Re: ***E92 Owners*** Updates for i-Drive and Rolling Fenders
Okay, just got my rear fenders rolled.
For those who are not so familiar with rolling of fenders, let me try my best to explain as simply as possible.
Rolling the fender usually doesn't mean your fender is being flared out! It means that the inside metal of the fender is being rolled. And its being done on the rear fenders usually. The front fenders are either too thin, or in the E92 case, made up of plastic, so its impossible to roll them.
The main reason for rolling the fenders is because the rear tires are rubbing the inside of the fender. The tires are too big OR the offset of the rims are too aggressive, thus pushing out the wheel too much.
How u know if ur rear fenders are not rolled? Well, just reach under the fender and check if the inside metal is parallel to the fender. If its not, most of the time, it isn't rolled or it hasn't been rolled enough.
Now on to the process!
Firstly, they jack up your car and remove your rear rims. The mechanic will check your fenders if its been filled with silicon or not. He has to remove the silicon if there is any before he can proceed. On my ex-car, E46 325ci, it was filled with silicon. On my E92 335i, there was no silicon BUT the entire wheel well is covered with a layer of soundproofing, which the mechanic will unclip from the fender.
Then the mechanic will fix a roller onto your rear wheel hub
Once it is fixed properly and the rubber roller is positioned, the mechanic will proceed to heat up the paint at the fender with a heat gun to prevent the paint from cracking once the rolling starts. Rolling, rolling, rolling. The mechanic will periodically stop to heat up the paint somemore before continuing to roll.
Once the rolling is done, the mechanic will bring out a hammer and knock the edges down a bit. It is where the wheel well meets the rear bumper. That part is too hard to roll so the only way is to hammer it in. Don't worry, its not full on bashing but soft taps to make sure the inside fender sits nicely and there are no sharp corners.
Done! Mechanic fixes back your rims and you have rolled fenders! Pay up and off you go! Now you can add a more aggressive rim/tire or get rid of rubbing!
Cheers,
Sam
PS: I got my fenders rolled at
Lye Design. Appointments are necessary as they are usually fully booked. Prices are to be discussed with them please.
PPS: Photos are courtesy of
BMWDIY.INFO