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I've been curious on this for a while. How come some C5's have a side molding line that spans across the doors and forward into the side gill and some C5's are clean and have no side moldings. Wondering if it's an option thing or a trim thing?
I don't like the side moldings, but it seems most C5s have them. I'm wondering if they're removed, would you see a "shadow" in the paint where they were? On a 15 to 20 year old car, seems like the rest of the paint would be faded some, while the paint under the molding would not be. This happened to me on a motorcycle I had. I removed the badges on the gas tank, and the paint under the badges was darker than the paint on the rest of the tank, and that was only a 7 year old bike...
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
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NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The body side moldings were a relatively low cost option, but as stated many do not like them. They are held on with double sided tape and can be removed, but there is always the chance that the paint shade difference between what is under the BSMs and the surrounding panels will be noticeable.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
The body side moldings were a relatively low cost option, but as stated many do not like them. They are held on with double sided tape and can be removed, but there is always the chance that the paint shade difference between what is under the BSMs and the surrounding panels will be noticeable.
Yeah, I think they were like a $140 option. My 98 did not have them but my 00 did. Currently, my 99 does not have them and my 02 does. No plans on removing them.
If someone wanted to remove them, I would take the small one in front of the door off first, if the paint is faded noticeably you could easily just put it back on...
for the record I’m not a fan.
I will also add that C5 door panels do not ding very easily, so if you’re getting them for that I don’t think it’s necessary, just watch where you park.
Last edited by Forcedvert; 11-19-2018 at 07:15 PM.
Put me in the 'hate them' group. I purchased an '02 last fall and my first mod was to remove them. No paint issue at all. I just went over the area with a cleaner wax and you would never know they were there.
This is was my second '02. I purchased the first one in '06. It also had the moldings .... and they came off right away. Much cleaner look without them IMO.
Put me in the 'hate them' group. I purchased an '02 last fall and my first mod was to remove them. No paint issue at all. I just went over the area with a cleaner wax and you would never know they were there.
This is was my second '02. I purchased the first one in '06. It also had the moldings .... and they came off right away. Much cleaner look without them IMO.
I've removed BSMs from two C-5s. One car had been repainted, on one door, and the BSMs had not been removed for the repaint, thus there was a line where the original paint ended and the new paint was applied. I 'fixed' it with some rubbing compound, My current C-5 is black, and there is no sign I removed the BSMs.
My only issue with BSMs is for myself they "date" the car somewhat (not that arguably the C5 design itself isn't already dated...). They're a product in the tail end of the era where most all cars had some sort of body molding to protect easily dinged doors. Car design then moved to more hard edges and materials usage has advanced which has for the most part eliminated the need for body side moldings on cars. I can see where they would be beneficiary on a C5 though as the SMC door shell has an outer SMC skin that can be very easily gouged and damaged. Personally I'm glad my car doesn't have them.
My only issue with BSMs is for myself they "date" the car somewhat (not that arguably the C5 design itself isn't already dated...). They're a product in the tail end of the era where most all cars had some sort of body molding to protect easily dinged doors. Car design then moved to more hard edges and materials usage has advanced which has for the most part eliminated the need for body side moldings on cars. I can see where they would be beneficiary on a C5 though as the SMC door shell has an outer SMC skin that can be very easily gouged and damaged. Personally I'm glad my car doesn't have them.
Man I was not expecting this thread to take off!! I wish other threads I’ve posted had this engagement.
My BSM's are standing in a bedroom closet. I never liked the look. Finally after 6 years of ownership, I had the guts to remove them. All of the double-sided tape cam off and no paint fade under the spears.
Love the look now.
Oh great!!... now I have a dilemma..... remove the side moldings or leave them??? I did not like the look of the FRCs, then I bought one and now I really like it. I didn't like the side moldings on the C5. My 2000 FRC came with the side moldings. Now they have grown on me. Now that I know they are just taped on, I have to ponder whether I remove them or leave them.....
11-19-2018, 03:02 PM
Curious of side moldings
