I've just received some side rubbing strips from lrparts.net; the website makes out that they are LR genuine parts, but the quality of the mouldings is rubbish! The rubber has numerous machining/extrusion marks on them, and the bonding on the round end caps is really poor.

Has anyone got these side strips (P/N BFA7001). Are they just plain matt finish rubber strips with two rows of double-sided on the back? How good is the joint from the strip onto the round end-cap? My kit is really missing the LR 'quality'.

Has anyone had much to do with this place? Are they any good, or should I avoid them in future?

Cheers,
James

Yes I have the gen LR rubbing strips they were not cheap and I wasnt all that impressed with the quality of the mouldings either. You should have fitting instructions.

I sanded off the joins and they came up trumps. The adhesive is strong when firmly pressed on. So line up by eye with a light 'tack' before pressing on to the door.

Worthwhile if you want to stop the door dings at the supermarket

Thanks for that. I've just realised that they're a Bearmach kit, not a genuine LR kit.... I would have expected better of Bearmach.

I'm a little worried about buffing the end-caps, as I'm not sure I'd get the right finish back again.... any suggestions on polishing rubber (repeatable suggestions only please!!)

To be fair to LRParts.net, they have offered replacement/refund on the kit.

The LR ones were more satin/gloss finish which didnt blend in with the rest of the matt finish plastic parts on the FL. So I was quite happy to use very fine sand paper and a rubbing compound to dress them out. They ended up a matt finish which was more inkeeping with the likes of the hardtop etc.

You could spray them with acrylic paint and plastic primer if you are not happy with the finish

That's a good point about the style of the rest of the plastics. With that in mind, and having looked at them in the daylight (rather than under strip lights... which always make stuff look worse!) the only bit that really needs sorting is the bonding on the end caps. Two of the 4 mouldings are ok, so I might pay a visit to the lrparts.net shop and see if we can cobble a decent set together from their stock!!

James_A said:

My kit is really missing the LR 'quality'.

Click to expand...

I think the problem is that "Quality" per se means nothing except a consistant standard - it does not imply "good quality" or "bad"

The problem with the BS5750 and ISO9000 standards is that the "quality" level was determined by the company and not the customer". If you decided that you would consistantly build rubbish - but could demonstrate that the "quality level" was being maintained and documented - then you could be 5750 or 9000 approval.

As can be demonstrated in all sections, "LR quality" leaves a lot to be desired.

Fair point... having only owned my Freelander since Dec 23rd(!) I've had 3 exposures to LR bits: the vehicle, a genuine LR driving light kit, & the bearmach rubbing strips.

The vehicle seems really well put together (touch wood), and the standard of the light kit is excellent (although I've yet to fit it!!) - it gives you confidence. The bearmach kit seemed to just have been thrown in a box with little thought of the end user. I know that most landy owners like bearmach products, but this is my first exposure to them.... and Genuine LR is currently winning!

My initial feel for LR gear seems to be: "we'll build it reasonably well and see how it goes. If it's temperamental then we'll fix it, if it's just pure rubbish then we'll either stop doing it completely, or sort it out." This may be a bit wide of the mark, but compared to other 4x4's of a similar age the Freelander seems to be designed with practicality in mind, rather than 'bling' and gadgets.


<I'll now climb off my soap box and return to my beer!!>