Could never really get a firm answer on this question in the past

Most of the OEM kits that I see that look super clean DONT have the rubber trim exposed much like the USDM 98-01 front lip.

My questions is: Are ppl simply painting over the trim to match or removing the trim altogether and letting the kit "flap in the wind"

Slightly dumb question but I'm in the market for a kit and would like to know before I drop high $'s

 

Some people actually paint over the black weather strips. If your gonna spend that much money on the OEM optional kit, I would prefer to find one with the weather strips because over time the edges on the lip kit will eventually rub on your body panels paint.

 

I would highly recommend using an OEM weatherstrip unpainted

 

^^2x. It just looks tacky without the weatherstripping

 

I've seen people do both, paint over it and remove it completely.

If you want the to keep the weather stripping but dont like the contrast of the OEM black weather stripping, you can buy weather stripping from a Toyota Camry lip kit. It comes in a light grey color, very subtle. Might even have white too. *edit* I guess it wont help if your car is PY or black.

 

anyone want to sell theirs? pm me. looking for one.

 

Easy there threadjacker, there's a FS section for a reason.


Back on topic, how is it that most of the pics I see of the OEM kit don't have the OEM stripping exposed? Is it tucked very far under and out of sight?

I'll be posting some pics shortly but the picture upload tool seems to be down

 

Not the same lip kit, but the '98 Civic OE kit also uses black rubber trim to protect the bumpers. In the stock photos you can't really see it, but in person you definitely can.

In this thread you can see the stock photos along with photos of privately owned vehicles with the kit. You'll see some people paint over the molding and some don't. Just to give some ideas of how it could look.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-acura-28/oem-1998-civic-coupe-lip-kit-2157873/

 

First pic shows rubber, second looks cleaner and does not

 

I personally think the first one looks nice and clean and the second, without the trim, makes it look like a cheap, replica kit.

The first one, the molding matches pretty well with the natural gaps between the body panels.

 

Heres a better pic w/o the trim lines. Now that looks flawless and like it came from the factory. No interruption by the gaskets

 

trim looks way better

 

Still going to have to say yes to the trim. I've seen what happens with lips on bumpers with no trim before. Nom nom nom! Granted those were aftermarket lips which likely don't fit as well as these OE Integra lips.

 

Last one, to me this looks better than the pic below. Is this R missing the gasket or is it painted over?

 

I painted my weather stripping. To me it looks better.

 

Agreed

Did you simply use touch up paint or did it need a full respray?

 

I think they look better with the weather stripping. If you don't have the weather stripping, there will be a gap. They aren't really suppose to be painted either.

Toyota sells them in black and white. Oh, and I'm selling an optional kit

https://honda-tech.com/forums/sale-10/dc2-oem-optional-sideskirts-rear-valences-2981676/

 

I had my body shop spray the strip while I had the kit painted. It actually takes paint very well and doesnt chip or flake off like you would think.

 

I prefer the black strip if it were my caR.

 

Between the white R and the GSR above you'd take the fitment of the GSR???



eh, I guess if we all had the same tastes fat chicks would never get love.

Case closed, if I grab a OEM kit I'll be painting the weather strip as to protect the quarter panel, but still keep a clean look

PS. On the R above looks like the strip is painted (if anyone can confirm this I'd really appreciate it)

 

Hmmmmm.... Anybody ever added the weather strip to the front lip to prevent the bumper from getting scraped?

 

Theres no room for a strip, and it doesn't scrape when installed correctly

 

Glad we all have different taste man. I still like the black strips.

 

I will admit that I have the '98 Civic lip and I've had some kid online point out the "poor fitment" of my lip because "it has a gap". It was the black trim.

That was only one uneducated person though.

 

hmm I have the weatherstrip on just my rears. Looks ok but I think im gonna add it to the sides too. It looks better with it to me. Anyone have the template for mounting the rears? Like where to drill? Mine are all ***'d up.