectly with the existing holes. I can't see how the official ones could be better in any way, but time will tell how sun-bleached or brittle they get over time.

The fronts would have been easy to fit on a new car, but a spire clip that holds the arch liner on needs to be removed and re-attached to fit, and the thing looks like an artefact from the titanic. Despite various attempts with penetrating oil and an assortment of tools, I gave up. I was working with it sitting on its wheels on the driveway. Not the fault of the mudflaps, entirely to do with the car being 7 years old. As it happens, it's going to a garage next week so I'll ask them to fit them, together with replacing the screws and clips. Definitely a job for skilled hands, with the car raised in the air.

The backs screw entirely to plastic, using one existing bolt and an existing hole that requires a new nut and bolt/washers (I used M8, fits well). Also there's a plastic clip at the top edge, which only vaguely holds in place.

The fronts use the existing clip inside the wheelarch, plus an existing bolt underneath, plus they also require a self-tapper into a drilled hole into the edge of the wing.

Photos will follow in a couple of weeks. I was thinking of them as a necessary evil, accepting they'd make the car less pretty. But to my eyes they're actually an improvement. But my DS5's all black, so they fit in well. They'd be more prominent on another colour, but could still look good.

I did a very unscientific survey yesterday, checking all the cars coming past in the opposite direction. My conclusion is that mudflaps are almost extinct on most cars nowadays. Except for only some pretend off-roaders, which wear them mainly as jewellery.

I've always had them on the Berlingo, which I've driven for years. When driving in the DS5 in the rain I was surprised to see the cloud of spray in my mirror, as I'm just not used to seeing it. As well as being considerate to those behind it also keeps the back window slightly clearer for longer. The downside is that the spray can sometimes keep tailgaters away, but they're usually too stupid to care about whether they can see or not anyway.

[Big Dave]

Look forward to seeing the photos and will probably get a set for my purple ds5, at that price it's a no brainer.
As for tailgaiters, I activate my rear wash wipe and they usually instantly back off. Don't know if its psychological or it just wakes them up

[NotAnInterestingName]

Fronts finally fitted, here's the full effect...

Comments appreciated (good or bad, I don't care!), but I like em. The main point is to stop the front doors, door openings and boot getting filthy. Also to preserve the car. I was fully expecting them to be a bit ugly. But from a pimp-my-ride point of view I think they're actually an improvement too, which is an unexpected bonus.

I fitted the backs, a local garage did the fronts for £36. It looks like they may have wiped a bit of polish on them too. The existing bolts needed to be cut out and replaced, as they were pure rust into a rusty spire clip.

I've been continuing my survey of passing cars, and I've concluded that mud flaps are almost extinct now. But following the crowd isn't always the best way.

[Big Dave]

I think they look fine and look like they belong. Car looks good to, first time I've seen a black one. Mine is dark purple so I think I'll get some and see how they look

[NotAnInterestingName]

I was keeping an eye out for that purple when looking, it's a nice colour. But you end up with what you get with used cars, I actually like the black and it looks lovely for about ten minutes after a wash.

The mudflaps are great, definitely totally recommended. Just be ready for some mucking about due to the existing bolts being rusted up or, like me, chuck em at a garage the next time it's going in for something else. The sort of thing they'll do if you turn up with them and ask, but might refuse if you ask in advance!

[NotAnInterestingName]

Some better piccies of my black beast here (pre-mudflaps)...

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