Question about door guard protection

9187 Views 18 Replies 9 Participants Last post by stevew, Dec 18, 2019

ronnie

Discussion Starter · Aug 4, 2018

I'm finding that installation of the door guards that I bought is more difficult than I thought. It requires cutting the existing silicon door seal on the inside with a cutter that came with the order. There's also paint involved after the cut. I don't feel comfortable doing all of this. May ask our local dealer how much he would charge for the install. Here's the instructions that were sent to me.

https://cl.ly/3a3n0N3L3r2X/2019 INSIGHT DOOR EDGE GUARDS.pdf

What other options are there instead of me installing them?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

ronnie

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 18, 2018

On my previous Honda (Fit 2015) we had door guard protectors which I liked. I found some online for my 2019 EX Insight at the link below.

https://www.bernardiparts.com/Products/Honda-Door-Edge-Guards-(Insight)__08P20-TXM-XXX.aspx

However, the installation manual says "These procedures should not be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers" and I can tell why. It involves removing the silicon seem just inside the door with a provided cutting tool. I'm not at all comfortable doing this.

How would I go about getting this done? Dealer? Body shop? Any ideas?

Mr. Natural

· #3 · Aug 18, 2018

Check out this video of the same kind of edge guards being installed. Doesn’t look very complex.

ronnie

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 18, 2018

Goldy said:
Check out this video of the same kind of edge guards being installed. Doesn’t look very complex.
https://youtu.be/kH9K5T_A0PM

Good info, but to me without a lift like the one in the video, it would be challenging. However, I know a guy close by that has a lift and I'll pay him to do it. The video is helpful. Thank you very much.

Misterb

· #5 · Aug 19, 2018

Here is another point of view

Reactions: 1

Mr. Natural

· #6 · Aug 19, 2018

Misterb said:
Here is another point of view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf8dkSjwXN0

I have to agree with the last thing he says about just being careful. However much you think it may be protecting the edge of your door, I guarantee that the real damage happened to the car you banged it into not the edge of your door. It’s happened to my cars too many times. And no matter how hard I try there are times where I am forced to park in a ‘too close’ situation.

shragae

· #7 · Sep 30, 2018

I had my dealer install them as part of my purchase agreement. It wasn't that expensive -- under $100 installed.

Jc_vt

· #8 · Jan 9, 2019

Anyone have experience with aftermarket door edge protectors or bump strips on outside of door to protect from door dings?

gremal

· #9 · May 24, 2019

Door edge guards -- keep or remove?

My Insight has edge guards installed by the dealer on each door and wheel well. At first I thought this was great for protection but I happened to get a couple small scrapes around the fog light area, so the idea of keeping the car free of dings is gone. Plus the edge guards break up the smooth exterior. Should I take them off? Any risk of damaging the paint by removing them?

sEXzNsite

· #10 · May 24, 2019

gremal said:
My Insight has edge guards installed by the dealer on each door and wheel well. At first I thought this was great for protection but I happened to get a couple small scrapes around the fog light area, so the idea of keeping the car free of dings is gone. Plus the edge guards break up the smooth exterior. Should I take them off? Any risk of damaging the paint by removing them?

I have them on mine and though they do break up then clean lines, a ding or dent around the fender edges will be more visible & heart breaking than the guards themselves ~ so IMO I’d recommend keeping them on.

Mr. Natural

· #11 · May 24, 2019

I agree they break up the lines and are distracting from the look of the car. When they’re installed the seam sealant is trimmed on the inside of the door. The installer is supposed to touch up the paint after trimming and then uses a rubber mallet to pound to trim in place. If they haven’t touched up the paint it could be a place for rust to get a start. And the trim will likely trap moisture to help it along. Rust never sleeps. If you want to try removing them I’d try applying some heat and see if they will just pull off.

matttelz

· #12 · Nov 25, 2019

New 2020 Insight Touring door guards

Hey all...couple of mpg related questions.

I just got my insight touring. It's freaking awesome! My last car was a 2010 accord so this is quite an upgrade. The dealer installed door guards on the vehicle. They're basically little pvc covers over the edge of the doors and wheel wells... I actually don't really like them. They're kinda ugly IMHO and honestly they're more for me digging someone else's door(s) which I never do so they're almost pointless to me. I'm thinking because the side body of the vehicle is smooth except for the door handles and mirrors...they're actually decreasing mpg because they're disturbing airflow.. Do you think that's the case? I can get a picture later of them.

I'm also considering what the effect of the splash guards and front fake grill. Since I've seen pictures of the insight before in came out in 2019 I've wanted to fab up a fiberglass insert to the front grill where the license plate goes...Id think making that area similar to say a model 3's smooth front would certainly decrease drag..

