Member Since: 21 Feb 2007
Location: England
Posts: 78
After Market Sidesteps
I’m thinking about buying side steps for my Disco 4 as I have a young family and my older boy wants to get in and out of the car himself but could do with some help. I want them to look as much as possible like the LR ones but they need to be really sturdy as they are going to be used daily.
Stratstone quoted me £748.84 to supply and £964.84 supplied and fitted which seemed excessive but I have seen some on the Britpart website (currently waiting for a price) and the Direct 4x4 website.
The Direct 4x4 website has two sets that look right. The first is the OEM style side steps at £124.99, the other are aluminium and stainless steel at £199.99 (I’ve queried the price difference e.g. quality?).
I don’t want to throw away money for the sake of it but I don’t want to wish I had got a better set as they are rusting and falling apart after a couple of years.
Has anybody had any experience of the Britpart and/or Direct 4x4 sidesteps? Are they any good (remember they are going to be used a lot)?
Also, how easy are they to put on yourself? I’m not unfamiliar with DIY but would prefer not to be cutting lumps out of my car's bodywork with a jigsaw!
1st Jul 2014 1:42 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Are you sure you want steps?
Some go for tree sliders, as I did:
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Click image to enlarge
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Doddle to fit and easy to return to standard afterwards.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 21 Feb 2007
Location: England
Posts: 78
I really like the look of the sliders and anything easy to put on and off sounds great.
However I think I need to get the steps with a decent amount of grip on them so the kids can get plenty of purchase on them when they are getting in and out of the car.
The steps are also easier to sell to the wife as me thinking about the family rather than me spending money of toys for the car!
1st Jul 2014 2:08 pm
Tiger
Member Since: 13 Mar 2006
Location: Wales
Posts: 490
We have side steps on our new D4.
After market ones, 'bout £130, took me about 2-3 hours to fit
They are great and I wish I'd fit them to our D3, 8 years ago when we got that!.
Kids are better with them, Elderly rels are better, supermarket door ding protection and made fitting the roof box much easier!.
It will never see a rock or a tree so sliders are no use to me
1st Jul 2014 2:14 pm
Chancer
Member Since: 21 Feb 2007
Location: England
Posts: 78
Mine does a bit of off roading but nothing that I would call extreme. Everything else you said really rings true.
Where did you get them and how do they go on? Is it just a case of bolting them on or do you need to modify/cut the bodywork or trim?
1st Jul 2014 2:18 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Steps and sliders are bolted on. For steps you have to cut holes into the plastic trim; the trim is simply removed for the sliders. Sliders usually come with grip tape and it is personal preference to fit or not. There are also hybrid tubes/steps that are a little bit of both.
Steps have drawbacks such as freezing your door shut with snow, bending with ease with even mild off-roading and suffering with rusty brackets. Clearly they also offer the widest platform which is everything to some owners.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 10 Dec 2013
Location: Wirral
Posts: 266
I bought side steps from LR spares in Speke, Liverpool, £130 plus VAT, they have been on 8 months now and still solid as a rock, the Mrs uses them every day, cos she's a short
Member Since: 13 Mar 2006
Location: Wales
Posts: 490
I wouldn't worry about cutting the trim it's only a generic sill plastic
Good video here
Although I cut my trim with a Stanley and got a very neat finish.
1st Jul 2014 5:11 pm
JimmyP
Member Since: 26 Jul 2013
Location: Walsall
Posts: 218
Got these for mine. Step sections so the kids can get in and out but also look the part against Stornoway Grey.
http://bit.ly/1rdjwZ3Previously owned an '08 D3 HSE in Stornoway grey but jumped ship to see what the Swedes have to offer.
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but I have seen some on the Britpart website (currently waiting for a price) and the Direct 4x4 website.
