Protection from dents?

[tiguan_hunting]

The Tig doesn’t have any side mouldings which will stop doors from cars parked next to it from opening and causing a dent in the door panel. Does anyone know any alternatives?

I have a friend who owns an X5 who got side steps installed to stop this from happening. He often parks next to cars lower than his so that if they should swing their doors open it would hit the side steps first before hitting the door panel. Problem is I’ve been quoted about $900 to install a genuine side step to the Tig!!

Has anyone had generic side steps installed in their Tig before for a much better price?

[Transporter]

Yes, the side steps would be my preferred option. People would just watch it so they don't dent their car. If you have only side molding, they will happily rest their door on it.

[varsur]

I would be interested in any cheaper option available as well. I drive to work and have to park near cars day in day out.

[Flipper Dog]

If you have a good look at the design of car doors and side steps will find the following:

1. Car doors have a curved appearance. When the door swings out the outer edge is high up and as such collects any obstacle about ¾ up the door height.

2. Side steps are located under the vehicle’s main body. They protect mainly under body and side impacts. The positioning is not extended beyond the vehicle’s body by much and offers no protecting from car doors swing out (remembering point 1.)

Where side steps may detract from annoying car park aggressors, they really don’t offer any real protecting.

Anyway old mateys misses in her VN dunnydore with the 3 kids and arm full of shopping not going to care about the side of her car when opening her door (there is most likely more battle scars than she has pension payments). Best advice is to park away from the main fighting grounds, that will give you some room to move around.

[tiguan_hunting]

If the Tig is high enough there is a chance that the door on the other car will be low enough where the curved outer edge will hit the side steps.
This is what I find with my friends X5. Can only tell once the side steps are installed on the Tig.
Has anyone fitted a generic side steps on the Tig??

[Transporter]

It will protect against driver and front passenger door in most situations.
Side molding, colour coded .... I don't?

[NZTiguan]

Early on there was somebody in GB who fitted the side moldings (they came standard on some models over there). You could try checking it out with a search on http://www.mytiguan.com/

IMHO, having had side steps on my previous Sorento, they don't protect you from anything at all and I suspect the skinny little ones that fit the Tiguan wouldn't be any different.

Cheers

[mikinoz]

Get some real ones made out of 2" steam pipe and weld them on!

[Pullstarter]

You could also try these jobbies, might be a bit of a pain in the ass to put on and off but would certainly stop damage.

http://www.doordefender.com/howtoo.html

[varsur]

You could also try these jobbies, might be a bit of a pain in the ass to put on and off but would certainly stop damage.

http://www.doordefender.com/howtoo.html

This looks great. I picked up my car on Friday and went for shopping to a westfield and parked my car in the empty space so there were no cars parked on both the sides. Now after I left some ungreatful idiot came and parked his car near mine and opened his door and dented my car. So I am surely getting one of these.

Thanks.

[Transporter]

This looks great. I picked up my car on Friday and went for shopping to a westfield and parked my car in the empty space so there were no cars parked on both the sides. Now after I left some ungreatful idiot came and parked his car near mine and opened his door and dented my car. So I am surely getting one of these. Thanks.

It depends where do you live and where do you shop I know that where I live there are some shopping centers where people who don't want to have a car scratched or dented don't go. Choosing the hour for shopping will also reduce the risk of the damage to your car. But anything that can protect the car from the car park damage is worth a try.

[WannaTig]

This looks great. I picked up my car on Friday and went for shopping to a westfield and parked my car in the empty space so there were no cars parked on both the sides. Now after I left some ungreatful idiot came and parked his car near mine and opened his door and dented my car. So I am surely getting one of these.

Thanks.

Oh man! On the day you picked it up!! Thats rough. Some people are just jerks. I always park away from other cars for that reason, but you can't help it if the carpark fills up.
The parents with prams parking spots are the worst. (Unless they're 10 feet wide and the other drivers butt is less than that)

[tiguan_hunting]

Oh man! On the day you picked it up!! Thats rough. Some people are just jerks. I always park away from other cars for that reason, but you can't help it if the carpark fills up.
The parents with prams parking spots are the worst. (Unless they're 10 feet wide and the other drivers butt is less than that)

Thats why I LOVE parallel parking these days, especially witih the park assist!!!

[T&M]

Good god man! Those 'door defenders' are UGLY! They may protect the doors with uuuuggghhhh.... ugly-ness.

This thing about sides steps protecting the doors is dependant on what other car parks next to you of course. I have a 'large and lifted' 4WD with side steps and still get marks on the doors from other people. The Track and Field option looks the best IMO.