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For Xmas I got Nigel Thorley‘s XK/XKR book (new edition including additional chapters on x150) and on page 202 he explains that some of the x150 models had small black plastic flaps at the end of the FRONT wheel arches under the car. In the provided pictures it is explained, the look like mini mud flaps and that they would be an important part of the car’s aerodynamic concept. They should not be removed.
To be honest I never saw or noticed these flaps on any XKs I drove so far. My 2011 XK doesn’t have them.
Btw:
It is not the plastic wings under the car in front of the front wheels.
It is also not the winglets on the 3 o’clock position that you find on 2012-2014 XKs model years.
Does anybody know about this? Should my XK have them fitted?
My Nigel Thorley book doesn't even mention mudflaps on page 202. What he talks about there are wheels and accessories. Perhaps you mean page 200 where there is a mention in the sixth paragraph and a photo of small rubberiised panels that are a "vitally important part" of the aerodynamics package. Furthermore, he states that they are on 5.0L vehicles. My guess is that they are in fact part of that package if it was included on the particular car.
I don`t see how they would have much if any effect at all, on the car`s aerodynamic concept.
If I had to guess... It would be diverting airflow to the outsides of the tires? It seems pretty minimalistic, but there must be something or the engineers wouldn't waste production dollars designing, manufacturing and installing them.
I'll look at my XK in the morning and see if it is 'flat-on' to the airflow, or if it is angled to deflect more in one direction or another. If it deflects to the inside, then it could be for added airflow across the rotors?
I recall some thread about taking the rear mud flap, switching them about (R for L and L for R) and installing on the front. Did anyone here ever try that?
And Yes, those very flaps are in installed on the undercarriage, front of my front tires. Car came with the 20" Sentas.
IIRC, flaps in front of tyres were placed after it was found that some of the salt mixtures that were being used to dissolve road ice and snow were glasing pads, making them less effective. The flaps apparently deflect that "water" away from the brakes. Most cars have them these days.
My very late 2011 car doesn't have anything directly behind the front wheels.
Do those that have them also have a flap in front of the rear wheels?
The only “mud flaps” that I can find for the X150 are those fitted around the rear wheel arch. As Neil says, if anyone has “mud flaps” fitted to the front (rear of the front wheels) please post a photo.
Standard “Mini Mud Flaps” on XKs?
