Those plastic things that fall off regularly are a waste of time for protection, they keep the water and salt out but are easily damaged and you see many dragging on the road, particularly Golfs.

I have a full set (2xengine and 1xgearbox plates) waiting in my garage for the weather to break to be bolted up under my old Landcruiser, the single OE plate is a disappointingly poor effort with a cut out for the sump, previous LC models had proper bash plates.

Bought the new ones recently due to the current free postage offer, which runs out today but so far that offer has been renewed several times, probably due to fewer sales in the depths of winter.

Bought from here www.sump-guard.co.uk/steel-engine-sump-guard

made in Romania, rather well as it happens, better made than i thought they would be for the price and my set were delivered undamaged (company previously criticised for poor packaging which is now improved) one week after ordering, the LC bash plates might be thicker than those designed for cars for obvious reasons, the sump guard has a bolted in inner plate for easy oil changes as i believe most of their designs have.

Edited by gordonbennet on 07/01/2018 at 10:51

The only reason they are fitted is to smooth the airlow around the components that normally stick out into the airflow. Probably helps the MPG a little.

They almost garantee you an advisory on the MOT since the inspector cannot remove them to inspect certain components.

Underbody airflow is a major drag factor on any car, so the less it is the better,

Airflow smoothing is certainly the main reason for fitting, with cooling airflow control secondary.

My cars have had undershields for decades - never had a MoT advisory because of it - the relevant suspension components are all outside it.

Improving airflow is a function of these things that I hadn't considered. Makes sense of course.

I've no idea whether my car originally had an undershield , but I've just had a look online and even if I keep the car I won't be spending the kind of money some suppliers are asking. The Focus had one and it was very easy both to remove and refit.

I've often noticed stuff dragging around underneath VWs but didn't realise it was their undershields; presuming instead that it was part of the exhaust.

Our 2012 Jazz and 2003 Yaris both have undershields. With properly designed attachments which so far have not failed despite annual removal. Engines are pretty dirt free as a result..Removal/replacement is easy..Both made of durable plastic.. Flaps for oil/filter access.

They are a pain when they don't allow a dropped screwdriver (while clumsily servicing my Audi A8's air filters) to fall through to the ground. Virtually no access for retrieval even though I could just see it. I had to resort to a cork impaled on a straightened-out coat hanger and a blob of rapid Araldite. Hope this tip helpful for someone!

An easier solution would be a magnetic pick-up tool!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bergen-Long-Pick-Up-Telescopic-...m

Most car shop do have them. The clips holding them in place do tend to break when they’re removed for any repairs or maintenance so often they’re held on with cable ties or removed altogether on cars 3yrs upwards.

My 1999 Pug 306 diesel had a good solid sump guard which I had to remove and replace when draining the sump for an oil change. As you say, the attachments failed or rusted after a few years and I had to fudge some replacements.

Trefin is lesson number 1. Don't. Bother going to the main dealer for new clips. Just bodge it.....