Hello! I am new to this group and recently discovered that the trim piece that surrounds my rear wheel well is falling off. It's that little rubber thing that, I guess, prevents rocks from chipping the paint. Anyhow, I decided to ask this group since there are many people who know a lot about this car and have played around with the configuration. So, my questions are 1. What negative side-effects are there to the car if I remove that piece. 2. Can I safely remove that piece 3. Is that an item under warranty? (my warranty expires in 1.5 months) 4. Is it crucial to the operation of the vehicle? That is, if I remove it, will my EL become a rust bucket? Thanks. I appreciate your comments! Calvino

Hi, Yes, you can remove it quite easily with a screw driver. It will not affect he warranty or the performance of your car. In fact, there is a negative reason for having it on ....................... salt can build up between it and the car's body during the winter which if not washed out properly can lead to premature rusting. Once removed, just be sure to was this area completely each time you clean your car. I took mine off! Be careful if you have pretty wide after market tires that your tires aren't at risk of being cut by the sharp edges. You can always have someone hammer the edges in but I wouldn't recommend it. This is my 2 cents worth, hope it helps. Gary.