OK my previous TL had the black unpainted splash guards, my new one can have color keyed painted ones. Dealer says some people complain the painted ones get chipped, I just think they are too lazy to swap them out for me. Anyone have the painted ones care to say how they are holding up?

 

i like the look of the unpainted ones more ... but i would rather not have splash guards all together ... i had splash guards on my altima that were painted, and yes they were chipped, and that is why i removed them

 

I bought my TL at the end of January. I have the painted splash guards. Holding up very well and they look 1000 times better then the ghetto unpainted ones.

 

I bought my TL-S in Dec 07 and had my color-matched splash guards installed in Jan. They seem fine - not chipped up too badly. Although I haven't inspected them too closely. My wife has had color-matched (dark blue) splash guards on her G35 since 2004 and they look fine too (again, I haven't inspected them closely).

I don't understand your situation. Why would your dealer be too lazy? Are they not charging you for them? Did they give you the black guards for free and you expected color-matched? If you're paying for them, I don't see why the dealer would give you a hassle, which implies to me that you are trying to get them included in with your new car purchase. If you were supposed to get color-matched guards, I would fight for them. I think they look WAY BETTER than the standard black (or whatever color they are) ones.

 

I don't have the car yet, the car already has the unpainted ones on it, the price is fixed and I suspect they don't want to swap them out or pay the extra for the painted ones. The price is fixed becasue they are matching another dealer's deal. So I'm not sure if he is BSing me or just lazy and cheap to swap them.

 

Either way you go take them off and put electrical tape under the edge that touches the paint .. they flex and rub the paint bare. Also get sand granuals under then if your in snow country.

 

Being that painted splash guards weren't offered in '05, I had mine painted by a bodyshop. They look great and I like the way they flow with the body lines of the car. They do a great job of protecting the lower half of the doors and rear bumper.
Regarding chipping, it's been slightly over 3 years now since they've been painted and yes there are some slight chips, but nothing noticable.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but regarding the splash guards 'rubbing through' the body of the car...the splash guards contact areas are the side rockers(front) and bumper(rear), both which are plastic, so even if they do rub through a bit, rust wouldn't be an issue. Using electric tape is a good idea to avoid the 'rub through', but felt may also make a good material to use. Just my .

 

forget the splash guards and make them install the aspec body kit

 

I actually looked at that .. but too much water retention which could cloud the clear.