Why paint the body side molding?

hrishig · 18th January 2009, 08:16

In my opinion the real use of the body side/ Waistline moldings is to save the car from few scratches during the city driving . Now if the molding is of black color (Original color )and there is a scratch on it I think it will look acceptable. But if the car has “Color” body side moldings and there is scratch it defiantly look BAD. Not only it can be noticed from long distance, you need to pay for painting it again.
As we can see almost all the cars above B / B+ segment are with body color side moldings. Do somebody know reason for this?

mukeshgoel · 18th January 2009, 08:34

Same reason was used to be for blank bumpers. Now 90% of the cars come with body colored bumpers.

cruiser_1982 · 18th January 2009, 09:14

Its just 'looks matter more than the functional' thing. The automakers are believing that customers will accept this the same way as the Body coloured bumpers and ORVMs were accepted.

humm · 18th January 2009, 16:32

Such things keep happening on colored bumpers. Drive carefully and most importantly if there is a small dot of paint peel off or spot, bring the matching pain color and do regular paint touch up's. I always do that.

Also bumpers being body color is a must in costly cars since it makes a style statement and the car looks good. Imagine seeing a Red BMW with black bumpers? So you see style is important.

ada · 11th August 2009, 23:10

I wanted colour body mouldings with my Ritz, I was told that they come in black colour only, but if I wanted it car coloured it would cost 2000 bucks to paint, and no guarantee that the colour would last. I personally believe that for some colour like white black body moulding looks great.

narayan · 11th August 2009, 23:33

cant the body cladding be removed and painted separetely ? why paint whole bumper when u need to paint just the cladding

anekho · 12th August 2009, 00:15

why colour the bumper in the first place?

SedatedDrive · 1st September 2011, 10:15

Moldings can be removed, repainted, repaired or replaced and put back on at a very minimal cost to the owner. Whereas a scratch, a deep etch or a bend could cost around 3,000 INR to up to 15,000 INR depending upon the vehicle.

Body coloured moldings retain the aesthetics of the vehicle while providing the above benefit.

Chrome moldings are one step further and add to the jewel treatment of your vehicle. But too much bling makes me cringe.

Moldings can be removed, repaired or replaced at a very minimal cost to the owner in case of scratches. Whereas a scratch, a deep etch or a bend in the body panel of your vehicle can cost anywhere around 3,000 INR to 15,000 INR depending upon the vehicle.

Body coloured moldings retain the aesthetics of the vehicle while providing the above benefit. Chrome moldings go one step further by adding to the jewel treatment of your car. But too much bling makes me cringe.

Abhiram · 13th January 2015, 10:15

Hi All,
Just wanted to get your thoughts on door and bumper protectors. I've always had a door protector on my old car. I used to park in peace in office, malls etc knowing that even if the car parked to my left or right opened their doors rashly, my car would not be scratched\harmed. But I am stuck in a dilemma now. While i appreciate the protection it provides(Esp while parking in public places), it does make the car look very ugly. I have booked a Ciaz and i really don't want to have the protectors installed this time.

Please share your thoughts on pros and cons of having them installed.
(Especially people who have not installed them right now and how they are managing without them).

Many Thanks.

PS: Can any of the mods add a poll to the topic with below(or any other suitable) options? Think it would be very informative and I cant find an option.

1. Have protectors installed.
2. Do not have protectors installed and am doing fine.
3. Do not have protectors installed and regret it.

PPS: Apologies if they are called something else. I am talking about the strip that comes on the sides of cars.

NOX · 13th January 2015, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhiram

Hi All,
Just wanted to get your thoughts on door and bumper protectors. I've always had a door protector on my old car. I used to park in peace in office, malls etc knowing that even if the car parked to my left or right opened their doors rashly, my car would not be scratched\harmed. But I am stuck in a dilemma now. While i appreciate the protection it provides(Esp while parking in public places), it does make the car look very ugly. I have booked a Ciaz and i really don't want to have the protectors installed this time.

Please share your thoughts on pros and cons of having them installed.
(Especially people who have not installed them right now and how they are managing without them).

Many Thanks.

PS: Can any of the mods add a poll to the topic with below(or any other suitable) options? Think it would be very informative and I cant find an option.

1. Have protectors installed.
2. Do not have protectors installed and am doing fine.
3. Do not have protectors installed and regret it.

PPS: Apologies if they are called something else. I am talking about the strip that comes on the sides of cars.

I think what your referring to is the Body side molding. The black or sometimes colored strips which run horizontally through side of the car.

I don't use them. I usually spend time in parking my car. Either go for the corners and leave max space for the car next to me on one side or I just park in between high end cars cause they have the two step door opening function in them.

