I'm looking to place an order in the next couple days but I keep going back and forth between the P400 SE and the X-Dynamic. Looking at the build its about 2k more for the X-Dynamic with the extended black package. I do really like the way it looks without the silver front lower grill and center rear bumper, but at the same time I do want to add the wheel arch protection and I'm a bit worried that the painted lower body will get torn up more easily than the black plastic cladding. Additionally, having black plastic on the wheel arches then painted black on the doors I think has the potential to look a bit weird. Especially with a darker color like carpathian grey, the SE silver panel is really kind of an eye sore to me as it really just doesn't blend with the rest of the design. On a white or other lighter color it looks plenty good though.

The fact that the rear recover eye is only standard on x-dynamic and up is pretty maddening. The other thing with the extended black is that you're going to lose some of the blacked out look putting on the front skid plate with exposed recover point, unless we see some more robust aftermarket ones coming out that would potentially be powder coated.

Do you guys with the painted lower body panels have any experience with scratching or rocks off road?

 

I added the wheel arch protectors and Classic mud flaps. There is a discussion about chipping of the paint on the black painted lower panels.
The parts are readily available from aftermarket suppliers as OEM

 

I am worried about the paint chipping as I have a X-Dynamic on order. I wanted classic mudflaps but the dealership told they are snapping off when taking off-road. Is that the case with folks who are venturing out in the wild with the classics on ?

 

I have a XDynamic HSE and had the lower portion (along with the front bumper and hood) wrapped with xpel to protect it. I really like the look of the gloss black, hadn’t originally planned on wrapping the lower portions but it wasn’t too expensive. Like you I’d planned on adding the extended fenders but once I had the car I found I like it better without. Around 5k miles later and I haven’t had an issue and I’m glad I went with the X. Mud flaps are an option but I just haven’t seen one that I care for. Look into wrapping the lower portions of the car and you’ll never have to worry.

 

Thanks very much... I appreciate the perspective. It does seem like a wrap is a good way to go and has the benefit of you can just replace it if it gets a bit too torn up.

 

I haven't heard of them breaking off from off roading, heard they might be a problem in deep sand.
These guys were tough on them and they survived.

 

^^charlypm - love your Defender, good taste.

 

That's my build exactly...the X-Dynamic with Carpathian Grey. I too wonder if there will be glossy fender flares. Maybe they can be polished?

 

Thank you to everyone who responded and more largely to the forum for being such a great research. I just got back from placing an order with the dealer! Ended up going the P400 SE route in Fuji white. I do plan to offr-oad and take this camping and on trails, so at the end of the day the plastic cladding won out for me and I've always liked white vehicles! This is what the Defender is replacing:

 

That's a nice Defender!

I particularly like the Triumph logo on the back window. Shows excellent taste!