Remove Side Moldings. Yes or No

[Sir. SpeedALot]

What is everyone's opinion on removing the side moldings. Which looks better?

[Kain]

My side moldings saved my rear left door from a very expensive how-you-doin' with a cement pillar yesterday. Instead, all that needs repainting is the side molding, which is a cinch. Keep them. You have them for the very incident I had yesterday.

[ssinstaller]

The moldings don't fit the car at all IMO. I removed mine, and think it looks way better.

[goldwing2000]

If you live in the real world (one filled with shopping carts and careless drivers), leave them on.

[Rock]

Can I see some pics of the 3 w/o the moldings pls!

[JOS3]

If you live in the real world (one filled with shopping carts and careless drivers), leave them on.
(mswerd) sometimes you have to think about practicality

[dannyboy]

definatley leave them on.

[RonH]

I say keep them. Right after I bought my MZ3 HB, I was pulling into Lowes parking lot, and a gust of wind slammed a cart into the passenger front door. It hit pretty hard but the molding kept the damage to a minimum, a small dent right above the molding. If the molding wasn't there the dent would be a lot worse. You can't see it unless you look closely from the front.

[Da 6]

don't you just wish you had a saturn? I would have the factory paint still on the car.

[sam1]

im taking mine off. i did that with my old protege and it looked much nicer, so i think im gonna try it with this one also.

[bluntman]

I did that as soon as I saw someone else's 3 with that mod. I think it looks much sleeker, just make sure you don't have the "2.3" emblem on there as well, if you do make sure you remove that too.

The door molding on most cars, the 3 included, is too low on the door to be of any good. In order to protect the body from door dings, the molding must be at the widest point of the car when looking at it head/tail on. Otherwise, it's purely cosmetic.

[Sir. SpeedALot]

(mswerd) sometimes you have to think about practicality

I think I prefer form over function (at least in regards to this). I mean, if I had that attitude I might as well use a bra, mud guards, 3m clear bra on the rest of the car, door trim moldings, fender moldings, etc. Door dings just add character...lol..not really, but you get my drift. Well, I will most likely take them off and take certain risks. Thanks for all the replies.

[TampaBlackMSP]

I'd take them off, provided they're not too big of a pain to do so...also if there are holes underneath (which I have no idea about since I don't have a 3) , I'd prolly leave them on - not worth the time, $$, etc.

Glad my car didn't come with them...hehe.... :P

[DarkSide3]

here is a link to where the same thing was discussed.. there is pictures on the link also... hope this helps

http://**********************/viewtopic.php?t=6982

[Rock]

Hell yeah, best thing I love about my saturn is the flexibility of the exterior panels. For example, approx 4mo. ago some dipshit rearended me. His whole right fender was INSIDE my left rear fender. We pull em apart and his whole fender is crumbled and Fubar'd. I looked at my car and the plastic popped itself back into place and it had a long ass scratch on the bumper. I took her home washed the car and scrubbed the scratches out. All I needed was some touchup paint and a bumper re-align. Total cost was $300 to repair, and I said screw that. The asshole who rearended me ended up with approx $2k+ in damage. I remember when I got in a fight when I was in high school, the fellow that I had a disagreement threatened that he would "KICK" my car in. I told him to on a dare. After he kicked the car repeatedly for about a min or 2 he gave up after he realized he wasn't doing any damage.
Honestly, I'd go for another saturn if they had kept building the S-series and just put a better motor in em. But whatever.

I like the no moldings on the car, makes it look much sleaker. My only concern is the part of the vehicle underneath the moldings completely painted and clearcoated?

[bluntman]

I like the no moldings on the car, makes it look much sleaker. My only concern is the part of the vehicle underneath the moldings completely painted and clearcoated?

It's completely finished underneath the moldings.

[Kain]

I think Mazda adds side moldings at the dealership. And since the body is painted at the factory, the indentation in the doors where the moldings go are already primed and painted.

[Da 6]

yes there painted and no holes or resessment underneath them. They change the look of the car signifigantly....if anyone removes the 2.3 badges...send em my way(smoke) I need trunk badges...was gonna shave the trunk but nobody in this area has a clue what the 6 even is(boom05) only thing you wanna do is have hair dryer, adhesive(Not Nail) remover, water, and wax......heat them up if it isn't hot as hell outside already... peel using a old credit card(Perfect Tool Evar) if you still have one around. use remover to remove left over glue and wash and wax the area or you will loose some shine from clear coat in the area you put the remover on. as stated before dings will happen regardless of moldings(except in 2nd post case scenario) so park away from the croud of rustbuckets and 2 door coupes.

