wildeklave

I have relatively new NX. I am considering body side molding but think it looks bad on the NX because the molding lines seem parallel to the ground while the doors and and other lines are not. Is there some kind of coating, wax, or something else that will be resistant to stones kicked up on the highway, fellow drivers who mistakenly open their door too far in a parking lot and ding mine, or other minor mishaps that can lead to scratches on doors? I don't have a garage and park in an assigned parking space in a lot where I live. While my neighbors are careful one that parks next to me a lot owns a CRV and has a 3 year old child that she carries into and out of her vehicle. I can easily see her door losing control when she is removing her child and it dinging mine since she will obviously put her child's safety ahead of hers or my vehicle's. At work I am also in a parking lot and the spaces are a little tight. Many times there is a car parked next to mine. I was thinking a 3M type of film could be my solution but one local detailer I wrote said it would be a custom job for him and cost around $1500.

My expectation is to put on about 15-18k miles per year so I want the vehicle to look nice but realize that after 4-5 years that no matter how nice it looks it will still have higher miles on it which will be a bigger impact on resale vs. a nice coating on the vehicle.

Attached is a picture I found online of the moldings on an NX where you can see the lines look very busy. I am still undecided on moldings vs. some kind of coating. It may come down to function over image for the moldings especially if I can find a way to install them on a slight angle to match the lines of the vehicle.
http://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.club...c2953dc3d9.png

Just looking to see if any fellow Lexus owners can offer solutions other than the moldings that will be cost effective.

NickTee

Clear vinyl wrap from someone with a more reasonable offer.

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

The only protection product that will protect from chips, scuffs, and minor scratches is Paint Protection Film (PPF) aka Clear Bra.

This is commonly applied to the front end (bumber, hood, and fenders) of the vehicle to protect the car from rock chips, however it can be installed over the entire car. It is quite pricey, however it is much cheaper than a new paint job, so many vehicle owners can see the added value in this investment for their new cars.

-Zach