but if my car had them I would probably learn to love them until there was a separate issue that required their removal.
Side molding....Remove or leave it?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: PA
Side molding....Remove or leave it?
I have a 2002 Yellow coupe. It has 52,000 miles on it. I'm thinking about taking the side molding off. I've seen pics of other cars with it off. What do you guys think? For those of you who have removed the molding, was there are difference in paint color that you could notice when it was removed? Or any other issues with taking it off? Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,750
Likes: 797
From: Powder Springs GA
Lots of folks remove it. Some colors don't fade and you do not see a different color from the rest of the door. Some cars have had paint work done and the painter just cleared up to the side molding and when the molding was removed they had repair work that needed doing. Some look great and no one can tell the molding was ever there.
No way to know for certain in advance what yours will look like until you try removing it..
No way to know for certain in advance what yours will look like until you try removing it..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
Since the thread is entitled, "Side molding....Remove or leave it?", I will chime in. I have an '02Z with bodyside molding. I like mine and have no plans to ever remove it. I don't know what the angst is about as I know some folks really don't like it. To the OP, its your car, do with it as you please but my vote is to leave it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
I ordered mine from the dealer and paid extra for them, so I vote to leave them on. I can't understand why so many hate them, I think they make the car look a lot better, without them it just seems like somethings missing. Just my .02
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Its a common question
Over the years, polls have been split 50/50 but read the threads and most of the comment is against BSMs
I'm happy with mine.
Over the years, polls have been split 50/50 but read the threads and most of the comment is against BSMs
I'm happy with mine.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,672
Likes: 40
From: Prescott Arizona
If you remove them, let me know the outcome.
I just bought a yellow 2002 and have been thinking about removing them. Car only had 12,460 miles on it when I bought it, and it came with a car cover. I was told it was parked in a garage with the cover on it, unless it was being driven. Hopefully my fading issues will be slim.
I just bought a yellow 2002 and have been thinking about removing them. Car only had 12,460 miles on it when I bought it, and it came with a car cover. I was told it was parked in a garage with the cover on it, unless it was being driven. Hopefully my fading issues will be slim.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 3
From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
i removed them off of my ex-gf's electron blue coupe with 33k on it with no paint problems. a friend removed his off of a silver coupe with 10k on it and had no paint problems either. as stated above it is a personal prefrence and it is your car, but personally i think that they look like s$*t.. and i don't park my car next to another so i guess that i will never be able to test that theory!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I am seriuos let me know, Mike
