Model S Refresh Mud/Splash Guards

[Proppilot]

Oh…right! I forgot!! ^.*
…but I still do not want to make another hole by myself… I wish I could find a perfectly matched set.

Gosh yes ! You, me and hundreds of others !

 

[Tezzilla]

A VIABLE SOLUTION - MUD FLAPS

We get almost six months of sand/gravel/salt hell here in Ontario from November until April and I think my new LR will take a crap kicking. I purchased and 'dry fit' a number of generic (and even 2020 MS) flaps and came into a solution that I am confident will do the job. I could not find the manufacturers website but the flaps are made by a company (or branded as) Pro-Fit Splashguards. Everyone sells them and for Canadians....Canadian Tire of course. They are sold by a Model number from #1, #2 etc getting larger and different profiles. I purchased and dry fit #1, #2 and #3 and the #1 matched the front and rear profiles of the body very well. I have looked at a ton of videos on how they are mounted on Model 3's etc and the use of 3M VHB tape seems to be the solution between the flap and the body to seal out crap from getting in between the flaps and the body paint and damaging the paint. That tape is tough yet removeable and is a major part of the mounting solution. As for mounting on the inside of the wheel wells, the front wells have ONE press clip that can be removed and replaced to pin the flap in the place. The lower rocker is plastic so one could drill and use a press clip along the bottom horizontal of the flap. Up top within the wheel well the body panel is metal and nobody will want to drill into that. The flap hangs past the metal and overhangs the plastic wheel well lining that you could easily use a self tapping screw from the flap to the plastic wheel well insert or a press (trim clip). That does the fronts. The rear has no reusable clips like other Tesla models do BUT the body panels are all plastic to drilling a couple of holes and using trim clips (along with 3M VHB tape on the body side between the flap and the paint) will do the trick. The profile and look is custom. They do not hang down too far and due to the design, they profile in with the body very nicely. The mounting is generic and would require removing the rear wheels to have a good access/working platform but I think very simple and doable.

My plan is to move the car into a heated space in early November and remove each wheel to mount the snow tires and while it is off, mount the mud flaps at each location. I cannot find one vendor committing to 2021+ refresh mud flaps and see some are going with the generic flat plastic flaps which do the trick as well however these do give a nice integrated/profiled look so I wanted to get it out there for you.

"Loser brings an orange ball from Canadian Tire!!" Lol, love the Goon movies...

Your solution sounds viable. I found these on Amazon and assume they're the same ones you mention above: Amazon - ProFit Mud Flaps 6401 - $28~/pair. I was a little confused on your description on how they worked until I saw all the reviewers' photos. But yes, the design is great since they envelope the well-lining and paint side...so they look stock/custom.

And thinking about it, I'd probably use plastic trim/press clips over metal screws (esp sharp self-tapping ones). Since the flap would have a small amount of flex from wind resistance, heat/warp, a good size pothole, etc... that within a bit of time, the little screw works its way out JUST enough. And you go to park one day, it falls and finds itself perfectly aligned in your tire path as you reverse . If it were screwing the plastic flap into metal or even a u-nut clip, it'd definitely be the thing to use. But if you did go the screw route, a dab of gorilla glue (or similar) on the threads would be great insurance.

I only see one trim/press clip on the front like you mention, but I see two clips on both my rear wheel wells. I actually have like 3 or 4 assorted trim/clip kits, all leftover from trying to match a single PITA clip on my Jeep lol. I can probably use a longer clip from one of the kits and re-use the two in the rear and the single up front. I'm thinking maybe 3 clips per wheel, depending on fit and what load the tape can hold. I ordered 2 pair, so maybe I can install them by the weekend.

I have 1700 miles on my black MS LR, and both the front and rear doors have just been peppered, probably a dozen very small chips per door (can't really see them until about a foot away...but still). Extrapolate that from 1700 miles to 5k or 10k, I may be looking for a paint job (of course, my paint kit is sold out - PBSB). I plan on doing the ceramic coating and PPF in the next couple of weeks, but as many said - it can only protect to a certain point. Of the hundreds (or maybe thousands?) of engineers at Tesla, I really hope ONE of them said something about the necessity of mud flaps on an AWD car that rides a few inches off the ground, and the project got put into the "book of good ideas" but they just haven't had time to CAD or tool it up yet .

 

[Tezzilla]

I think it is sketchy that they added 2021 on there. The wheel well interiors are different including attachment points. When I look at those, I see an integrated clip at the top that I think would work and then perhaps it is just using the supplied screws into the plastic wheel well liner. I have not found a set yet specifically for the 2021 refresh. That being said, I do believe the geometry of the body panels are the same so the contour of the mats could be a good fit. When I look closer at the eBay pictures, it looks like one of the tabs would pick up one of the trim push pins on the front wells and the rest would be screwed into the plastic well liner. I went to order a pair and they don't ship to Canada so I searched for 2021 specific flaps and lo and behold

These actually look like they connect to the proper points !

Haha - they even put the flaps fitting each of the FOUR 2022 variations of the Model S: The LR, LR+, Performance, and Plaid

Technically though, they could fit a 2021 Model S perfectly...since a small handful of 2021 MS's were delivered in late 2020 - right before the refresh announcement and factory halt for re-tooling in Jan 2021. Now their fitment chart lists 2022 models that don't even exist. But they're not being sketchy now, they're downright lying.

 

[Proppilot]

Haha - they even put the flaps fitting each of the FOUR 2022 variations of the Model S: The LR, LR+, Performance, and Plaid

Technically though, they could fit a 2021 Model S perfectly...since a small handful of 2021 MS's were delivered in late 2020 - right before the refresh announcement and factory halt for re-tooling in Jan 2021. Now their fitment chart lists 2022 models that don't even exist. But they're not being sketchy now, they're downright lying.

