Member Since: 08 Mar 2016
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 551
How to prevent dented doors
I am trying to work out how best to protect my on-order D4 from the supermarket dented door menace. I've seen a few comments about side steps helping when the suspension is raised. Given the curved shape of car doors, do they only help in raised mode or do they also help in normal mode?
Are side steps the best protection? Are the LR side tubes any use or are they just for show? What about the LR body side mouldings? They seem designed specifically to protect your doors but it is arguable what they do for the aesthetics....
Then there are the non-LR options such as sliders. Do any of these offer dented door protection?
Cheers
PDMY16 D4 Graphite in Loire Blue
4th Apr 2016 8:10 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Most tree sliders offer some protection from door dings, but not as much as the daft Ant Hill Mob running boards.
The latest Prospeed sliders protrude quite a way and provide adequate protection against door dings.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Aesthetics aside, the rubbing strips have the benefit of protection from the rear doors of neighbouring cars, which would otherwise miss the side steps / running boards.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6903
I tend to park miles from anywhere when I can........ you always come back and find someone impossibly close to you though even in an empty car park.Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
4th Apr 2016 12:31 pm
dadof7kids
Member Since: 23 Aug 2011
Location: sunny Doncaster
Posts: 1303
Always put car in raised mode so car doors hit side steps/bars
4th Apr 2016 12:41 pm
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
Make sure you keep your Land Rover as dirty/muddy as possible (ideally with a few well earned scratches) and the problem goes away because nobody will park next to you! i.e.. If your car looks like you don't care people will think you don't care.
4th Apr 2016 3:32 pm
peteyd
Member Since: 08 Mar 2016
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 551
dadof7kids wrote:
Always put car in raised mode so car doors hit side steps/bars
Do the side steps not help when in normal mode?MY16 D4 Graphite in Loire Blue
5th Apr 2016 8:54 am
peteyd
Member Since: 08 Mar 2016
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 551
Robbie wrote:
Most tree sliders offer some protection from door dings, but not as much as the daft Ant Hill Mob running boards.
The latest Prospeed sliders protrude quite a way and provide adequate protection against door dings.
Do the sliders work OK as steps as well?
I like the Ant Hill Mob reference MY16 D4 Graphite in Loire Blue
5th Apr 2016 8:59 am
Scottbrad
Member Since: 21 Dec 2014
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Posts: 229
Dave T wrote:
I tend to park miles from anywhere when I can........ you always come back and find someone impossibly close to you though even in an empty car park.
Ditto, swmbo hates it especially when it's raining.Cheers Scott.
5th Apr 2016 9:22 am
dadon
Member Since: 06 May 2015
Location: Northants
Posts: 482
This guy slammed in to my door when we were in Poland last week. No side steps or side plastics were able to help me. You have to just get used to the fact that around us are people who do not care about others or their cherished cars.
Disco 3 HSE (55) - gone
BMW x3 (62) x30d MSport - current
5th Apr 2016 12:47 pm
Scottbrad
Member Since: 21 Dec 2014
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Posts: 229
I hope he stopped and gave you his details.Cheers Scott.
5th Apr 2016 12:51 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8083
The side steps do stop door dings but I found raised suspension meant more cars were protected from than in the lower position as even normal car doors cleared them in many cases.
I find main issue, on all cars, is the rear doors of the offender as they are 'widest' at their waist level and usually a 'sharp' angle too
Along with the park long way away, end of rows, against something solid, single bays, not next to walkways, trolley bays, etc. I always avoid 'old bangers', white vans and absolutely anything that has a kiddie seat in it, parents and toddler owned cars are the worst offenders in my experience........
5th Apr 2016 1:19 pm
dadon
Member Since: 06 May 2015
Location: Northants
Posts: 482
RE: Scottbrad
No!!
I argued with him and after 10 seconds he jumped in his car and drove off in a rush.
At least I have his car and number plate. Waiting to hear form the law in Poland, but you never know if they will be interested in proceeding with the case.
astonbuilder wrote:
Along with the park long way away, end of rows, against something solid, single bays, not next to walkways, trolley bays, etc. I always avoid 'old bangers', white vans and absolutely anything that has a kiddie seat in it, parents and toddler owned cars are the worst offenders in my experience........
We have parked our car in reasonably wide bay and with no cars next to us. Guy had 3 door Fiat Stilo and about 3ft of space between cars but he still decided to let his door smash in to ours.
About the kids car seat... We have one for past 6 years in 3 of our cars and that never gave us an excuse to damage any car around us even though it was tricky and inconvenient at times. If people are reckless and not bothered then they will always damage other cars regardless of precautions we take.Disco 3 HSE (55) - gone
BMW x3 (62) x30d MSport - current
Last edited by dadon on 5th Apr 2016 2:00 pm. Edited 1 time in total
5th Apr 2016 1:50 pm
therealboss
Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Co Carlow
Posts: 1958
I have ProSpeed Sliders and always park in off road hight, so far so good.
I still park a long way from the shop and this off SWMBO, I do it to protect the car (or do I do it to upset SWMBO). Dale
Member Since: 21 Dec 2014
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Posts: 229
dadon wrote:
I argued with him and after 10 seconds he jumped in his car and drove off in a rush.
At least I have his car and number plate. Waiting to hear form the law in Poland, but you never know if they will be interested in proceeding with the case.
I bet Polish plod weren't that interested, especially as you'd be off their turf in no time.Cheers Scott.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
No!!
off SWMBO, I do it to protect the car (or do I do it to upset SWMBO). 
