| jelbnl |
| O.K. when I ordered my MDX I was COMPLETELY against getting running boards put on, but now that I've seem many of them with them on, I've actually think they might be useful. I have two kids 5 and 2, so I think having the running boards might help them getting in/out of the car. Those of you either with or without running boards, what do you think? Do you think I should get them?? THANKS!! |
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| kishino |
| i ordered the running boards from Tim and installed them myself. IMHO, I think they are a good addition to the MDX. It not only improves the look of the MDX but is also useful. Many here have gone with the side steps, the general opinion is that the running board has a greater surface area for you to actually step on but the steps looks better. |
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| ghost |
No you should get side steps, they do the same thing and look cooler! :D
(...but there's other opinions, a search will tell you more than you ever wanted to know) |
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| dbauchat |
If you live in areas that get ice, snow, and slush, the running boards are my recommendation. They seem to reduce the amount of debris kicked up by the tires that hits the side of the MDX. Also is you have smaller kids they are helpful in entering & exiting the vehicle. Side steps look nice put really don't provide any spray protection.
Finally, if you do any driving on gravel roads, the running boards are a must. Even with the mud flaps, you still get gravel pelting the lower panels.
Good luck with your choice. |
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| sichelski |
| We decided on the running boards. Looking at the same vehicle (with and without) made our decision easy. The running boards seem to make the MKX look complete (in my opinion). Our little kids are 6 and 10 and they use them to enter and exit. My wife and I have found that it is easier for us to enter without using the running boards. They do help when washing the top also. I believe the dealer price was $595. |
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| EXCALIBUR |
jelbnl,
So the count is now Running Boards: 3, Side Steps: 1. I will throw in my vote: side steps to kind of even up the sides (pun intended) a little more. Whatever you get, they will look good and perform well. It really does come down to a matter of personal preference. Good luck.:29: |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by ghost
No you should get side steps, they do the same thing and look cooler! :D
(...but there's other opinions, a search will tell you more than you ever wanted to know)
Mega dittos!!!  |
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| MDX4now |
The running boards may not look as *cool* but after getting my set from Tim and installing them within the last week or two, the functionality greatly outweighs the cool factor, at least in Chicago.
The first week I had my car, it had nothing on it in terms of accessories. What this meant though was that road salt got all over my car as did puddle splashes (the mud guards can only go so far)
But now that I have the running boards, it blocks EVERYTHING. Whatever the mud guard doesn't catch, the front/bottom of the running boards does. No longer does the side of my car get ANY crud splashed up on it.
Plus, the boards blend in nicely with the dark Sage Brush, and I have a feeling it will be easier for my 80+ year-old parents to use the running boards (my original reason for getting them vs. side steps)
Overall, my vote goes for the running boards! |
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| ghost |
quote:
Originally posted by greatscot
Mega dittos!!!
Wow - I love the wave - what great smilies! Gotta get me some of those... :2: |
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| ghost |
quote:
Originally posted by ghost
Wow - I love the wave - what great smilies! Gotta get me some of those... :2:
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| kamalsyal |
I think Running Boards look nice on the darker colored Xs. Personally with the Silver and the Havasu Blue, the Side Steps look better coz they kinda blend with the interior color and give a good contrast to the light colored vehicles....
Well I liked the Side Steps from the get go...and got them for my Havasu Blue X. I must say that side steps/ running boards are a good thing to have....its makes us not too tall people get in and out of the X easily. And of course its a big help while cleaning the X !!
So Side Steps for me please..... |
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| JTM |
quote:
Originally posted by MDX4now
The running boards may not look as *cool* but after getting my set from Tim and installing them within the last week or two, the functionality greatly outweighs the cool factor, at least in Chicago.
The first week I had my car, it had nothing on it in terms of accessories. What this meant though was that road salt got all over my car as did puddle splashes (the mud guards can only go so far)
But now that I have the running boards, it blocks EVERYTHING. Whatever the mud guard doesn't catch, the front/bottom of the running boards does. No longer does the side of my car get ANY crud splashed up on it.
Plus, the boards blend in nicely with the dark Sage Brush, and I have a feeling it will be easier for my 80+ year-old parents to use the running boards (my original reason for getting them vs. side steps)
Overall, my vote goes for the running boards!
AGREE TOTALLY!!!!! :2: |
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| nanali1 |
quote:
Originally posted by jelbnl
O.K. when I ordered my MDX I was COMPLETELY against getting running boards put on, but now that I've seem many of them with them on, I've actually think they might be useful. I have two kids 5 and 2, so I think having the running boards might help them getting in/out of the car. Those of you either with or without running boards, what do you think? Do you think I should get them?? THANKS!!
I agree with GHOST, not only the CHROME side steps look cool, it is also "very" functional in my case. I have a 2 year old and putting her in the carseat (middle 2 row) is a snap.
1. Step on the "Manik Side Step"
2. Rest knees on the 2nd row seat (edge)
With my feet on the side step and knees on the seat edge, I have a good leverage to lift my daughter and put her on the car seat. You can't do that with running boards. There's no space (inside edge) on running board to hook your feet on to get the leverage. One reason I liked the Manik's over OEM side steps. More space in between...
