The two lil flaps right in front of the front tires

Does anyone know what they are for?

I hope you get an answer since I'd like to know as well. I already broke one of mine off on ice over a parking lot curb..

aero baby, aero............ good for at least .0365987 / mpg

Originally Posted by soldmystang

aero baby, aero............ good for at least .0365987 / mpg

yep, wind deflectors. Very common these days.

Originally Posted by ANZAC_1915

yep, wind deflectors. Very common these days.

The only answer it seems would be aero......... but, I am not so sure about those two lil things having any sort of affect on the aerodynamics of such a large SAV.

Originally Posted by ANZAC_1915

yep, wind deflectors. Very common these days.

As a vehicle Designer, & Engineer I can tell you for 1000% that they are there for Areo reasons.
They are extensions of the wheel arch liners, and are on every X5 & X6, and most Fords
by guiding air around your "tires" they also have some noise damping affect too (minimal)
as an aero aid they help very slightly towards fuel economy too.
These are wind tunnel tested, and developed.
Having said that, if you were to cut them off, you probably wouldn't notice the difference.

Originally Posted by Marlbro

As a vehicle Designer, & Engineer I can tell you for 1000% that they are there for Areo reasons.
They are extensions of the wheel arch liners, and are on every X5 & X6, and most Fords
by guiding air around your "tires" they also have some noise damping affect too (minimal)
as an aero aid they help very slightly towards fuel economy too.
These are wind tunnel tested, and developed.
Having said that, if you were to cut them off, you probably wouldn't notice the difference.

I believe you. But also I believe "if you were to cut them off, you probably wouldn't notice the difference". Then so what's the point?

In racing, where every little bit counts, why dont you see these flaps on race cars, or high end car like Lambos or Astons?

Originally Posted by Marlbro

They are extensions of the wheel arch liners, and are on every X5 & X6, and most Fords .

Well, FWIW, they aren't on my US 2010 X5 diesel.

Anyone have a picture? I don't seen to have them, but I see three clipnuts on both sides with nothing mounted on them in that area.

Subscribed... I have them on my 328i as well. I assume they are mud guards?

Originally Posted by GiaGiaJa

Subscribed... I have them on my 328i as well. I assume they are mud guards?

LOL Mud guards would be on the back side of the wheels... look at your own car in your signature.. see the little flaps in front of the wheels? That is used to deflect wind.

Hard to tell in this picture, but you can see the flap I circled.

I think the easiest way to break them off is to pull in over a curb (that would be "kerb" to Marlbro). Hitting a racoon, skunk or opposum at speed would also do the trick.

BMW probably had to decontent the X5 in some other areas to pay for these little doo-dads. Think of them as foreskins for your wheels.

Front wheel forskins.....That's funny

but as I said, would you really mis them......
I don't think I would go to those extreams to knock them off, but I think any of those would do it.