[spacedoc]

I ordered stainless Manik Side Steps from Nordleth a couple of weeks ago. When they didn't arrive as I expected, I called Nordleth. They said that Manik hadn't been able to provide Nordleth with side steps since the last manufacturing run more than twelve weeks ago. They also said that they couldn't predict when they might be available, although they acknowledge a boatload of orders from readers of this forum.

Anyone have a suggestion? Should we give up on Maniks? Is that another supplier that might have them in stock?

---------------------

2002 Touring, Mesa Beige, everything but side steps.

 

[JohnW]

Just a question...sorry no answer to your post:

Q: Are the Maniks THAT much better than the OEM Acura Steps? I don't have my MDX yet, but I do want Side Steps, and have seen pictures of both (though I've seen better pix of the Maniks) and can't really tell what the major difference is.

What is it about Maniks that would make people wait over twelve weeks to get them instead of OEM?

Regards,

JohnW.

 

[DaleB]

Well, you must not have looked at very good pictures. The difference is quite significant IMHO.
Between the black Acura steps and the black Maniks, there may not seem as much difference, only because neither one is very noticeable due to the color.
That's not a value judgement, because it's strictly personal taste.

I too have been waiting for the Maniks and strongly advise against Gogrilles dot com because they charged my card, over a month ago and I finally got a refund check today. They charged my card even without shipping product.
Anyway, Manik is a major after-market manufcaturer in S. California.
You can also order through Truckstuff USA.com, BestDarnParts.com, DriverFX.com, coolwheels.com, or Nordleth.
They all claim the same problem, backorders up the kazoo. I still have an order with TruckStuff they have not charged my card, so I am just holding on for now. My order status keeps showing 'Shipping in 2-3weeks'.
I really like the looks of the Maniks better than the Acura.

I might settle for the Acura steps and having them powder-coated chrome as a few others have done. But that is more dinero, but you could probably get your steps sooner that way. You either have them powder coated locally, or ship them to the firm that is recommended on the forum, that is in South. Calif.
There are few metal specialists here in the Bay Area, I may start some inquiries next week.

It is very unfortunate that Manik's competitors have not yet picked up the slack. Paul and I have sent emails to autoseattle.com , Tal & Hadas, GoRhino,
etc. telling them they are missing a golden opportunity as the MDX demand for more accessories is increasing. T&H is the only one that seemed to respond with interest and hopes to have some MDX parts available by mid-summer ahead of their original Fall schedule.
We shall see!

 

[msu79gt82]

In my opinion two things: price and color

NOT Quality. I believe the OEM to be superior in quality. Much sturdier with three brackets on each side vs. two. Manik has had trouble in the past with their footpads; you can dig up the old threads to verify, although I think this has been resolved?

Regarding strudiness there have been several posts stating that the Maniks often "flex" when stepping on them; no doubt due to the lack of a middle support bracket. To summarize if you want quality go with the OEMs!!!

So why buy Maniks? Two main reasons; Maniks are cheaper especially if you want the silver, which brings up the second reason - color. The OEM are available in black only. Search/Browse all the old threads regarding Steps and you can get more than you'll probably want but they will back up what I've said here.

Note I have not said anything about looks. Looks are too subjective, but in my opinion they both look OK, especially if you compare them in black (or compare Manik silver to OEM powdercoated).

Bottom Line: OEM are superior quality but they cost more (a lot more if you powdercoat them).

 

[msu79gt82]

FYI: Price

Tim sells the OEM Steps for $433.99 and I got mine powdercoated for $131 for a total price of about $565 for "silver" OEMs.

I am very pleased with that; I prefer the looks (admittedly subjective) and quality of the OEMs and from what others have paid my powdercoating was very reasonably priced.

 

[ghost]

Maniks and offroading

I'll offer another comment on the Maniks - yesterday I did an 8 mile off-road traverse of a logging road that leads up to the Pigeon River on the Canadian border near Grand Portage. It was about as bad a road as you'd want to take an MDX on, 8 inch ruts, puddles of unknown depth, the occasional emergent rock.

My main criterion for off-roading is good side to side clearance - don't want to scratch up the sides! Since they haul moose out on this road, it was pretty open in that respect. But back to the point-

The bracket design on the maniks due reduces the clearance on the MDX. I don't think they're the lowest point on the car (looks like that's the front of the muffler), but they do reduce the clearance on the sides. Since you tend to roll left or right on these roads, they would occassionally dig in where the road was irregular. If the road is sand or clay, they'd just plow furrows, no big deal, but if you happen to meet up with a boulder, something would have to give - just bad karma all around.

Just some advice for those of you that might go off-pavement, I'm not sure of the OEM design provides any more or less clearance.

Also, the GPS satellites kind of disappear up on the border - now I know why there's no Nav system on the Canadian models! Ironic that the one time breadcrumbs would be useful, they end up scattered all over the screen...

 

[DaleB]

From all the previous posts I've read there were maybe two complaints about the sturdiness of the Maniks.
And one problem related to the step area having cracks around the screw mountings, and Manik provided new step pads free.
Taking all the Manik owners on this board, the complaints seem to be few and far between.
The Acura steps offer better support, and I don't think it would have taken Manik much to improve in that area.
The looks of the Acura with the powder coating is very good. And is something I may consider.
The point is, Manik is only one after-market supplier. Smitty, GoRhino, Westin, WAAG, Tal & Hadas, and Jaos, and several others offer good looking steps and other parts, and have been doing so for years. Mostly for American vehicles, but also Toyota, Isuzu, and Nissan. In my opinion, they are all better looking than the stock Acura steps.

I just wish we had more options to choose from. But I do believe in time we will. So maybe the key is just patience.

 

[msu79gt82]

Off Topic - ghost?

.Ironic that the one time breadcrumbs would be useful, they end up scattered all over the screen...

I have fouond the bread crumbs to be an accurate and reliable system. We were at a tournament last July in Tulsa and the three fields we used were all off the few digitized roads in the Tulsa area. However the breadcrumbs left trails to each field that easy to follow for the next days games.:4:

 

[ghost]

Moi? I just define topics rather broadly...

The breadcrumbs work great when you have the satellites - up there they bounced from a yellow signal to completely gone. So even though I took the same route there and back, the breadcrumbs showed me traveling about a half kilometer off from the original route. :2: The handheld I was using had trouble up there too, 20 m or 60 foot accuracy!

Fortunately, the fact that I have an innate sense of direction (and there were no other roads around) got me back safely.

Hey, we should do a thread on this...

 

[DaleB]

Just got a call from Nordleth this morning!
My Maniks are on the way!!! Finally! The first lot is starting to ship!
They told me I was first on the list. There were older requests but they cancelled. Since they are shipping today from south. Calif. I should have them in a short time! Maybe by this weekend.
I will report on received merchandise, and any problems, and do some installation fotos.
I just canceled the order with TruckstuffUSA, good thing I still had one open with Nordleth.

 

[ghost]

Congrat's Dale, this seems to be the first order that's shipped in a while!

You're gonna like em...

 

[DaleB]

I just got them today everything arrived in primo condition.
I ran each lock nut half way up the bolts to be sure there was no binding. One did bind a bit, I just worked it a couple of times and it was fine.
I thought of swapping these out with Home Depot parts, but the factory hardware looks like it's stainless, and not just plated iron. A magnet proved this out. I'd rather have stainless.
The body bolts are heavily covered with probably a zinc coating to retard corrosion.
Will mount them tomorrow. Looks very easy. I just have to pop the seals at the 8 bolt holes underneath.
This ought to be very cool!!!