Ever sinec I got my car, the one thing that's irked me about it was the unpainted ding guards on the doors...I don't feel like painting them, as I think that even then, they sort of ruin the look of the side of the car, and after I found out that they're only on with adhesive, I'd love to take em off, and keep em off. My only question is this: underneath the trim, do the doors and fenders (ZX3) follow the contours of the body? If it's flat underneath the trim, then it's staying on, but as long as the doors and fenders are curved the entire way, they're coming off. Thanks in advance for any help.
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
Yeah there's alignment holes and also the trim pieces sit in "troughs" on the car's body panels, so it's not nice and smooth underneath, you'd see these indented channels running down the sides.
Observe a new 05 model without the Optional Side moldings (can't believe Ford makes you pay now)... they have these troughs running down their sides, no holes on them though.
If you want to paint them your best bet is to order the svt side moldings. If you take off the stock plastic ones and sand and paint them the paint starts to come off in about 1 year. I know this from personal experieance. Save yourself the hassle of doing it twice, and do it the right way the first time.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Go look at the side of an S model 05 ZX3. That is what the side of your car would look like with the side moldings off. I think you would have to fill the allignment holes tho. I can't remember if only the bottom (side skirt) moldings have allignment holes or if both moldings do.
The trim is made out of some kind plastic that resists painting. All plastic is made from oil, but this stuff has a particularly high concentration of it, and the paint will not adhere for long periods of time.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
t3-rex wrote: If you want to paint them your best bet is to order the svt side moldings. If you take off the stock plastic ones and sand and paint them the paint starts to come off in about 1 year. I know this from personal experieance. Save yourself the hassle of doing it twice, and do it the right way the first time. Do the SVT ones come in pre painted trim or just primed. Because they don't have a Sangria SVT. LOL
smoknzx3 wrote: t3-rex wrote: If you want to paint them your best bet is to order the svt side moldings. If you take off the stock plastic ones and sand and paint them the paint starts to come off in about 1 year. I know this from personal experieance. Save yourself the hassle of doing it twice, and do it the right way the first time. Do the SVT ones come in pre painted trim or just primed. Because they don't have a Sangria SVT. LOLThey have prepainted and primed I beleve. Of you can at least get a primed set for the 03-04 ZX3/5.
fx3 wrote: Go look at the side of an S model 05 ZX3. That is what the side of your car would look like with the side moldings off. I think you would have to fill the allignment holes tho. I can't remember if only the bottom (side skirt) moldings have allignment holes or if both moldings do.Got a Link or an image?
____________________ Captain Morgan and Dr.Pepper are my homies....
I got lucky mine were painted. 