Doors
What are Doors?
Its fairly self explanatory but the doors are the panels on the side of a vehicle that allows you to get in and out of a vehicle. They are also very useful when you are driving as it prevents you from leaning to far and falling out from the vehicle.
Why would I want to modify them?
Well it’s all to do with the style of your vehicle. To make the outside of the ride match with the rest of the bodywork the doors may need a bit of tarting up and attention. This won’t stop you from falling out of a moving vehicle any less but it will increase the style factor of your ride.
How can I modify them?
There are more and more door modifications becoming available on the market nowadays. Some of which you will have seen, some which are very rare and some which are…. Well just pointless really but all in all it’s the effort that counts!
Here are a few of the most common door modifications you will find:
- Delocked
- Dehandled
- Smoothed-off
There are also a series of door modifications that come in kit form that allow you to open your doors in different ways. Here are a few examples:
- Lambo doors
- Suicide doors
- Gullwing doors
- Butterfly doors
What are the benefits of modifying my rides Doors?
When it comes to door modification it’s really all about style and the wow factor as you pull up to a cruise or show. To pull up with a non-modified, normal opening door is fine but you can imagine the reaction you will get when you pull up next time with your new, super smooth, dehandled, lambo doors!
In theory by removing your locks or handles will also confuse any thieves planning on breaking in never mind when the door does eventually open it opens upwards!
What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides Doors?
When it comes to delocking, dehandling or even adding a door kit to your ride there are few downsides that you must bear in mind. For originality and style it’s a definite thumbs up but for practicality and reliability it’s not quite so hot.
Delocking: By having no locks it means you now rely on your alarm or remote central locking fob to enter the vehicle, if your battery on your fob or on your car dies, your stuffed.
Dehandling: Much like delocking, by dehandling the doors you now have to rely on using a push button or remote fob to access the vehicle, if this fails you are of course locked out of your own ride. This also means you are stuffed.
Door kits: Depending on the style of kit you have purchased depends on the situation, Lambo doors aren’t too bad as you door now opens upwards so the only down side is the weight of the door when opening from inside. Butterfly or gullwing doors are slightly different. The doors now open in a completely different manner and this will mean trouble when a car parks the normal distance away from you in a car park. Try to avoid parking anywhere near anyone else and hope for the best that when you return to your ride someone hasn’t parked close to you otherwise you won’t be able to open you doors properly!
What is the legality of modifying my wings?
Door kits must be professionally fitted and MOT testers or vehicle inspectors will be able to tell if they haven’t. If the door shows any sign of danger then by law they are allowed to refuse you the right to drive it on the road.
It’s also a really touchy subject with dehandling your ride as some MOT testers don’t like a car with not outer handles. The law doesn’t state that your are not allowed to remove them however it does state that if a registered MOT tester or vehicle inspector marks your vehicle as unroadworthy because of it then you are not allowed the use in on public roads by law.
Sorry guys that’s the law so make sure you pick a “mod-friendly” tester when it comes to your MOT.