Tezz....Yep..those are them.... I have a bunch of the press in trim clips that I plan to use and the self tappers would be PLAN C. Love the Goon movies

 

[DJ-3]

Ok, if China isn‘t making them for the Model S Refesh RPM and the other’s won’t have them, period. However I did order 2 sets of those ProFit splash guards from Advance Auto Parts for $32 and here’s the results. Much better than nothing and will work until China starts pumping them Out specific for the Model S Refresh

 

[Proppilot]

100% agree. At minimum they are a great interim solution and inexpensive. I am chuckling at your garage floor finish as it is 100% identical to mine.... Did you use any 3M VHB tape between the flap and the painted surface of the car ? Guys report lots of crap getting down in there and making a scuffed mess (with any flaps) so that seems to be the solution. Seals the flap to the car and removable if/when needed.

 

[DJ-3]

Yessir, used 3m VHB between the flaps. The fronts are solid as I used the factory mounting push pin. The rears do’t have that option unfortunately. I’m trying to thing of another approach as I’m not tapping holes into the care, that’s not an option. The vhb is simply not strong enough.

I’m also wondering how their going to design a model specific design as there’s nowhere to mount them.

 

[Proppilot]

I know what you mean. At least the front has a push pin. My plan is to drill two holes on each side into the plastic rear quarter and use the push pins. No chance of rusting and if I ever removed the flaps I would finish off the holes by leaving the pins pushed in there (like the front). I have been drilling holes in cars for decades to mount antennas and such and wont drill the steel but the plastic on the back does not concern me at all.

 

[DJ-3]

Show me how you do that as I measured it ands it doesn’t have the room to tap new holes into the wheel liver from what I could see as that was my plan as well.

Please share photos and I and others will follow your lead

 

[Proppilot]

Will do. I am going to install them end of next week or week after when the temperature goes below 10C as I will remove the tires to swap to the snow tires and will do the work then and will document it. FYI I am not going to put holes into the liner, I am going to put holes into the rear quarter panel itself as it is made out of plastic and won't rust.

 

[Proppilot]

Installed the Pro-Fit #1s today. It was not a hard job but you need to drill holes into plastic parts for the push in trim clips. I had no issue doing that. Similar results to DJ-3 and they will work perfectly well until there are customs flaps for our cars. Any holes in plastic can be filled with JB weld if you remove them and you would never notice.

Three push clips for the backs and two for the fronts as the front fenders are metal so no drilling there !

 

[Proppilot]

So when I had the wheels off I noticed the front wheel wells are not very well finished off to keep out debris. It looks like there is a whole piece missing to close it off. Do your front wheel wells look like this ?

 

[jm404]

Has anyone tried these?

Set of 4 Mud Flaps Splash Guards for Tesla Model S 2021 Sedan Front & Rear | eBay

Tesla Model S All Type 2021 Electric Sedan Full Sides. Splash Guard. Installation Position Front and Rear. Quantity Sold: A Set of Four Pieces. Make Model Submodel Year Engine Body Style Position. Vehicle Information.

www.ebay.com

 

[Proppilot]

They have been out of stock for a few weeks now.

 

[Bull]

Ok, if China isn‘t making them for the Model S Refesh RPM and the other’s won’t have them, period. However I did order 2 sets of those ProFit splash guards from Advance Auto Parts for $32 and here’s the results. Much better than nothing and will work until China starts pumping them Out specific for the Model S RefreshView attachment 723388

Please post a link to the mud flaps you installed. I have not found them on Advance Auto Parts. Thanks

 

[scrapps]

These are the ones I have ordered. Should be here in a couple of days. I pick the car up on Sunday. Presume I'm still going to have the issue of no real way to mount them on the rear?

For Tesla Model S Car Parts Auto Accessories Splash Guards Mud Flaps Mudguars | eBay

Auto Accessories Rubber Car Door Sill Guards Scuff Plate Protector Strip Sticker. Car Accessories Rubber Door Sill Scuff Plate Protector Strip Guard Auto Sticker. For Nissan Qashqai J11 Car Accessories Door Sill Plate Steel Protector 2015-2019.

www.ebay.com

 

[WilliamG]

Can’t believe… 6 months in…no designed flaps. Just makes me sad. Could really use them in Seattle right now.

 

[gluz24]

I did something like that on Model Y using the cutouts for the Amazon ones. MY looks like Subaru with those giant mudflaps but keeping my doors and fenders much cleaner and rock free. My wife would not let me do that on her refresh S, would be too ugly.

Has anyone attempted to bolt on some universal mud flaps like these? Might be a temporary fix until some nicer formal ones are made.

View attachment 705179

 

[Proppilot]

Please post a link to the mud flaps you installed. I have not found them on Advance Auto Parts. Thanks

ProFit Splashguards with Factory Fit Appearance from RoadSport, a Manufacturer of Splash Guards for Trucks and Cars

RoadSport, a Division of PowerFlow manufactures factory fit appearance splash guards, bumper guards, and chrome emblems for cars and trucks in the automotive aftermarket in Canada and the United States.

www.roadsportinc.com

You want the #1

 

[Proppilot]

Safety tip : put a strip of 3M VHP tape the length of the mud flap on the car first before installing the mud flap. It will not adhere that well to the mud flap material BUT provides an invisible gasket/buffer between the hard plastic and the paint and prevents abrasion and scratching from the mud flap rubbing.