side body moldings?

[tom010]

I bought a 2006 Solara with 5k miles on it (it had never been really driver because the owner was ill). The widow was selling it. It's beautiful but something I don't like even on the camry's now is the lack of moldings across the door to protect against people banging there doors and dinging your car up. It an "OPTION" on the camry but I don't see it as an option on the solara anywhere....I know it less "sporty" to have molding but most cars have them. Does anyone know of any aftermarket dealer who makes them?

[DatSRBoi]

It wont help you for anything. Big car or smaller car of yours will ding your car no matter what. I have them on my car and its pointless..

Just advoid much as you can. Thats all you can hope for in this world.

[Gadgetjq]

Tom,

Check Toyota's website. You'll find mouldings for your car offered as an option colored to match your paint. One problem, they're very expensive (around $110 if I remember correctly).

If you don't absolutely need them to match your color just head for your local auto supply. You should be able to find side moulding that uses double sided tape and can be applied to all or part of your car's side panel.

Of course as soon as you apply the moulding someone will ding your fender flares.

Cheers

[linmk2]

My 2006 had the moldings. They are colored key. However, since most people seem compelled to drive trucks or SUV's the molding is too low to do much good. As another poster stated, just try to park the car out of harms way. That's what I do, and so far (fingers crossed as I'm typing this) I don't have a single scratch, and I've owned my car two years this past Friday.

[Biggi_e]

My 2006 had the moldings. They are colored key. However, since most people seem compelled to drive trucks or SUV's the molding is too low to do much good. As another poster stated, just try to park the car out of harms way. That's what I do, and so far (fingers crossed as I'm typing this) I don't have a single scratch, and I've owned my car two years this past Friday.

i hate you, i got so many dings on mine!!

[linmk2]

Sorry, but so far so good. My friends hate to go anywhere with me. They have to walk too far, so they say. I've always been very careful where I park my cars. I also never leave them outside in the driveway. When I'm home, they always remain in my closed and locked garage. There is also no food/drink allowed inside by anyone including myself. In the two years that I've owned my Solara, it has never spent a night outside. My 2001 Acura CL, when I sold it in 2005, the buyer could not believe the car had 56,000 miles, it still smell new inside! I try to take real good care of everything I own, my cars included. So far, I guess I've been very lucky

[onefiend]

BSM's look great when they are part of the design of the car. A good example of that are the old Mercedes and BMW's. But once the BSM just becomes an option to stick on your door, then they don't look all that great. I debated getting one for my Camry, but after seeing them on other 07 Camry's with the BSM's, they just look ugly and out of place.

[yar02169]

I bought molding from sportwing.com The absolute red was a perfect match for my car, and I actually think the car looks better with them. The install was easy, just beware ot the tapered cuts so that the door/rear quarter seam is matched to the molding.

[HomeboyMI]

I was driving across the US last October and as I was on the freeway I saw a sign "Mowing Ahead". Next thing I saw was a tractor coming toward me in the right lane of the freeway. I immediately pulled over to the left lane to give him room. At that instant, he started mowing and POW!! something hit the side of my Solara. I jammed on the brakes and backed up. There was a black mark on the body side moulding I had just installed 6 mos ago. If the moulding wasn't there it would have left a large dent. I mean this piece of old retread tire hit my car hard! Thank God for body side mouldings.

$59.00 for matching color mouldings

http://www.trdparts4u.com/ME-HGJ.aspx

[Soarer24]

Im not really a fan of the body side moldings, my best suggestion, park your pride and joy as far away from all those careless people as much possible. I would rather do some extra walking than have scratches and dings on my car.

[HomeboyMI]

Yea right! Whenever I see a Solara parked I check to see what kind of abuse they are getting in the 4 years they have been around. The two areas are dings where body side mouldings would have protected the side and chips on the door edges because of the wide doors hitting something.

I'm all for body side mouldings and door edge guards for a total of about $100 and keeping my car like new.

[thestevo44]

I got a set of side moldings from Toyota of Dallas, over the internet for $59. Shipping was reasonable, and install was easy. I decided that installing them horizontal with the ground would look the best, and I am glad I did. (As opposed to with the slightly angled line of the car). Stretch a long piece of string as a guide, and keep it straight!! Once it is on, it is ON. You dont want to be pulling it off and on, or the double sided tape will lose its stick power. Anyway, I bought my Solara used, and it already had a few dings in it. When I finally could swing the costs of paintless ding repair, I had it done, and they did a great job. (Larry Miller body shop, Phoenix AZ - They outsource, but if you are local, they can refer you). ANYWAY, now that I had the dings out, I got the moldings. You order them to match your paint color and they shipped in days. So far, so good.... but I must tell you, I also park FAR away, and I try to park on the end, all the way over to one side of the space. Also avoid parking next to cars with LONG doors. Like old monte carlos, Camaros, and other 2 door cars. Avoid SUVs, because people that drive them DONT CARE, and their doors line up with the upper lines of our Solaras, and those dings look BAD. ANYWAY, TOYOTA OF DALLAS. info@trdparts4u.com. BTW, I also got a great deal on a new set of floormats through them.