Mudguards Revisited

[cbob]

I had occasion to pass an XC on the way in from Whistler awhile back. It was a wet/slushy kinda day, and I had been impressed with the lack of spray I'd had to eat as I followed along. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
As I went by, I was even more impressed by the lack of gorp built up on his side and rear quarter cladding, compared to the load I was packing.
Revisited some of the XC forum posts on the subject, then went for a set of front and rear flaps. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif

Very cool looking. Match the cladding well. Seem to do the job. I'm giving them a http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

And thanks to the gold XC with BC plates for the demo. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I'm sorry you had to eat all my spray for a few klicks. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Obviously, it won't happen again. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[XCMark]

I agree, mudflaps are on my wish list. I just wonder about the deep snow and buildup of ice clinging to it. Wouldn't breaking off the ice that accumulates over time weaken the points where it's attached to the wheel well?

I probably overthinking it... Volvo probably has already thought of that, right?

I do think they look really nice. Other similar posts have commented on the lack of color matching, however.

[gibbons]

I put a set of fronts and rears on our white/umber '04.  Ya know, I just couldn't get used to the color difference.  It was really obvious on the rear ones, not so much on the front.  I removed the rear set after a week or so.  

I can live with the front ones, which are kinda tucked away and in the shadows.  Besides, they do a very important job of helping keeping gorp off the painted surfaces.  The rears just keep it off the plastic rear quarter bumper, not as functionally important to me.  Besides that, with the rear flaps off, it's easy to see the trick looking tread on my WRs http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif

If anyone wants a set of rears (with new Volvo rivets), $20 will get them shipped to your house and get me out of trouble for spending money on parts I'm not using  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Estonia]

Can you guys post some pictures?  I'd like to see these.  Thanks!

[Bluegrass-XC]

Front and rear came with mt '00 V70 XC. Since I have the Metallic Emerald Green paint job, the black mud flaps look kinda cool and blend in quite nicely. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

As far as function, I thought the buildup of slush/snow (someone explain "gorp" to me), was excessive. Maybe I'm just used to a bigger car (traded my '97 T-Bird for the XC), and my full size K5 Blazer. Of course, the K5 has 33x12.50 Interco swampers. Talk about slinging mud!! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif

Mike
Bluegrass-XC

[Art]

The color mismatch really doesn't faze me and I find that it's not that noticeable against the slate cladding. The rears have been on since day one and I installed the front flaps when they came available a year or so later.

I've had no problem with them detatching due to heavy snow/ice buildup and clearance doesn't seem to be much of an issue either.  

Front Mudguards
http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_Front%20mudflaps.jpg


Rear Mudguards
http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_Rear%20Mudflaps.jpg

[cschmelz]

They look really great on my V70R as well...

The attachment points are pretty darn solid, with strong thick plastic and one metal spot that they tie into...

I've seen a lot of caked on road crud and they are solid as all get out, despite R level speeds...

[cbob]

Hmmm..
Maybe they have changed the colour since Art took his pix?
My flaps match my blue cladding. Certainly don't look like the differences in the photos. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif

Or maybe I just have to get them under some hot movie lights to spot the colour difference?

[toma nova]

cbob,

You and I must have gotten flaps from the same dye lot!  I swear that they match our blue cladding perfectly!

I also love the look:  shows that the owner is paying a little more attention too.

Tom

[barrysharp]

I have always liked mud flaps -- don't know why really -- I think it's for the same reason I've always favored seat belts long before they became a legal requirement.

I have mud flaps on my XC70 Platinum Green - Slate/Blue Umber moldings and the black coloured mud flaps look just fine as the colour difference isn't readily observed by my eyes.

Also have them on my 2004 S60R and being a light coloured body (Flash Green) they help tremendously in keeping all the road crud of the door side and rear panels.

They look just fine on both cars.

