Side Skirts and Sill Extensions — Page 19

The “Tuning Side Skirts & Blades” section covers exterior parts along the sill line: bodykit side skirts (also called side skirts), slim “blade” add-ons that mount under the factory sill, carbon side skirts, as well as vehicle-specific side steps for crossovers, SUVs, and pickups. Almost everything is made for a specific body, so the easiest way to choose is using the “Make / Model” filter.

What’s in this section

• Bodykit side skirts – ABS plastic (DPT, GBT, GT Tuning) in gloss black or paint-ready, in styles like AMG, M4, RS-Style, plus Meliset fiberglass skirts for painting – including options for Caddy, Doblo, Vito, Transporter T5/T6, and Sprinter.
• Sill add-ons (“blades”) – a strip that fits under the lower edge of the factory sill: for BMW with M-Sport sills, for Tesla Model 3, Model Y, and Model S, EuroCap add-ons for Caddy and Duster.
• Carbon side skirts and skirtsDDCarbon made from genuine carbon fiber – mainly for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Subaru, and Tesla.
• Universal add-ons – Flap types A–F with self-adhesive backing, plus 2-piece or 4-piece kits; length and width are listed in the specs.
• Side steps – aluminum with a plastic cover in original design (Cixtai) for RAV4, Highlander, Sportage, Tucson, Outlander, Defender; LED steps for Land Cruiser 200 and Lexus LX570; Dakar metal steps with or without lighting for L200, D-Max, Navara, Hilux, Amarok.

Bodykit vs. side step: don’t mix them up

The word “sills/side skirts” can refer to different things. A bodykit skirt and a blade add-on are decorative parts: they change the car’s profile, but you don’t step on them. A proper foot support is a side step with brackets. If that’s what you need, also check side steps (stainless tubular steps and aluminum profiles), heavy-duty steps for pickups, and electric retractable steps. Door-sill plates for the inner sill area are in a separate section: door sill covers.

How to choose the right fit for your body style

• Match the body type: sedan, hatchback, coupe, convertible, or Sportback often have different versions.
• Check which factory sills the add-on is made for: blades “for M-Sport sills” are designed only for cars with the M package.
• For vans and long sedans, wheelbase matters – short, medium, long, or Long; Defender has separate versions for 90 and 110/130.
• V1, V2, V3 are different designs within the same model, and the years in brackets show which body version the part fits.
• For side steps, verify the market and vehicle version: EU and US trims are not always interchangeable.

Material, paint, and installation

A “paint-ready” part should be test-fitted first and gaps aligned, then prepped and painted to match the body color: shipping primer is not a final finish. Gloss black can be installed without painting, but the shade may differ slightly from the factory black.

Most bodykit skirts and blades are installed using automotive glass adhesive/sealant, and the adhesive is not included – this is stated in the specs. Universal Flap add-ons stick on with self-adhesive tape. Side steps mount to factory points using the supplied hardware; LED steps require wiring. Before bonding, clean and degrease the surface, and always do a dry test fit first. You can have bodykit parts installed at DD Tuning’s network of certified service centers – your manager will point you to the nearest one.

Side skirts are often paired with front bumper lip spoilers, rear diffusers, and fender flare trims to make the bodykit look cohesive.

This description was prepared with the help of AI based on analysis of over 1 million phone calls between DD Tuning managers and customers, as well as the company knowledge base. We collected the questions customers ask most often and added answers verified in real-world use.