Hope you guys get what I just described.
Well, that's my .02 cents.
Check out the ride:
http://acuramdx.org/forums/showthre...ighlight=rollin |
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| radspadd |
| I guess I'm the oddball. I do agree that running boards or side steps make the MDX look cooler, however, after test driving one that had them, we found them to be a nusance. We have an 8 year old and a 1 year old. The MDX sits low enough to the ground that the 8 year old doesn't NEED to use the running board (or side steps.) My wife and I both found it difficult putting the car seat in the middle row middle seat due to the running boards hitting us in the shins. We tried standing on them and it seemed a bit unstable. I guess for us the MDX seems low enough not to NEED them, but I do aree the vehicle looks better with them on. Just my two cents worth. |
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| TYP |
Hi..
For the look.. chrome side steps is good.
For the funtions and safety get the running board!..
:1: |
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| harmonr1 |
| I just ordered the side steps from Tim yesterday for my Sage X. Am thinking about painting them to match. Has anyone tried this? |
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| jnk_tx |
I also got the running boards from Tim (i think) thanks to recommendations on this site. Side steps are nice too but I liked the look and fit of the factory running boards. They fit perfectly between the wheel wells and up against the side of the vehicle. I thought about some aftermarkets from eBay but the factory ones already have the bolt holes under the car and install was a breeze (about an hour with air tools.) Well worth it.
I would recommend the running boards from hondaacuraworld.com $432.99 including shipping.
:D |
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| bellevuemdx |
Yes, I am planning to get the running boards as well, from Tim, as I realize I could stock a tool bench and take shop classes with the savings over what the local dealer is asking for purchase and install...
However, I am fairly mechanically inept, and don't already have the proper equipment to install them myself without some effort.
Does anyone know of a Seattle-area shop that could install these and other accessories at a reasonable cost. How long should it take a skilled person to do this (30-90min., by the looks of it from the forums) and what do you think would be a reasonable cost?
Thanks in advance!
Peter |
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| jonnygoodboy |
I think the vehicle looks a little better without either one (sideboards or steps). They offer a little functionality, which is why I have sideboards. But the vehicle looks cleaner without.
Someone posted (maybe in a separate thread) that the off-roading is compromised if you install them because your ground clearence is reduced. I don't know about steps, but the sideboards don't appear to extend any farther down than anything else in the middle of the car (I mean under the doors). So as far as I can tell, ground clearance isn't compromised with the sideboards. |
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| jnk_tx |
There alot of excellent post on the install of running boards that you should read before you give up on installing them yourself. The only tools I needed were a socket wrench, 6inch extension, 13mm socket and a 13mm wrench. It does take a little time but it is not extremely difficult.
IHMO, a reputable mechanic should be able to do it in no more the 1.5 hours. Depending on rate, this should be around $100-120 dollars.
You can download the instructions and get a better feel for the job at Tim's site.
Good luck |
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| hondacuraworld |
Um.....
Well, you'll be able to this weekend. We're putting all the instructions on a searchable database. Really nice setup :) |
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| kishino |
quote:
Originally posted by harmonr1
I just ordered the side steps from Tim yesterday for my Sage X. Am thinking about painting them to match. Has anyone tried this?
IMO, I don't think painting the sidesteps would be a really good idea unless you have the paint baked on to the steps. As the steps would be out there in the elements and it will be bombarded by all the gravel and rocks kicked up by the tires, they most likely will be scrapped up and chipped within a few months. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by kishino
IMO, I don't think painting the sidesteps would be a really good idea unless you have the paint baked on to the steps. As the steps would be out there in the elements and it will be bombarded by all the gravel and rocks kicked up by the tires, they most likely will be scrapped up and chipped within a few months.
A good point. For that matter, one could have a different color by powder-coating the side-steps.
A few members powder coated their black Acura side-steps to have them silver, before the chrome ones were available.
And they look great! Not too sure how well you could color-match though. |
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| harmonr1 |
I was thinking that they would probably get beatup quite bad. Maybe I'll drive with them for a while and see how they do.
Thanks for the input. |
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| marge11 |
| I have read that the runningboards are more functional than the sidesteps in terms of access into/out of the car. What are the dimensions, mainly the width, of the runningboards v. sidesteps? I could not find this on Tim's website or on Acura's website? |
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| alesyk |
I went with the chrome step ups from Tim. They should be here Monday.
2003 Redrock, doing my own options. |
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| islander |
| Will running board or side step prevent the side doors from being dented by other car doors at parking lot? |
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| ghost |
quote:
Originally posted by islander
Will running board or side step prevent the side doors from being dented by other car doors at parking lot?
Not really, even though the steps may jut out beyond the plane of the door, the contours of most car doors are such that they will hit the middle of your door, not the bottom.
Lots of us go waaay out of our way to make sure that no other doors will reach us. Good exercise too! :) |
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