Opinions on Self-Installing Various Accessories

[elscorcho]

Greetings, everyone. I need to get my new LR4 ready for the upcoming beach/kayak season, and will be purchasing a bunch of accessories over the next few months. I'm getting good prices on the pieces themselves from the dealer, but the cost of installation seems high. I'm relatively handy and the parts guy at my dealership thought I should be able to take care of things myself, but after looking at the installation documentation (and the lack of actual text) linked in a few threads here, I'm having second thoughts. Anyway, below is what I'm buying, along with the dealer installation charge. Any opinions/experience (beyond what is already in the other threads) would be much appreciated.

Extended Roof Rails ($350 to install). I'm also planning to use the Yakima or Thule crossbars as suggested by another poster.

Running Boards ($600 to install)

Body Side Molding ($100 to install) - my main concern here is making sure they are straight and not damaging the paint.

Mud Flaps ($150 to install). The thread here makes this seem like a DIY no-brainer.

Hood Wind Deflector ($75 to install). This seems the simplest of all.

Thanks!

 

[Count Laszlo]

Hey! Welcome to the board.

Mud flaps are very easy to install, the front take 5-minutes, the rear a good 45-minutes (if doing them for the first time.)

Side Moldings - Totally get this done at LR - not an indy shop. Let them be responsible for this install.

Everything else I personally would get done professionally at an indy shop to help with install costs.

FYI - The wind deflector has had a lot of complaints, first it's not made by LR, it's been noted as cheap, makes wicked noise, and tends to bend and scratch the hood. Most reviews I've read the owners had the dealership remove it and fix the scratches. And they couldn't bear the noise.

Here’s a link to my LR with mudflaps and guards.

http://forums.landroverworld.org/showthread.php?t=20265

 

[DonMitsu]

I installed the short roof rails myself and it was pretty straight forward. I was surprised that it required cutting the drip rail but really it wasn't anything you can't do if you have a saw and a torx screwdriver

 

[tjp74]

It all depends on your skill and available tools. Your most challenging one will be the running board. However, the only trickiest part is to cut the holes through the side rocker plastic cover. once that's done, rest is all bolt on jobs. If you are having second thoughts after reading the instructions then I think you are not ready to do your self. However, instruction always look hard but when you start following it one step at a time, things will make more sense to you.

 

[CaptainSpalding]

I have the extended roof rails on my truck. When they were installed by the dealer, the roof glass was cracked. When the crack was discovered, the dealer offered to replace the glass. With the new glass installed, the service department set about re-installing the roof rails and cracked the glass again. The third attempt to install the rails was successful, but leaves me with the notion that I should be very concerned about overloading them. The $350 charge for installation was money well spent, IMO.

On the plus side, as compensation for my trouble (and owing, I think, to the fact that I had not yet completed the J.D. Powers survey) the dealership offered me front and rear mud flaps. I installed those myself. 12 screws. Half an hour. If you have one of these ($7 at Sears), you won't need to remove the rear wheels:

 

[baobay]

I would go with the AUTO BOND option as opposed to the hood deflector. More money but MUCH better...

 

[baobay]

My 2010 LR4 HSE had 1500 miles on it when I baught it. I negotiated the price and then had them "throw in" the side steps, mud flaps, all weather mats, the auto bond and the tow electrics. All installed by the dealer. I am very pleased with the auto bond and have it installed on all my vehicles. Ii highly recommend this.