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BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:37 pm
by esman100
I finally scored an original BMW rear mud flap and have seen them installed on the inside and on the outside of the fender. What is the correct way; inside or out :?: Thank you :!:

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:46 pm
by gspd
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Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:58 pm
by SteveD
OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-
OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE- :D :D

Which bike?

Jeff, Grant and me (all 1981-2) have ours on the outside. Dwerbil is the only rider in here that has his on the inside, that I'm aware of. ...and gspd. It may be that different eras had them placed in opposite spots.
It makes sense from a aesthetics perspective to have them on the inside if you have a colour coded mudguard, but the design of the ones I have intuitively lends it to be attached on the outside. They are shaped to fit the outer mudguard.
Pictures from the UK I have show them on the outside also.
They go faster if they're on the outside.

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:31 pm
by Duane Ausherman
I seem to think it was the outside. In any case, you can tell by the way it was made to fit. The originals had "bumps" to control where it would fold, or bend. It really only fit one way.

I can hardly believe that one could last that long, so I guess that they are still making them new.

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:26 pm
by dwerbil

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 2:20 am
by SteveD
Duane Ausherman wrote:I seem to think it was the outside. In any case, you can tell by the way it was made to fit. The originals had "bumps" to control where it would fold, or bend. It really only fit one way.
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Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:13 am
by gspd
Duane Ausherman wrote: In any case, you can tell by the way it was made to fit. The originals had "bumps" to control where it would fold, or bend. It really only fit one way.
This time I disagree with Duaneman,
They fit improperly both ways,
They look better inside (re Dwerbil, except for the stickers)
Why hide the painted part of the fender? especially if the flap protects it from stone chips?

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:54 am
by esman100
Thank you for all the replies. Steve I'm installing it on my sweet '76 R90/6 daily rider for better PNW winter crud protection. The flap that I purchased on flea bay appears to be an OEM and is contoured for the outside just like yours. Since I have to drill holes into a very nice painted fender with white stripes I wanted your opinions to prevent screwing it up. I will take GSPD's suggestion and mount it on the inside to keep the stripes revealed if I can make it fit decently. Thanks again.

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 10:08 am
by Duane Ausherman
I just hate it when gspd is "always right" again :)

They didn't fit well either way, but I remember that one way was better. It looked like the factory had "one way" in mind when they designed it.

Seems to me that it should go on the inside, as that is a better idea.

Re: BMW Rear Mud Flap

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 10:09 am
by SteveD
That's how I'd do it with a painted guard too.
How well does it fit into the guard on the inside?