Shave side moldings

[mazdaspeed777]

Thought I would post this for you P5's looking to clean up the look of there P5(might work for you other mazdas that have these same moldings). The side moldings pictured here...

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q82/mazdaspeed777/3e5c80626f16.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q82/mazdaspeed777/058a40c8d152.jpg

... Can be removed and are only glued on(not sure how they are connected on other mazda models). Go to any hardware store and pick up some 3M adhesive remover(make sure it is this kind for this kind will not damage your paint). Apply this to the back of the moldings with a spong and let it soak in for a little while. Then you should be able to pull the side moldings off. Use more 3M adhesive remover to clean up what remains. I have not done this but plan to do so on my P5 this weekend. I will post some pictures after I am done. good luck!

 

[digitalricepape]

yeah ive done this to my p5..looks better imo but that sticky stuff is a pita to get off, so set enough some time to clean it all up.

 

[Cellerator]

whatever you do, do it patiently, and spray some 3m adhesive remover on it, and wax it good.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

wow! that looks so much better. Can't wait to do it to mine this weekend. will post picks later. Have a great weekend everyone, happy moding!

 

[mickeyreategui]

i did it to my es, becasue the wings west kit wouldn't fit with out taking it off, so i just ripped them off and used and eraser wheel at a body shop and took me about 5 min. to take off the extra adhesive. makes it look a lot better and cleaner.

 

[Kansei]

^^ you and your eraser wheel.. lucky! took me 6 hours with adhesive remover.. probably because it was like 40 outside when I was doing it. It was all worth it in the end though.

 

[mickeyreategui]

the eraser wheel makes it 100 times easier!!!

 

[CTt3P5]

I think I need one of these eraser wheels. Gonna have to add this one to my list....getting too cold here to do it. Not too cold to be out but I would rather wait until a nice day when it is say 90 degrees or so.

 

[FoxPro5]

I took me about an hour or so with 3M's Automix 8215 Adhesive Cleaner. That stuff is awesome. It works wonders for remoing tar or grease or whatever gets stuck to the side skirts and bumpers.

The key for me was to use a plastic puddy knife. Start near the side mirror and pry a little of it up. Then you just slide it down underneath while keeping the pressure up and out on the molding rather than down on the car. Then once they are off, soak a rag really well and the adhesive comes right off.

The whole project can take a while if you wash and wax right after that though. When you are done, it will look like this:

 

[thrasher]

I started with one side, then got frustrated peeling off that glue. I used "goo-gone" and it didn't work at all.

So I haven't bothered with the other side yet. Kind of lop sided. I'll try that 3M stuff this weekend because I love the look. Removes some of the "cuteness".

 

[GreyMan]

i took mine off using goo-gone, and it ended up taking paint off my side skirt. i didnt use m3 because i couldnt find it in any stores.

 

[TreFlip999]

i dont get it sorry...what are shaved side moldings...im looking at the picture but i cant see a difference

 

[L8R]

On your doors on the exterior. It helps prevent dings on the doors when people open their doors open too wide.

 

[02pro5wagon]

i took mine off too it was about an hour per side but i like the look alot better easy mod just time consuming and boring fingers hurt after a while

 

[rednecks_r_us]

Since I lowered my car the door guards were useless. I got chips above the guard and not on the guard. So I took mine off. I used the eraser wheel and then went over it again with pre-cleeno from the paint shop. Then washed & waxed the car.

The Mazda 6 door guards come off with out any residue left behind. Lucky bastards.

Here are some before & After pictures

 

[clicknext]

On your doors on the exterior. It helps prevent dings on the doors when people open their doors open too wide.

Unfortunately the influx of SUVs makes them pretty useless in that matter.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

So I removed them this weekend. Man you guys were right on the time consuming part. I still haven't got all of it off and I have almost used a whole quart of the 3M adhesive remover. I did notice that after I removed the side moldings the door makes a hollow dinging noise now. Those side moldings actually contribute to the structure of the door. Oh well I can live with that, and it was worth it for the look. Thanks for all the picks guys and props to all who have done this mod. Here is a pic of mine after this weekend. A little before and after pics.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q82/mazdaspeed777/c8fc84536ec3.jpg

 

[Kansei]

^^ yeah I forgot about that. The door sounds a ton more solid with the side moldings on. Nothing a little bit of sound deadening material can't sold, that's pretty much what that strip was doing.. just adding weight to the panel to stop it from rattling.

 

[Mr.Ames]

Anyone have a problem with ugly faded paint?
I had my spoiler off to fix the rattle and the rest of the car looks really dull compared to the color under the spoiler.
I don't wanna take the side mouldings off if I'm gonna have a bright yellow stripe down each side of the car...

 

[mazdaspeed777]

mine looked fine after I did it. It has over 60,000 miles on it and I don't even wax my car as much as I should. Even if it does leave a stripe that will just give you one more reason to tell your self you need to paint your car. ) Wish I could afford to paint mine, there so many imperfections in my paint job its not even funny(SIIIIIGGGHHHH)