Just wondering if anyone has purchased body side molding for the ES 300H (that wasn't on the car when purchased); if so, did you put it on yourself or did you take it to a Lexus dealer or body shop for installation?

 

I'm having the dealer install, as part of the sale.. They had to order the part.

 

OH GOD PLEASE PLEASE DON'T RUIN THAT BEAUTIFUL CAR WITH THE SIDE MOLDING.

I also thought about it myself...to spare me the dings...but once I saw a 350 with it, I called the salesman and told him to cancel the order for the molding. Ugly. We're talkin' Fugly. Ruins the beautiful look. Would turn a beautiful car into a senior citizen's bumper car.

Just my $.02 -- but HOPE YOU DON'T DO IT.

 

I'm not a fan of side moldings on the current or previous gen ES's, and agree that it's not a good look on these cars.

I do see how they might protect against some dings though.

 

I saw how the molding looks on their web site, and it doesn't look bad. I do know what you mean about having that "clean and smooth look" along the side, so that why I'd rather have the side molding then dings on the doors. Being so smooth will mean it will get bumped by some fool or their dumb a$$ kids parked next to you, who won't care.

 

Thanks for the reponses: I think for the moment I'll pass. I took a look at the other car I seriously was contemplating (2013 Audi A6) and it too has no side molding (although different lines on the side). I'll wait until I see a few on the road and that will give me a better idea.

 

Looks like this.

Lou

 

Thanks Lou. Looks like some I've seen on an RX.

 

I used to think that side molding was a good thing, and I guess in a practical sense it is - it certainly protects the doors from parking lot dings. But, since fewer and fewer cars come with side molding now, it seems too outdated for my tastes. I just don't like the look any more, and I wouldn't want them on my ES.

 

Buying side moldings for door protection isn't a smart move. If you like the style of them, go for it but they really won't protect you much from dings, and if you park carefully its not really an issue. Plus...if you get a ding, $90 worth of PDR will fix it, vs the car looking ugly all the time because of the moulding. JMHO.

 

After thinking it over and listening to the comments - I agree. I also was on a bike ride today and saw a few BMWs, Audis, and a Porsche - none had body side molding. Figuring they must now be passe - it's another $200 I don't have to spend.

 

At the risk of sounding "old", which I'm not, I like the moldings. A good thing I guess since the pic of the silver UL that Lou posted is actually my car. I posted the pic on another post.

I've received a lot of compliments on the car especially from ES owners of the previous generation. One of the biggest things I hear is how much they like the body side moldings. Comments about how it breaks up the tall boring side of the car. Now, I will say, I'Ve heard they look better on some colors versus others.

But, many of the people in the service bay who had never seen them on the car mentioned how much they liked them. I guess that's why the make multiple flavored of ice cream. To each his own.

 

Not old ... and driving a 350!

 

I liked the moldings on the 07-09 ES because I too felt the sides were unadorned and kind of plain. Once they added the chrome molding at the bottom of the doors on the 2010 though, I thought the moldings looked too busy.

I do think the side of the car needs something, but IMHO its trim at the base of the doors not in the middle.

 

I finally got my side body molding installed. I'm not old but I like how it breaks up the long sheet metal of the doors. It adds an accent to the side but probably not for the minimalist in the group.