Less than 4 days old, 60 miles on the ODO, a clueless friend of mine opened the door hard in a parking lot and made a microscopic chip on the edge. You can't see it unless someone points it out. Considering how I am so obsessed with detail and exterior finish, it drove me nuts. I can see it and it bothered me. So, I applied touch up paint, polished and sanded it down to brand new. I even added clearcoat. It was a rather easy touch-up but I can't fathom doing it again.

So, to prevent further mishaps, I went out to ebay and got one of these:
Ebay Link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TRIM-...ht_1616wt_1995


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1284179088

Does it work or look tacky? I think it kinda looks ok with a black car and black edge protector. I am attaching a pict on how it looks on my car. Took 4 minutes to install.

 

It depends on what you think most. I think it looks ok, especially with your colors. At least it's not CHROME like some cars I've seen with those on. Yikes. Maroon with, and thick!, chrome edging, why?

 

I was going to say the same thing, at least it's not chrome. I think it looks fine

 

Maybe it looks different in person, but it doesn't look bad at all.

 

This is what I use, virtually invisible...called XPel:

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/inde.../6070/sc/47367

The black push-ons don't look bad at all, but my experience has been they start to come loose on hot sunny days. I love my XPel...accomplishes the same mission while being virtually invisible on the car.

 

This Xpel stuff looks interesting, is it really tough enough to resist chipping then door edge? Can it be removed? How visible is it?

 

I used a clear 3m type tape as well ... If you didn't look for it you would never see it

 

Really tough actually, 8mil thick. I'm sure you could tear it with excessive effort, but that same effort would probably tear off the black push-on's. I have a bumper strip in my garage on the wall next to my car, and I'm bumping this door edge into it on a near daily basis (tight fit) and you can't even see so much as a mar. 12ft roll, enough to do an R56 twice, possibly even an R55 twice. Very forgiving when installing....don't like how it laid? just pull it up and redo. Warm it with a heat gun, peel it right off if needed for removal. Like TY ler said, unless you actually looked for it, you'd never see it. It's like front clear bra's, about the only thing you can see, if you looked for it, is the edge of it.

 

I'm afraid you will find that the door edge protectors will do more to damage your doors than help them. They will pick up dirt and grit which cannot be washed out easily and when you remove them, you will find a mark on the paint alng the edge. At least tha't what happened when I used them on my Honda (which I chipped all the time by hitting the cement garage wall at my house).

 

HEY! Some of us like Chrome. I think my chrome door edge protectors suit my MINI...then again a lot of what I have done to her probably upsets some people. She's not understated.

To the OP, I think it looks fine for whatever my chrome loving opinion is worth!

 

+1
I have the 3m as well. Put it and the clear bra on the car 2 years ago and both still look great plus protects very well.

 

Personally when I see a car with those on there I think to myself "that person PLANS on not being careful with thier door"... I think it shows a lack of control and caring for your vehicles appearance..

If you have a chip buy some appropriately colored touchup paint and gently apply and forget about it.. The adhesive on the door trim will eventually discolor your paint..

I don't know, do what you want, but you asked for opinions..

EDIT- I will say that on your black car it looks like it could be OEM trim.. So really whats the difference?

 

Trust me ive seen a lot worse... I don t think it looks alright.

 

According to his original post, it was a passenger that dinged his door. He's looking for a preventative measure so it doesn't happen again since he can't control what others do. He states that he's 'obsessed with detail and exterior finish'.

 

I read that... But to me having those on the car says "i plan to give you a door ding".. Nothing against OP, just what I think when I see those..