Shaved sidemoldings

[EWAustin]

Has anybody shaved the rub-strips on an early model e30? I took mine off, but they're sorta in a groove. Do they still look OK shaved with the groove? Or do I have to fill the groove too?

Pics would be nice too :D

[Garageaholic]

Shaved sidemoldings

It's alot of work and alot of putty, but it can be done. I only rolled 3 coats of paint on the car, that's why it's a little sparse.

Breakdown: I think it works, if it's done the right way and good prep is taken into account. Don't do it unless you will have subtle sideskirts such as "is" sideskirts or I'm putting small zender skirts on mine.

Here are some pics.

[backtrail69]

I also think you can only pull it off if you have body colored bumpers and bumper trim. The black door trim follows the black around the car.

[Garageaholic]

ok, with that being said, where do the door handles fall? In that case, should they be the color of the car? or flat black like shadowline trim.

[DarkWing6]

You can putty it, but I would worry about cracking in such large sections. Might be even more prone being on doors that are being slammed all the time, etc. The best way would be to have them welded to fill then only using a very minimal amount of putty to smooth things out.

[backtrail69]

ok, with that being said, where do the door handles fall? In that case, should they be the color of the car? or flat black like shadowline trim.

I like my black door handles on my zinno 325 and my delphin door handles on my 325is...

But you can tell I am a big fan of black accents..


Dirty eta in teh snow w/ winter rims.

[EWAustin]

Talked to the prof about it (I'm an auto-body student) He said that mud WILL crack and fall out, so I'm gonna weld in a wedge to ease the top part into the crease, leaving two creases that will run the length of the body. Then use as little mud and glaze as possible to smooth it out.

should be hotness (like the first pics) when I'm done. Also shaving the antenna, anybody find a good way to replace it without being big and ugly?

[DarkWing6]

e30 M3 antenna FTW!!!

[ivo316]

This car has them removed and the holes filled, but the groove is still there.

[Jscotty]

ok, with that being said, where do the door handles fall? In that case, should they be the color of the car? or flat black like shadowline trim.

There is a shade of black that is called "Bumper Black" that isn't exactly glossy nor is it flat but it has the right combination between the two so that the handle does not look completely flat but at the same time the car does not look like it has been dipped in paint.

[AndrewBird]

Jordan did it to his car. Personally, I like the black trim that came on later cars (without the chrome strip) better. That along with black bumper trim = teh hotness. It was the only thing really on Jordan's car I didn't like.

[formula driver]

ok, with that being said, where do the door handles fall? In that case, should they be the color of the car? or flat black like shadowline trim.

Deffinatly paint the door handles body color. Look at the pic of my car, its a good reference...

[NC325iC]

i disagree black door handles and black lock

[MR 325]

Jordan did it to his car. Personally, I like the black trim that came on later cars (without the chrome strip) better. That along with black bumper trim = teh hotness. It was the only thing really on Jordan's car I didn't like.

[Garageaholic]

My car after shaving the molding. I need to line up my fender better.