GoldFeather

I was wondering what, if anything, folks are doing to protect their doors from being dinged in parking lots. Almost all of my previous vehicles have had door edge guards and which seemed to do a good job protecting of protecting the vehicle from clods who can't stay within the lines or aren't careful with the opening of their doors. So far I've been successful in parking in the dent free zone of parking lots, but that won't always be possible. I dread the day the first door ding mars the beautiful paint job on my ML... Thanks!

LazKat

The door edge guards protect another car from getting dinged by you. If the car next to you doesn't have them, they may very well ding you. My truck is Palladium Silver and just a little too light (IMO) for black guards to look ok, and the chrome finish ones to me look very 1960s. In any case, I think they ruin the clean lines of the truck if visible.

It's our 2-car rather tight garage which worries me most. My wife's Lexus doesn't have the guards either.

I'm going to continue to park far, far away. The exercise will do me good!

GoldFeather

Anyone know of any clear options? Also, I was thinking of the "trim" that can be found along many car/truck doors that acts as a "bumper" against other door opening into your door.

cookstar

perhaps chrome colour? I think its ugly still but better than nothing

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ...ht_2846wt_1037

xxGenericSNxx

Plenty of people put clear door edge guards which are made of paint protection film (the same stuff they put at the front of the car to protect it from rock chips). XPel and 3M come to mind as the top brands for paint protection film.

Please do us a favor and DON'T put the ugly chrome ones on your brand new Benz! lol

But am I even understanding your question correctly? You want to save your own car from dents, so you want to put door edge guards on? Or you want to avoid getting chipped paint by opening your door onto a hard surface? Because these door edge guards aren't going to prevent you from getting any sort of dents whatsoever.

In my mind you are describing wanting a a trim piece like this: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...3-img_0736.jpg but your vocabulary is making me think of the thing that Cookstar is showing us on eBay.

cookstar

lmao I love that picture rofl

DrFox1969

IMO whatever you do will not eliminate the inconsiderate driver who parks next to you, and it also depends on the height of the other vehicle.

Unless you completely cover the door skins, which is obviously not practical and would look horrendous anyway (defeats the object of buying a good looking vehicle like the ML), there is always the risk of a parking dent.

I normally wait until i have a couple of minor marks and then get someone like http://dentmasters.com.au/ in to do a repair. Depending where you live I'm sure there are similar companies in your area. They can get most parking damage out without any re-painting required and you would never notice the difference.

I recently had a car repaired by them which i was selling. It was black and shows up any marks (never again!!) but i could not see any imperfections after they had finished. They also come to your home and can do the job while you wait so it is more practical than sending your vehicle to a body shop and substantially cheaper too.

GregW / Oregon

You could use something like this - kind of a pain for a quick stop, though.

http://www.doorshox.com/

iankayem

Ugh! How about bolting on some second hand rusty RSJ.

DrFox1969

Great idea........i've got some for sale if anyone intersted?!