'08 Exterior Mods..what you think?

DerrekForreal · Apr 15, 2008

Let me start by saying I love my '08. I like the looks and most everything about it. I realize there are a lot of '08 haters too...and I agree, there was a couple things that I thought needed "adjusting". The first being those damn ugly chrome side fenders. (I have the SES, so they come on it no matter what). So I have removed them, along with rear FOCUS lettering, and lowered antenna.

FYI to anyone else that is going to do this. There are 5, yes FIVE alignment holes under that chrome piece -see pics below. So this is how I decided to do it. If anyone has any better ideas they would like to suggest or share, feel free.

ALSO - using a heat gun to 'loosen' the adhesive tape just MELTS the plastic/chrome fender - FYI [:0]

Items I used to complete this job:
2 Ford emblems from Advanced Auto
4 Black plugs from Harware Hank
Touch up paint from the dealership
Exacto Knife
Putty Knife
Glue remover - Goo Gone, etc..

BEFORE

DURING

Ok, this is what it originally turned out to look like...I didn't quite like it, so I decided to pull the plugs and paint them -see below.This is where the touch up paint is handy...even has a little brush. Also, those chrome panels are an PAIN to pry off, your probably going to cause some paint damage and need touch ups there too.

AFTER

1stTimeFocus00 · Apr 15, 2008

LOoks good man, but that wheel gap is huge.

zzr4u2nv · Apr 15, 2008

It doesn't look to bad.....I'd rather see it properly filled and repainted or to buy the S model fenders that don't have the vents installed in them myself.

Still looks good from a distance but I'm not real big on the look of it up close.

Patatoe1 · Apr 15, 2008

Looks good. Is there anyway you could shave the plugs down so they didn't protrude so far?

And do you have any pictures of your windows tinted?

DerrekForreal · Apr 15, 2008

Patatoe1 said:
Looks good. Is there anyway you could shave the plugs down so they didn't protrude so far?

And do you have any pictures of your windows tinted?

The plugs are hollow, so shaving them down is not an option. The round one is fairly flat, it's the square one that sticks out so far. I'm actually looking for a very small orange side marker light/reflector...thinking that might look better than the square plug?

I'll try to get better pics of the window tint up.

Waffles ZX3 Kona Sport · Apr 15, 2008

The debadge looks awesome! But the fenders could use a bit of work - maybe have them filled, sanded and painted. But still, it looks better than it did before! [thumb]

Arkaign · Apr 15, 2008

Super cool! Keep us posted on any other changes

Djmike2485 · Apr 15, 2008

How difficult is it to paint the chrome fender vents? Like, color match it to the car? Or maybe go with black. Having a 2000, I have no chrome so I don't know anything about painting it.
the amber side markers would look ok too, but the indent is kind of gross.
the debadging looks good though. Great work overall.

DerrekForreal · Apr 15, 2008

Waffles ZX3 Kona Sport said:
The debadge looks awesome! But the fenders could use a bit of work - maybe have them filled, sanded and painted. But still, it looks better than it did before! [thumb]

Thanks - Would love to have them filled, sanded, painted. Unfortunately I am on a budget and doing all that is not in it...a new CAI is a bit more imporant for right now [hihi]

zzr4u2nv said:
It doesn't look to bad.....I'd rather see it properly filled and repainted or to buy the S model fenders that don't have the vents installed in them myself.
Still looks good from a distance but I'm not real big on the look of it up close.

Thanks; agreed on the distance thing. Actually you have to get really close to even see the plugs. As commented above, wish I had the money to fill/paint or just buy 'S' fenders without holes...hopefully someday down the line I can. For now, this was the most affordable way to get those horrible fenders off my car.

Mikeydeno · Apr 15, 2008

Djmike2485 said:
How difficult is it to paint the chrome fender vents? Like, color match it to the car? Or maybe go with black. Having a 2000, I have no chrome so I don't know anything about painting it.
the amber side markers would look ok too, but the indent is kind of gross.
the debadging looks good though. Great work overall.

^^Thats what I want to do but I don't know how well painting chrome will work

DerrekForreal · Apr 15, 2008

Djmike2485 said:
How difficult is it to paint the chrome fender vents? Like, color match it to the car? Or maybe go with black. Having a 2000, I have no chrome so I don't know anything about painting it.
the amber side markers would look ok too, but the indent is kind of gross.
the debadging looks good though. Great work overall.

Thanks for the comments;
Painting the chrome pieces was an idea my buddy thought would work - but seeing as how I melted one of them during removal, and will not pay to buy another, this idea has been scrapped. (unless I see someone else do it and it looks totally cool...then I might opt to buy a replacement)

kcoury · May 16, 2008

Well after looking at your thread I decided to finally yank the chrome vents off. I planned on color matching them but the paint ended up not matching and I think I'd be happier just having the holes filled and painted anyway. Anyone have any idea what a reasonable price for this type of body work would be?

DarkFire1986 · May 16, 2008

5 alignment tabs: Because double sided tape is just too hard to use.

kcoury · May 16, 2008

darkfire1986 said:
5 alignment tabs: Because double sided tape is just too hard to use.

I hear you man, I find it ridiculous. Not only were there four clips holding this thing on but the gasket that went around was sealed to the car. It was a pain prying them off.

starfuryt550 · May 16, 2008

not too bad...the rear looks nice

i agree, get the s fenders!

zzr4u2nv · May 17, 2008

ordering the s fenders would be the best way to go with removing the side vents IMO.

RobsRedRacer · May 18, 2008

good job [thumb]....how about finishing off the back by removing the little emblem on the lower right corner of the trunk

kcoury said:
Anyone have any idea what a reasonable price for this type of body work would be?

i'd guess around $500-600 depending on the shop (at least around where i live), but i think yours look good

mwalsh · Jul 15, 2008

It would be nice if Ford a) offered these only as an option on ALL models or b) at least offered them colour matched as an option. I agree with the haters on this one point only - they truly are awful.

jivepepper · Nov 21, 2008

Do you still have the side vents? Would like to sell them cheap? My daughter might want them. I would have to ask her. Do you think I could just drill the holes in her fender?

j-zetec_pr · Nov 21, 2008

stupid ford should have just used 2 sided tape
(sorry if this was already said.. i didn't read all the posts)

'08 Exterior Mods..what you think?

DerrekForreal

1stTimeFocus00

zzr4u2nv

Patatoe1

DerrekForreal

Waffles ZX3 Kona Sport

Arkaign

Djmike2485

DerrekForreal

Mikeydeno

DerrekForreal

kcoury

DarkFire1986

kcoury

starfuryt550

zzr4u2nv

RobsRedRacer

mwalsh

jivepepper

j-zetec_pr

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