The red thing in the black tube is indeed a flare!

 

This is the other reason I asked, this was a Japanese market option:





Any thoughts? Obviously a wheel arch extension, and there is a smaller for the front too.

 

Ok, don't take my word as gospel on this matter, but I am guessing those are a temporary fix for inspection reasons. JCI (also known as "Shakken" in Japanese) is an inspection that must be completed upon initial registration, and every 2 years after that (3 years for the first subsequent inspection on a brand new car).

Part of the JCI inspection is to ensure that the wheels do not stick out beyond the fender. Depending on the shop, they will either use a simple string with a weight on it, or a laser testing device. If any portion of the laser or the string touches any portion of the wheel, you fail the inspection. Pretty much the wheels need to be sunk in to the wheel well in order to pass. So what some people do is fit these add-on fender extensions temporarily to pass the inspection, and then take them off immediately after it's done.

That's my best guess, but I can't be 100% certain. When I look at those pictures, from my years of living in Japan, I can almost be certain that without those extensions, the car would fail the compulsory inspection.

 

Yanno...........you have to be correct. We've been examining these for days, they don't seem to protect the wheel arch from road debris. They don't improve aerodynamics, or force air in a different direction. We were scratching our head. For what it's worth, they look good on some cars, especially on a white Boxster Spyder. Thanks so much for your feedback, it's appreciated.

 

C63 has this little type of fender flares i thought it's tacky. hopefully it's just for inspection purpose...

 

Great to see someone interested in such little details, I wish all parts uys would be as thorough, great job and continue to enlight us with these type of things.

GOOD JOB!

 

Thanks! We're car geeks, easily amused by car parts. LoL

 

hey, I am from Japan.

I've searched this fender trim on the net...oh boy nothing came up.

the only thing i got is these websites that have lots of fender trim pictures.
http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/...10_386298.html
http://www.carsensor.net/usedcar/det...ml?TRCD=200002

but on the article, it didnt say anything about fender trim....
It seems it came standards on 997.2 GT3. (not on RS)

"I" think its there to solve some inspection requirement in japan. not for the sake of aerodynamics or appearance.

I am sorry that I couldn't really help ya.

 

This set could have been for the 2006-2008 GT3 or GT3 RS too, we're not sure. Maybe they were made, but not needed for import.