Weird little mud flap thingies

[Jimbob76]

Anyone else have these? Thought they were standard but then realised most S3’s don’t seem to have ‘em.

Are they purely cosmetic, or do they perform any useful function?!

Rear (near side):

Front (offside):

 

[-Ju-]

You must have 19's fitted from the factory then!
I believe it's because the setup is slightly wider, you can remove them if it bothers you but I don't even notice them now

 

[Jimbob76]

So just a cosmetic thing then - thanks. Quite like them, won’t be removing.

Apologies, posted this by accident in the detailing section, rather than under general discussion in the 8v section. If a kindly moderator wishes to shift this thread across....

 

[Jassyo06]

So just a cosmetic thing then - thanks. Quite like them, won’t be removing.

Apologies, posted this by accident in the detailing section, rather than under general discussion in the 8v section. If a kindly moderator wishes to shift this thread across....

They reduce the water/ dirt firing on to the rear and sides of the car, the RS3 Saloon has them as well due to the wider stance

 

[monopole]

RS3 sportback too, despite lack of wider stance

 

[Jimbob76]

They reduce the water/ dirt firing on to the rear and sides of the car, the RS3 Saloon has them as well due to the wider stance

Makes sense - thanks mate. Now I won’t just look a bit confused when I’m asked by people what these are for!

 

[Jimbob76]

RS3 sportback too, despite lack of wider stance

View attachment 161297

Loving floret silver black edition RS3 Sportback @monopole. Great colour combo, especially with those black rotors!

 

[monopole]

I'll take that as an invitation to just leave this here hahaha....

 

[Jimbob76]

I'll take that as an invitation to just leave this here hahaha....

Well you’ve just helped me justify posting this in the detailing thread mate. That looks absolutely boss And roof rails too - every Sportback should have ‘em!

 

[45bvtc]

Anyone else have these? Thought they were standard but then realised most S3’s don’t seem to have ‘em.

Are they purely cosmetic, or do they perform any useful function?!

Fitted to allow the 2010/11 8P RS3 to comply with ECE-26/regulation-no-26-03/external-projections/ that states:

"2.7. "Extreme outer edge" of the vehicle means, in relation to the sides of the vehicle, the plane parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle coinciding with its outer lateral edge, and, in relation to the front and rear ends, the perpendicular transverse plane of the vehicle coinciding with its outer front and rear edges, account not being taken of the projection:

2.7.1. Of tyres near their point of contact with the ground, and connections for tyre pressure gauges;"

Basically, the extreme outer edge of the tyre must not exceed the extreme outer edge of the bodywork and so, to accommodate the 8J rear wheel and 225/35 tyre as fitted to the then limited volume 8P RS3 these £s cheap items were added; it saved meaga £s by NOT having to modify the STD 8P body shell for a limited production run of 8P Rs3s (250/500 UK cars was the expected production run). At the front, new carbon fibre wings were fitted to the 8P RS3 - Audi using this an excuse to develop a carbon-fibre wing.

Smaller wheels and tyres on an 8P S3 and so the STD setup complied.

Bet you wish you hadn't asked, but I once had to do this stuff professionally and these ECE regulations were a darn nightmare...

 

[Jimbob76]

Fitted to allow the 2010/11 8P RS3 to comply with ECE-26/regulation-no-26-03/external-projections/ that states:

"2.7. "Extreme outer edge" of the vehicle means, in relation to the sides of the vehicle, the plane parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle coinciding with its outer lateral edge, and, in relation to the front and rear ends, the perpendicular transverse plane of the vehicle coinciding with its outer front and rear edges, account not being taken of the projection:

2.7.1. Of tyres near their point of contact with the ground, and connections for tyre pressure gauges;"

Basically, the extreme outer edge of the tyre must not exceed the extreme outer edge of the bodywork and so, to accommodate the 8J rear wheel and 225/35 tyre as fitted to the then limited volume 8P RS3 these £s cheap items were added; it saved meaga £s by NOT having to modify the STD 8P body shell for a limited production run of 8P Rs3s (250 UK cars was the expected production run). At the front, new carbon fibre wings were fitted to the 8P RS3 - Audi using this an excuse to develop a carbon-fibre wing.

Smaller wheels and tyres on an 8P S3 and so the STD setup complied.

Bet you wish you hadn't asked, but I once had to do this stuff professionally and these ECE regulations were a darn nightmare...

OMG - I am so printing this out and keeping it in the glove box for when people ask I doff my hat to your legendary knowledge sir

 

[45bvtc]

OMG - I am so printing this out and keeping it in the glove box for when people ask I doff my hat to your legendary knowledge sir

I still have one of the first 8P RS3 Jimbo:

​

And if you look closely you can see the 'element' and the projection of the tyre and the projection of the bodywork/wheel arch; it was all legal and cost saving rather than anything sexy...

 

[cuke2u]

Our 2013 fiesta had them and, as previously stated, they are there to make the car legal when tyres became bigger and fatter...

 

[Jimbob76]

I still have one of the first 8P RS3 Jimbo.

​

And if you look closely you can see the 'element' and the projection of the tyre and the projection of the bodywork/wheel arch; it was all legal and cost saving rather than anything sexy...

Well they say a picture paints a thousand words. I consider myself properly enlightened. Lovely 8P RS3 in a VERY nice Cornflower Blue @45bvtc

Love this forum because of contributors like this!