Quick Info
Model
450, 451, 452
Estimated Cost
€5 – €15
Difficulty
Beginner
Time Required
10 Minutes
Safety Notes
Cleanliness: Ensure the door strike area is free of any grease or old lubrication before applying the cover to guarantee the adhesive sticks properly.
Cold Weather: If installing in cold temperatures, use a hairdryer to gently warm up the metal strike plate and the adhesive tape on the cover for a better bond.
Surface Irritants: Avoid touching the adhesive tape with your bare fingers once the backing is removed.
Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
In the cabin of the Smart Roadster, every detail matters. While the car is designed with a focused, sporty interior, the exposed, galvanized metal of the door strike plates (where the door latch grabs the frame) can look unfinished. Over time, these plates can also accumulate grease and dust, making the door jamb look messy every time you get in or out.
Car Door Lock Covers—especially those featuring the Brabus or Smart branding—are the perfect solution to "close" this design gap. These covers are typically made of polished stainless steel or high-quality plastic and come with pre-applied 3M adhesive. This is perhaps the easiest DIY upgrade you can perform, requiring no tools and taking only a few minutes. Not only do they provide a more premium "finished" look, but they also protect the strike plate from corrosion and hide existing scratches.
Inspecting the Strike Pla
Open the door fully to gain access to the door strike plate located on the car's frame (B-pillar).
Inspect the plate for any heavy grease or grit.
Cleaning the Surface
Use a microfiber cloth and a mild degreaser (like Isopropyl alcohol) to clean the metal plate thoroughly. This is the most important step; the adhesive will fail if the surface is oily.
Preparing the Cover
Take your new door lock cover and peel off the red protective backing from the 3M adhesive tape.
Be careful not to let the sticky surface touch anything before installation.
Alignment and Pressing
Position the cover over the strike plate, ensuring the branding is right-side up.
Align it so it fits perfectly over the metal loop.
Once aligned, press down firmly across the entire surface of the cover for 15-20 seconds to activate the pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Final Check
Repeat the process on the other door.
Close and open the door once to ensure there is no interference (there shouldn't be, as the covers are very thin).
