My car came without these, and as Ive now sold the VW the 500 will be used for work at times... so needs some protection!
For your info, you can now get the ones with the chrome 500 badge from Fiat, ala factory fit as these havent been available before. Ordered them and getting fitted next week... hooray

NP, don't need this information for myself as had them factory fitted but can you let us know:

a. Cost?
b. Do they come in body colour?
c. Do they have self adhesive backing and if so are you having them fitted instead of doing it yourself because it is included in the price?

I would also like to know the same because I opted out of these when I configurated my 500 but I really think it needs them and I really want to have the side rubbing strips with chrome insert . . .

Sorry I can't wait, I just phoned Fiat and they're gonna call me back with a quote!!

single part codes indicates they are base colour for painting

£54.95 base cost plus fitting and painting, or painting and fitting
plus cost of badges...

http://www.fiat.co.uk/Showroom.aspx?id=9665#showroom/new_500/accessories

they are self adhesive IIRC

Right they (Fiat St. Helens) phoned me back...

For the side rubbing strips, chrome inserts, for them to be painted and fitted, it would cost a grand total of . . . £178.84.

Not really a priority of mine tbh for 2 pieces of plastic on my car!! He also said that the paintshop is full at the moment so it would take around 2 weeks for my car to be booked in anyway, so I'm gonna give it a miss for now

There were some others sourced from eBay poland, non painted which when you think about it makes more sense for a rubbing strip...

Mine didn't come with side strips but it has aquired a couple of dints already so thinking I might get them.

Are they plain black rubber painted to match bodywork? Do you have to get them painted? Just wondering if black rubber might look quite smart as I have red/black ambience and a red 500....

Thats alot of money for some rubber strips. If they're painted won't the paint eventually crack and peel off, or come off when knocked

Jon.

They are £90 plus VAT for the four strips and chromed badges. The bodyshop want £110 to paint and fit, if they have self adhesive sticking on them I will fit them myself!

fitted mine after i bought it £160 inc badges and having them painted by a mate

no the paint does not come off the paint is desgin for plastic and slighty streches to allow for movement and mine where oven baked
gas mark 4 for 55mins

nuovapanda said:

They are £90 plus VAT for the four strips and chromed badges. The bodyshop want £110 to paint and fit, if they have self adhesive sticking on them I will fit them myself!

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Just goes to show how reasonable "options" when chosen at time of ordering, are, in the overall scheme of things. Still only £80 if fitted by factory. Mine were only £70 when I placed my order in February and I also got a discount on options as well as the car.

Most Easterly Panda's said:

Thats alot of money for some rubber strips. If they're painted won't the paint eventually crack and peel off, or come off when knocked

Jon.

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I didn't think they were rubber?
I thought they were just plastic strips to help prevent dings in the doors by careless people. I could be wrong though.

grimwau said:

Just goes to show how reasonable "options" when chosen at time of ordering, are, in the overall scheme of things.

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Agree with you there, especially the alloys.
I personally didn't go for the side strips as I prefer the look of the car without them but each to their own.

I looked at them (factory fitted on a demo) and thought they were too low on the car - the metal curve on the door above them is wider than the strip sticks out so I don't think they will fend off any bumps anyway. Does anyone have any actual experience of them working - though I suppose if they do you'd never know so that's quite a dumb question.

always better to have them than not, unless they would really spoil the look of a certain car (ie why you never see on mini's - would just look wrong!)

but on the 500 they look ok so id definitely get them if possible. even if they stop just one ding they gotta be worth it.

005 said:

Does anyone have any actual experience of them working - though I suppose if they do you'd never know so that's quite a dumb question.

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Not dumb at all. For the record I have a small dent smack in the middle of the driver's door which was obtained whilst parked in a supermarket car park. As I didn't see it happen it is difficult to surmise if the strip would have worked or not because of the nature of the offending item. Probably OK against a car door opening flat against it but lousy against supermarket trolleys and millions of other things.

Well, theyve arrived at the dealers... but just three out of the four strips, LOL! Told them Ill wait till the fourth arrives

Are they plain black rubber painted to match bodywork? Do you have to get them painted? Just wondering if black rubber might look quite smart as I have red/black ambience and a red 500....

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Is this what the strips look like before painting then?