. it worked out for me so far. end of the day you have to spend in parking but feels great while driving out a beautiful car.

Abhiram · 13th January 2015, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOX

I think what your referring to is the Body side molding. The black or sometimes colored strips which run horizontally through side of the car

Exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOX

end of the day you have to spend in parking but feels great while driving out a beautiful car.

Yeah. That's my current thinking as well. Hope i won't regret the decision!

18th January 2009, 08:16	#1
hrishig BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 466 Thanked: 183 Times	Why paint the body side molding? In my opinion the real use of the body side/ Waistline moldings is to save the car from few scratches during the city driving . Now if the molding is of black color (Original color )and there is a scratch on it I think it will look acceptable. But if the car has “Color” body side moldings and there is scratch it defiantly look BAD. Not only it can be noticed from long distance, you need to pay for painting it again. As we can see almost all the cars above B / B+ segment are with body color side moldings. Do somebody know reason for this? Last edited by hrishig : 18th January 2009 at 08:19.
	() Thanks

18th January 2009, 08:34	#2
mukeshgoel Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,278 Thanked: 2,412 Times View My Garage	Same reason was used to be for blank bumpers. Now 90% of the cars come with body colored bumpers.
	() Thanks

18th January 2009, 09:14	#3
cruiser_1982 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 313 Thanked: 16 Times	Its just 'looks matter more than the functional' thing. The automakers are believing that customers will accept this the same way as the Body coloured bumpers and ORVMs were accepted.
	() Thanks

18th January 2009, 16:32	#4
humm BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 78 Thanked: 4 Times	Such things keep happening on colored bumpers. Drive carefully and most importantly if there is a small dot of paint peel off or spot, bring the matching pain color and do regular paint touch up's. I always do that. Also bumpers being body color is a must in costly cars since it makes a style statement and the car looks good. Imagine seeing a Red BMW with black bumpers? So you see style is important.
	() Thanks

11th August 2009, 23:10	#5
ada BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 189 Thanked: 65 Times	I wanted colour body mouldings with my Ritz, I was told that they come in black colour only, but if I wanted it car coloured it would cost 2000 bucks to paint, and no guarantee that the colour would last. I personally believe that for some colour like white black body moulding looks great.
	() Thanks

11th August 2009, 23:33	#6
narayan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,132 Thanked: 2,488 Times View My Garage	cant the body cladding be removed and painted separetely ? why paint whole bumper when u need to paint just the cladding
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 00:15	#7
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,997 Thanked: 685 Times	why colour the bumper in the first place?
	() Thanks

1st September 2011, 10:15	#8
SedatedDrive BHPian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North America Posts: 270 Thanked: 141 Times View My Garage	Moldings can be removed, repainted, repaired or replaced and put back on at a very minimal cost to the owner. Whereas a scratch, a deep etch or a bend could cost around 3,000 INR to up to 15,000 INR depending upon the vehicle. Body coloured moldings retain the aesthetics of the vehicle while providing the above benefit. Chrome moldings are one step further and add to the jewel treatment of your vehicle. But too much bling makes me cringe. Moldings can be removed, repaired or replaced at a very minimal cost to the owner in case of scratches. Whereas a scratch, a deep etch or a bend in the body panel of your vehicle can cost anywhere around 3,000 INR to 15,000 INR depending upon the vehicle. Body coloured moldings retain the aesthetics of the vehicle while providing the above benefit. Chrome moldings go one step further by adding to the jewel treatment of your car. But too much bling makes me cringe. Last edited by manson : 1st September 2011 at 14:36.
	() Thanks

13th January 2015, 10:15	#9
Abhiram BHPian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 63 Thanked: 247 Times	Door Protectors Hi All, Just wanted to get your thoughts on door and bumper protectors. I've always had a door protector on my old car. I used to park in peace in office, malls etc knowing that even if the car parked to my left or right opened their doors rashly, my car would not be scratched\harmed. But I am stuck in a dilemma now. While i appreciate the protection it provides(Esp while parking in public places), it does make the car look very ugly. I have booked a Ciaz and i really don't want to have the protectors installed this time. Please share your thoughts on pros and cons of having them installed. (Especially people who have not installed them right now and how they are managing without them). Many Thanks. PS: Can any of the mods add a poll to the topic with below(or any other suitable) options? Think it would be very informative and I cant find an option. 1. Have protectors installed. 2. Do not have protectors installed and am doing fine. 3. Do not have protectors installed and regret it. PPS: Apologies if they are called something else. I am talking about the strip that comes on the sides of cars.
	() Thanks