[bluntman]

I think Mazda adds side moldings at the dealership. And since the body is painted at the factory, the indentation in the doors where the moldings go are already primed and painted.

Indentations? What indentations?

[sndsgood]

ditch them if you know how to park your car, just park a bit further out where old women wont' ding your doors, i removed the trim on our sunfire the first day we had the car, its been going on 4 years now and not one single door dent or scratch. its all in how you take care of your stuff. if you go and park with the other monkeys dont be surprised when one of them throws sh%$ on you.

[Da 6]

ditch them if you know how to park your car, just park a bit further out where old women wont' ding your doors, i removed the trim on our sunfire the first day we had the car, its been going on 4 years now and not one single door dent or scratch. its all in how you take care of your stuff. if you go and park with the other monkeys dont be surprised when one of them throws sh%$ on you. people who are in a hurry try and park up front. people are also lazy and will circle a parkinglot for 3 mins to get a close spot than park in the back slot and walked in 2 and a half minutes ago. and since they been circling they are extremely agitated and care less of who or what the door hits. also when people ding someones car they run to the outside of the parkinglot as well if they still have the nevre to stick around... so rule of thumb is park next to a vehicle that is ov equal or greater value to yours unless they intetionally double parked... park out far from other cars but not so far the snow plow plows you in. yes I will repeat this one more time don't park next to 2 door coupes and rustbuckets.....2 door cupes if the wind blows the door out their hand the door is gonna strike something hard....remember the doors are longer so they will reach your car even if you park left center and they parked to the right.... look at my sig and see how much space I have if the wind managed to get hold of the doors... thats the space you need to park in!!!! once it gets warm again i'll peel mine off finally....

[sndsgood]

well i bought my 3 yesterday so the mouldings will come off my car today most likely.

i allot of times won't even park next to expensive cars, i now live in a rich part of town and even the people in more expensive cars dont seem to care, its just a car to them. i prefer to just park further out. your right people are just to lazy to park out there

[IllBinfrontofya]

Ok, I have a MZ3 5 door in straight WHITE!!! I decided to take off the moldings today and first thing i noticed was, THERE IS A YELLOW TINT behind it!!! I already waxed the entire car before i did this, so i thought that might be a small reason. But, this is noticeable when you are about 2 feet from the car!!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO??????Someone please help me out here!

[Da 6]

goo gone mothers scratch remover and a soft cloth...unless you have the electric hand buffer handy...It's most likely residue from the adhesive...

[goldwing2000]

I always park either as far away as possible or in a spot where I have a curb/wall/light pole/end of the aisle on one or more sides. The guys at work always give me shit because I'll park straight in a diagonal spot and diagonally in a straight spot to maximize the distance from other people's doors to my car.

I'm still leaving my moldings on, though. (thumb)

[Sethlan]

I'll park straight in a diagonal spot and diagonally in a straight spot to maximize the distance from other people's doors to my car.


Gold, I have seen people go out of there way to damage cars that park that way...

May wanna watch it.

[Da 6]

Gold, I have seen people go out of there way to damage cars that park that way...

May wanna watch it. yeah thats how people get their cars plowed in when it snows!!! and ticketed as well... just do what I did...find the end spot and perk close to the outer most edge...(Se sig again for refrence) and noting should "Accidentally" come in contact wit the car withought Motive...

[goldwing2000]

Gold, I have seen people go out of there way to damage cars that park that way...

May wanna watch it.

Oh, I'm still only taking up one spot. I'm just taking up ALL of one spot. And like I said, it's always WAY far out, so I'm not blocking any good parking or anything.

[sndsgood]

Gold, I have seen people go out of there way to damage cars that park that way...

May wanna watch it.

well not much you can do about people who intentionally vandalise your car.

[Badger Biker]

If only I could see this on a lava orange vehicle ... then I might take mine off my hatchback. :D

[Da 6]

Got a friend that has the same car as me minus a few options...he did it and got a ding...that wouldn't have been caught by the moldings due to the location was above and right after it breaks...

P.S. don't need the 2.3 badge donation..got one and it's on the trunk now 3 more coming...fenders and the dash gets 1(evil)

[sndsgood]

i only wish mazda wouldn't have put the stupid holes in the trunk lid to hold the mazda emblem and logo on. now it will have to be done by the body shop since i dont wel.

and had the car for a week and the mouldings are gone.

[Castle]

I took my moldings off and it gives the 3 5door a moooooooooth look, you just have to park away from every one else, i already have a ding. but fo sure looks tight