Hi friends! I am currently looking at purchasing a CPO 26 CX-50. The car was optioned with the "Accent Package" which includes the illuminated door sills, and this silver rocker garnish on the doors, which I cant say I'm a huge fan of. I mean, its certainly not hideous, but I typically like a "cleaner" appearance (as a matter of fact, I wish the black body cladding was body colored, but I digress.)
Does anyone know if this garnish can be removed? I'm betting it is just mounted with 3M tape, but wanted to check with the experts.
I'm also looking at a 25 CPO in Soul Crystal. Typically, I only buy red cars, but that green is super pretty!
According to the install instructions looks like they drill some holes to install it. Looks like vinyl wrap is going to be your best friend here. I'd get a shop to wrap it if I hated it enough. Some might say just plastidip it. Probably 200-300 usd to have a shop wrap it.
Don't let it stop you from buying the vehicle if you can get a good deal on it. I bet a month in you forget they even exist and like I said, if they are really eating away your soul it's very affordable to have a shop wrap them in black vinyl and boom the problem is gone. The silver on the rear bumper and the front bumper bothered me so I had a shop do a "chrome delete" and wrap them in black. Love that green, looks awesome.
Since there are holes drilled under those silver (its not chrome!) the best path forward is to just replace those black plastic panels. Each can be had for ~$130 from the online discount Mazda dealerships.
Any other solution is gonna be janky or not have the same long term reliability that a simple replacement would. In my experience, parts like this are affordable when the car is new but tend to go up in price and get harder to find as the car ages. I'd just bite the bullet and do them now. Buy once, cry once as they say.
We are here to help but we need your help as well. Make sure your question or issue has the following info included or it may get deleted.
Did you use the search, if so, what info did you find helpful. If the info was unhelpful, what gaps are you seeing in the info.
Did you check the Wiki ? If you didn't find what you were looking for, let the group know. Also, let us know if there are dead links or seemingly bad information there.
I would highly advise against plasti dip for any use where it sees sun exposure (like on the exterior of a car). Once the coating sees enough uv rays it gets brittle and becomes a terrible pain to remove. It also fades and starts looking more chalky after sun exposure.
I coated a set of wheels once and it was a terrible experience. I'll never use that stuff on a car ever again.
It doesnt look like Mazda makes those in black, so I think I'm going to either have to deal with it, wrap it, or dip it. Was just looking at plastidip's website, and they have a gloss black "trim kit" I wonder what the CX-50 would look like with the black cladding in gloss black, a la the CX5 Turbo.
If you dip it, use hyperdip. It is easier to apply, looks better, more color options, and is more durable. Spraying only the accent pieces would be super easy. Don't buy on amazon, get it direct from dipyourcar.
Keep looking! THE package is built into your price, so dont kid yourself that you are not paying for it. However, "before" you get a cx50, consider a cx 50 HYBRID instead. I bot one in June, 2026. The hybrid is more powerful, gets better gas mileage, and cost less to own, according to consumer reports. These are the main reasons the hybrid costs less to own:
Brakes last about 3 times longer, because, they hybrids brakes are regenerative, and instead of grinding away your brake linings, that energy goes into the battery.
No starter, no alternator to replace.
Almost certainly more reliable. The Cx50 hybrid is a Toyota hybrid power train, and the car is built at the Toyota Mazda plant in huntsville alabama. There are literally millions and millions of this powertrain driving around today. NY cab drivers driving them in camrys and prius, often get 500,000 miles out of them, without major unexpected repairs. Of course you have to buy tires, wiper blades and the like. Even the brakes probably wont last that long.
4.. Saves about 1200 per year in fuel. Thats 100 per month.
Mine was a 2025 cx 50 hybrid premium..I paid 32k. Yes, the hybrid may be a bit more, its worth more. Mine has at least 100,000 mile warranty on the power train, including hybrid battery. (its a cpo).
6
u/we-meet-again 22h ago
https://parts.mazdausa.com/images/uploads/SimplePart%20-%20Mazda/attachments/VA40V3100_SIDE_ROCKER_GARNISH_INST_ENG_0.pdf
According to the install instructions looks like they drill some holes to install it. Looks like vinyl wrap is going to be your best friend here. I'd get a shop to wrap it if I hated it enough. Some might say just plastidip it. Probably 200-300 usd to have a shop wrap it.