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I'm looking at buying this UL 2010, but it's got the dealer installed body side molding (aka door dingers). Not sure if I like or would want them. I'm guessing they are like other cars and just have an adhesive on them that could be removed with a hair dryer or heat gun. Will this permanently damage the car to remove them? Should I leave them on if I go through with the purchase? It's a looks/opinion thing. I get it. Just wondering if pulling them off would cause damage.
I'm so sick of dealing with car dealerships!!! One sold out from under me while my $ was in-transit. Took a week to get it back, lost a $200 freight deposit I disputed with AMEX that it looks like I might be able to get back. Paid $170 to have another UL inspected in Houston. Clean Carfax but it was a flood car--musty smell and evidence of carpet removal!
This one has a tiny cut in the front passenger seat cushion that bothers me, and the armrest is worn (cheap fix for that). It also has a clean Carfax, no accidents, but prior front bumper damage. Not too terribly worried about that as bumpers get repaired/painted all the time due to rock chips, parking lot incidents, etc.
This one is in the Dallas area. I will probably pay for another inspection before I drive 9 hours, unless there's an awesome ClubLexus member willing to look at it for me. I can throw you a bone for your efforts!
I installed the side door guards after I go my car. Just 3M tape on the back and should be able to remove it with a heat gun. The only problem I would be concerned about is the color of the paint under the trim. Because of sun fade I suspect there would be a line where the trim was and you won't be able to buff it out. Other then that it's a straight forward job.
Not sure I would want to use a heatgun to try to penetrate the molding to get it off. I always use fishing line to remove things stuck on with double sided tape. The line will cut the foam (if it's present) and you can then peel off the residuals. Just my $.02.
Love that idea I never thought of that as for fadeing paint that’s a thing of the past I’m in the middle of removing clear film and the paint it matching perfect Lexus has great quality paint and course it’s clear coat which dosnt color fade anyways
Thanks for the replies. I got more photos and info from that dealer, and the car has hail damage, so I passed. I am having horrible luck finding a UL car, and the couple I do find are either $17k-22k or they are gold in color (or both)! I'm about to give up and get a premium plus. I want the UL badly, though. There are few out there, and a lot of the ones I've seen were in rough shape or Northern cars. They made more 6th gens with that package, and probably 1% on the 2010-2012s. Out of probably 800-1000 cars on Autotrader, CarGurus, Cars.com, TrueCar, etc., there are 5 or less ULs. There's an 09 silver UL with a melting dash issue and prior smoker's car at a lot about a mile from my house. I had to pass on it too. They made improvements in 2010 to the ML stereo, as well as the side moldings and front-end that I like.
04-18-18, 04:18 PM
Body side molding removal
