I am thinking about getting the runing boards for my car. Anybody have an opinion on how they look and function. Are they worth the price, etc. Thanks. tlw '06 RRS HSE Chawton White/Alpaca Lux/PTI/Sirius
'04 Ford F250 Super Duty
'01 Jeep Wrangler
'05 John Deere 5320

I think they take away from the car with respect to aesthetics and they don't seem very practical. They accumulate a lot of dirt so you would need to get used to dirty pants. AC

I was thinking about getting some. I like the look of them, but was wondering if you end up stepping out past them and then getting dirt on the inside of your trousers.
They would be handy for my daughter (age 7). Matt
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RRS ownership for 1 yr, then D3 for 2 yrs. Then cut back to old bangers and working my way back up through two Peugeots in 6 months. Now got Saab 9-5 2.3t and enjoying the performance!

They give the car a lower look as well RRS TDV6 Gone but still around
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They do look good but the dirty trousers issue is a very real one. I'm 6'4" and have long legs to show for it and I'm always catching the inside of my trousers on the running boards on the wife's Freelander. 

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I like them. I was "forced" to get them by my 5' 2 (and a half, she claims)" wife at first, but now I think they look real nice on the car, the silver trim on the side ties with the wheels, logos on hood and lift gate - and front grille + side vents if you have the S/C version. With the doors closed they are basically flush with the lower skirts / fins / whatchamaccallit trim and therefore they collect very little dirt, with the doors open they offer plenty of grippy rubber surface to step on (however, if you think you can ride on them commando-style with the doors shut, you will find them useless.) I am pretty sure they have already protected my lower doors and skirts from nicks and dings caused by the inevitable, kicked up debris on the road (I have also added the mudflaps.) They don't lower clearance under the car much - even with them installed, the underside of the car sits a tad lower than the running boards - so they will have little negative impact when offroading. In fact, they may offer extra protection, as they are very sturdy.

Regarding the dirty trousers (trousers, trousers... I am not making the "messed up pants" mistake again here), I don't find that to be an issue, I clear them easily (I'm 6'1") whether the suspensions are in access mode or regular height. To me, they are mostly useful when I need to strap my daughter in the car seat on the back, next to "insidious" curbs, when I want to avoid puddles of water or dust the roof of the car without stepping on the doorsills, etc. Needless to say, my wife loves them. When I finally add a ski rack I imagine they will also be useful to get stuff on and off it. I have a white Sport as well, so if you want to see what yours would look like with them on, check my gallery. 

I am on the fence over the looks. I think they potentialy remove from the lines of the car.
In terms of access, unless you are v-short there is little point - dirty trousers are a very real issue.

Mrs. T does not like them one bit......likes the shape and style just as it is. The jury is still out! Currently: Carbon Black 535d
RIP: RRSTDV6 HSE & DISCO3 HSE

I think they look good, but the trouser dirt problem is significant.

Don't think you actually need them, my mums 5"2 and she gets in fine when i lower it to access height, struggles in normal mode, as the RRS hasn't got one of them grab handles on the lower side of the front pillar, but normally i remember to lower it.

On cars without adjustable suspension like the current X5, the steps come in very useful. My brother in law HAD to have them on his when he bought it, but now we have the facility for adjustable air suspension in most 4x4's now and in the future, the steps are just a style and preference thing.

I just see it as something which lowers the car, and is therefore risk of bashing it against objects like high kerbs.

My wife is 4' 10", so I'm afraid for me its necessary to have the steps. Not bothered if my trousers get dirty as long as she is happy. TDV6 - gone
TDV8 - gone
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Otherwise she might bite your ankles!  

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I have them and really like the look.
Click on Gallery to see.  2013 New Range Rover Sport HSE SDV6
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The reason I did not buy them for my car was the dirty trousers issue, but because I garage my car *(unlike most people in the UK it seems who fill their garage with 'stuff')

Because I then have limited door opening space to get in and out it would be inevitable that I would get my nice expensive suits dirty, and my car seems to be Bl**dy filthy most of the time..damned UK road salters....  L319 D4 HSE

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