[Willy]

Hello Art,
The flaps seem to come quite low towards the ground, or is it the position of the camera in your pictures that makes it look worse than it is (they don't seem very flexible so the could compromise the offroad capabilities somewhat).
Willy

[Hiro's XC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Willy @ Feb. 24 2004,08:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hello Art,
The flaps seem to come quite low towards the ground, or is it the position of the camera in your pictures that makes it look worse than it is (they don&#39;t seem very flexible so the could compromise the offroad capabilities somewhat).
Willy[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
We had no ground clearance issues , even off road. Snow really didn&#39;t stick to them either. If it does, spray the inside with an armor all type product and it won&#39;t stick then.

[Avid Edit]

http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_IMG_0091%7E1.JPG

cbob,
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Obtained the rear guards at Volvoworld less than &#036;20US. Fronts from the local dealer, installed fronts myself, about 20min.

[gtfearons]

sorry- I cant figure out what the verdict is....can I get mud flaps to atch my blue cladding? or are they all black/greycolor only. &nbsp;I woudl like to get but want to know if I can ask for blue.
George

[ltoolio]

I picked up a pair of front guards from my dealer yesterday. Just installed them today - my first wheel probably took about 45 minutes because I struggled with getting the existing rivets out. But, once I figured out how, I was able to get the 2nd wheel done in about 15 minutes.

I have an Ash Gold 01 with blackish cladding. The guards are definatley lighter in color - close to grey. I would guess that I won&#39;t even notice the differnece in a few days, especially when they are covered in dirt and grime.

Here&#39;s a pic:

http://www.moviecrap.com/rk/frontmud.gif

[LDO6180]

Installed both front and rear guards on my Mist Green. &nbsp;The body mouldings are a very dark grey-close to black. &nbsp;The guards are blue-grey. &nbsp;In brith light quite noticeable, in the shade, not nearly so noticeable.

I immediately dyed them with &quot;Forever Black&quot; and they blend in near perfectly in all light.

The form, fit and functionality of the guards is excellent and the quality is as good as I have seen lately in moulded guards.

Side note-both rear body mouldings were missing the lower inboard rivets--anyone else notice this Volvo oversight?

[ltoolio]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I immediately dyed them with &quot;Forever Black&quot;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

What is &quot;Forever Black&quot;? &nbsp;I would love to try it out if it is going to make things match a bit better.

[LDO6180]

&quot;FOREVER BLACK&quot; is platic dye used to return faded body clading to a very &quot;original&quot; black color. &nbsp;It comes in a kit with a bottle of plastic cleaner and a bottle of dye (very much like a shoe polish bottle with applicator attached),

Originally purchased to dress up by 90 Jeep Cherokee but have used it on my 02 SLK 320 to cover up polish reside.

It is availalbe on the web from several distributors&#39;s- price sould be in the &#036;10.00-11.00 US dollars.

PS &nbsp;Wipes right off the paint so not a stain issue--have not allowed it dry for any lenght of time to test the issue thought.

[tgrumaj]

Check out Bluegrass XCs thread below on &quot;Performance Parts&quot; &nbsp;The site link shown there for IPD (Volvo Parts Specialists) has Forever Black and other Blackening products available for sale. &nbsp;I just ordered some for my 99XC.
Tom

[turbocon86]

There is another thread on this topic where I posted this information, but here it is again. I painted my mudgards to match my umber cladding. (Search the old thread for details). They&#39;ve been on all Winter with no sign of fading or peeling. I didn&#39;t think the grey flaps looked good with the umber cladding. Definitely noticible to my eyes. Especially on my black car.
http://www.ricdidonato.com/Media/mudflap.jpg

[ltoolio]

A quick follow-up:

I got a set of rear mudflaps for my car (Thanks, Gibbons). &nbsp;They are genuine Volvo flaps, just like the front ones that I got from my dealer.

And they are definately more black/grey or maybe you could say less bluish.

But, they still look good, even with the slight color difference between the flaps and the car. &nbsp;I&#39;m not sure if I&#39;m going to go with the route that turbocon86 did or go with the foreverblack route. &nbsp;I&#39;ll let you guys know the final results...