Let me know what you guys think.. Ive got 77 miles on the car so its still too early to tell what sort of mpg I'll be averaging.

I should get a decent number after Thanksgiving since I'll be traveling 400miles Round trip plus 186mi for work this week...

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andrew28

· #13 · Nov 25, 2019

matttelz said:
I'm also considering what the effect of the splash guards and front fake grill. Since I've seen pictures of the insight before in came out in 2019 I've wanted to fab up a fiberglass insert to the front grill where the license plate goes...Id think making that area similar to say a model 3's smooth front would certainly decrease drag..

Let me know what you guys think.. Ive got 77 miles on the car so its still too early to tell what sort of mpg I'll be averaging.

I should get a decent number after Thanksgiving since I'll be traveling 400miles Round trip plus 186mi for work this week...

You mean like the grille mod mugen did for the Japanese Insight?

You're average mpg is going to be lower in the Winter unless you live in a warm climate year round. Otherwise you won't see the full potential of the Insight until the Summer.

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insightfully

· #14 · Nov 26, 2019

matttelz said:
The dealer installed door guards on the vehicle. They're basically little pvc covers over the edge of the doors and wheel wells... I actually don't really like them. They're kinda ugly IMHO and honestly they're more for me digging someone else's door(s) which I never do so they're almost pointless to me. I'm thinking because the side body of the vehicle is smooth except for the door handles and mirrors...they're actually decreasing mpg because they're disturbing airflow.. Do you think that's the case?

I'm also considering what the effect of the splash guards and front fake grill. Since I've seen pictures of the insight before in came out in 2019 I've wanted to fab up a fiberglass insert to the front grill where the license plate goes...Id think making that area similar to say a model 3's smooth front would certainly decrease drag..

I have the door edge guards (and body side molding) as well. I think the MPG impact is negligible... but then again I've had them on since day one and only know the fuel efficiency with them on. I've gotten at/above average MPG so far, so I think the door guards are doing okay.

The door guards may introduce a disruption to the aerodynamic flow, but I think the other aerodynamics helps on the Insight are bigger factors for MPG. - https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/2...ipment/3728-vortex-generators-headlights.html

If you want to remove the door edge guards, see comments above by @Mr. Natural regarding trimming, touch up, and heat-aided removal.

I learned some aerodynamics notes in these videos that the driver side grille in 'fog lamp' / lower area is functional to cool the electric motors... so there are a few 'functional' features to parts of the front grille. And the Insight's rim design intentionally cuts thru air to direct flow behind the wheels for brake cooling.

1:18 to 5:00 - Raiti's Rides - youtu.be/8kKqRHfD_8Q?t=78
0:49 to 1:15 - Rick Case Honda - youtu.be/d-BzwWjMPzw?t=49

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matttelz

· #15 · Nov 30, 2019

Yea I'm really thinking of taking off these door guards. They seriously only help other vehicles and not my own from getting hit anywhere else on the doors...

Plus I'm almost certain they add wind noise to the car...if you check some model 3 owners. You'll see they're adding little pieces of foam to fill the body panel gaps which drastically reduces wind noise on the vehicle... Only problem for me is Im not sure how well black rubber/foam between the panel gaps would look on a white car.... Im worried though that any white foam is going to yellow under uv light exposure...

andrew28

· #16 · Dec 1, 2019 (Edited)

matttelz said:
Yea I'm really thinking of taking off these door guards. They seriously only help other vehicles and not my own from getting hit anywhere else on the doors...

Plus I'm almost certain they add wind noise to the car...if you check some model 3 owners. You'll see they're adding little pieces of foam to fill the body panel gaps which drastically reduces wind noise on the vehicle... Only problem for me is Im not sure how well black rubber/foam between the panel gaps would look on a white car.... Im worried though that any white foam is going to yellow under uv light exposure...

You can reduce wind noise by doing the following...

+

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GD49GTS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Lubing your door seals.

+

matttelz

· #17 · Dec 1, 2019

Yes! That is exactly what I'm talking about with the additional seals! I also have to fix my door alignments since the rear driver side is way off. I bet I'll have a much quieter ride once the door guards are off...

andrew28

· #18 · Dec 1, 2019

Maybe when Spring rolls around I will do the additional door seals.

stevew

· #19 · Dec 18, 2019

Ronnie
Have you checked any local body shops or one of those detailing shops that do clear bras etc? They might give you a reasonable price, but the quality might not be
as good as a Honda dealer. Good luck!

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