Paint, or not to Paint?

[Schattenjager]

Since the Lexus has so many holes drilled to support the plastic cladding, I have opted to keep the fender flares and associated trim. I now have an opportunity to get help lining the flares and side skirts from someone with a lot of know how and tools, but it's limited as I hope to be moving soon.

Would not be Line-X, but rather the rattle can bed liner. I have used it before and favor the results over the roll on and it is nearly indistinguishable from the brand name pro stuff costing $600 more.

So, here are the options via photoshop - your thoughts are welcome.

or

 

[kjp1969]

Personally I'm not a fan of line-x or the two tone thing. The older a vehicle gets, the more appearance modifications are the norm, and the cooler it is for it to look OEM. Stocker is better, in my opinion.

 

[REDROVER]

i am a owner of auto body shop, ans owner of an old rand rover , i would never paint my rover the older the paint looks the more charm it has, unless u have damages on your truck. if its an original old looking paint keep it like that, my advise.

 

[ltngaines]

I did mine on both trucks and it works great with stones and road garbage and it looks ok. Paint with a low luster oil finish for a top coat and it will last alot longer...

 

[Patman]

Either leave it, or weld up the holes and coat it with a color matched liner product sans moldings and flares.

 

[JeffRRC]

Leave it!

 

[redthies]

PLEASE LEAVE IT! I just had to de-flare mine and while it looks okay, I would have far preferred to have kept the flares and cladding, but there were far too many broken pieces to re-use them. Yours looks great as is! ( See results of my job in my "Piglet" thread ).

 

[ExploringNH]

Keep it! It looks great the way it is.

I have never been a fan of the two tone paint/liner jobs that people do. No matter how well done they are, it just makes the vehicle look older and more beat up, to me anyway.

 

[Schattenjager]

here is a better idea of how it would look. Snorkel was photoshoped in as well

 

[redthies]

The only way I would consider it is if your body was shot. If it is in as good condition as it looks, leave it until you HAVE to deal with rust or body damage...

 

[Schattenjager]

Leaving it alone - thanks for the input!

 

[Dgurley2000]

You can do a color match with liner. I just removed my flares. I'm glad I did - they seem tailored to city driving - not overlanding. I kept having to make repairs. It's amazing how much junk gets under them that you can't get to. I do think the flares look better aesthetically, but for my situation I was more interested in functionality. If there were better options for fender flares I would have kept them.