Body Side Moldings

[Puyallup Bill]

I think I want body side moldings - read that as door ding protection. I got painted body side moldings from http://www.sportwing.com/ for my LEAF. They seemed to be excellent quality, made to fit, use quality 3M adhesive, and a perfect paint match for my red LEAF. I contacted them to see if they were considering such for the model S, and the reply was that if they can find a model S in the local area, they will take measurements.

Anyone in the vicinity of Valley View, Ohio want to volunteer?

 

[ddruz]

I'd love to see a picture of this if you go ahead with it. I'd be very interested.

 

[yobigd20]

I never understood the point of these. It's totally dependent on the height and crown difference between two vehicles. With so many SUVs around, the body side molding isn't going to do squat as the ding would happen above the molding.

 

[Bearman]

Maybe extended door handles while the car still being locked would solve the problem

 

[orlando]

Didn't gazillions of dollars go into making this thing stupidly aerodynamic? Don't even small protrusions mess things up? This is why the door handles retract and there is no rear wiper...

 

[jerry33]

Didn't gazillions of dollars go into making this thing stupidly aerodynamic? Don't even small protrusions mess things up? This is why the door handles retract and there is no rear wiper...

Most of the aerodynamic gain is because the underside of the Model S is flat and there is no exhaust system (The Citroën DS from the Video section did the same flat bottom trick although the exhaust does stick out.) Other than the basic body shape, which isn't as aerodynamic as it could be, the rest is mostly eye-candy (and perhaps cost savings on the part of the rear wiper).

 

[mknox]

I never understood the point of these. It's totally dependent on the height and crown difference between two vehicles. With so many SUVs around, the body side molding isn't going to do squat as the ding would happen above the molding.

All of my cars that have had side moldings had way fewer (but not zero) parking lot door dings. Cars without have gotten chipped and dinged terribly. I try to park my Model S far away from other cars in the lot, but invariably when I come out some guy will have pulled in right next to me in spite of the fact that the area of the lot where I am is empty.:cursing:

 

[Holden]

I never understood the point of these. It's totally dependent on the height and crown difference between two vehicles. With so many SUVs around, the body side molding isn't going to do squat as the ding would happen above the molding.

True, but - as with mknox - my car has been "saved" countless times by its side moldings (I know, because they show plenty of evidence of encounters with careless a-holes), and it concerns me that my next car will likely do without - as manufacturers seem to be eliminating them for a cleaner look.

 

[jerry33]

as manufacturers seem to be eliminating them for a cleaner look.

I thought it was for the rust potential.

 

[mknox]

I thought it was for the rust potential.

No, I don't think so. They haven't been drilled into the panels for years, just stuck on to the surface. I've never had rust anywhere near the body side molding.

 

[Puyallup Bill]

BUMP

I think I want body side moldings - read that as door ding protection. I got painted body side moldings from http://www.sportwing.com/ for my LEAF. They seemed to be excellent quality, made to fit, use quality 3M adhesive, and a perfect paint match for my red LEAF. I contacted them to see if they were considering such for the model S, and the reply was that if they can find a model S in the local area, they will take measurements.

Anyone in the vicinity of Valley View, Ohio want to volunteer?

Anyone near Valley View Ohio interested?

 

[Knights12]

Sportwing.com now carries bodyside molding's for the model S