Running Board Overhang Same or More than stock black trim?

[rh71]

it's definitely a good inch or so more which might make a difference.

To borrow someone's recent pic...
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/IMG_0512.jpg

vs

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/...a32583a8fb.jpg

You'll notice the black molding only goes out to where the body curvature ends, equivalent to about where the 2nd row of pegs are on the RB. I passed on it after feeling it at the test drive... too much of a reach. I mean it's bad enough with the black molding.

[Blair780]

I was also very torn: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the look of the RB's but after spending some time with a loaner that had them it got really irritating and I realized that while I would certainly get used to it, my passengers wouldn't. I didn't want to hear people complain about my car.
A smaller con for us was observing a few 2007 CPO cars at the dealership where the aluminium had started to discolor a bit. While I'm certain it would be fixable with the proper cleaning it seemed annoying.

Ultimately with those two issues (mostly the calf rubbing) it appeared to be too much of a nuisance for to warrant the looks. Also, aesthetically speaking they look best on the darker colors, since mine is silver it was somewhat take it or leave it.

[peterjaw]

Another pro for the running board is: preventing the dint from the car next to you.
If the car next to you is a sedan and passenger open the door harshly, they will
hit the running board first. If the car next to you is an SUV or truck, then the protection
rubber on the door will be able to provide protection.

I have few experience in the grocery store's parking lot. When the sedan's door hit my
running board, I am kind of happy ....

[XXX555]

I went back to the dealer's this past weekend and looked at X5's next to one another with and without RB's. (I wish I took a picture with my phone). There is a rather significant difference (over an inch) difference in the overhang with the RB. Enough to hit with my leg more often.

I think the non-RB trim jut's out enough to protect from an adjacent door opening and some splash from the road below but experience from other's is key here. I'll miss the looks but in this case function over form for me. I also noted some rusting/discoloration on those boards on a used X5 and there were even subtle dips/bends in the alum. when people repeatedly stepped on the same spot for ingress/egress.

Obviously justifying my decision, so no slant on those with the RB's.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Blair780

I was also very torn: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the look of the RB's but after spending some time with a loaner that had them it got really irritating and I realized that while I would certainly get used to it, my passengers wouldn't. I didn't want to hear people complain about my car.
A smaller con for us was observing a few 2007 CPO cars at the dealership where the aluminium had started to discolor a bit. While I'm certain it would be fixable with the proper cleaning it seemed annoying.

Ultimately with those two issues (mostly the calf rubbing) it appeared to be too much of a nuisance for to warrant the looks. Also, aesthetically speaking they look best on the darker colors, since mine is silver it was somewhat take it or leave it.

I'm just the opposite I think it looks better on lighter cars as on dark it's too much of a contrast. Kind of like the chrome around the windows on a non-sport package vs. the black on sport (at least on the e53 the sports packages were differentiated like that)---too much of a contrast on darker colors.

[Blair780]

Originally Posted by BGM

I'm just the opposite I think it looks better on lighter cars as on dark it's too much of a contrast. Kind of like the chrome around the windows on a non-sport package vs. the black on sport (at least on the e53 the sports packages were differentiated like that)---too much of a contrast on darker colors.

Yeah, the High Gloss Shadowline Trim is still one of the features of the Sport "activity" package as it's now called for the E70 like it was for the E53.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by peterjaw

Another pro for the running board is: preventing the dint from the car next to you.
If the car next to you is a sedan and passenger open the door harshly, they will
hit the running board first. If the car next to you is an SUV or truck, then the protection
rubber on the door will be able to provide protection.

I have few experience in the grocery store's parking lot. When the sedan's door hit my
running board, I am kind of happy ....

I've gotten a door ding from another SUV that left a black mark (was able to clay off eventually). Also, most rear doors where the dang kids swing them open are not full doors - half is over the rear wheel - and so the contact point is a bit higher than where the rubber is.

Truth be told, the only real way to avoid dings is to park far away - walk an extra 15 seconds.

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by rh71

Truth be told, the only real way to avoid dings is to park far away - walk an extra 15 seconds.

Doesn't work. No matter how far over the river and through the hills I park in order to find the perfect end spot, some moron seems compelled to park right up against me.

Hijack over

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

Doesn't work. No matter how far over the river and through the hills I park in order to find the perfect end spot, some moron seems compelled to park right up against me.

Yeah, and usually those who can't park who walk for an extra 5 minutes to avoid the busier spaces

[rh71]

Originally Posted by Fastbuck

Yeah, and usually those who can't park who walk for an extra 5 minutes to avoid the busier spaces

I'm trying really hard to make sense of what you said.

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

Doesn't work. No matter how far over the river and through the hills I park in order to find the perfect end spot, some moron seems compelled to park right up against me.

Heh, well the difference is if you park up close, anyone who parks further will have to walk by your car each and every time, increasing the chance that it'd be scratched by stray zippers, bags, etc. If it's just 1 guy going out of his way to park next to you, then you'll know if he did something. I did park next to another 5-series on purpose yesterday because it looked like he took care of his car... then he happened to come out and get in, looking toward me a few times, couldn't tell if he was admiring my car or pissed that I parked next to him.