Cool Suicide Door Conversions

"If you are looking for a new opening then this could be it."

Suicide doors are ever popular on show cars. If you are new to car modification then read on to find out what suicide doors are.

If you are considering suicide doors we will explain the advantages and disadvantages?

Traditionally car doors haveĀ the hinges at the front and the door opens from the rear.

Although this is now the established norm mass produced cars in the early days rear hinged doors were common.

Converting a standard door to a suicide door requires moving the hinge so that the door opens to the front.

So why are they called suicide doors? The name 'suicide doors' is based on the fact you are exposed to oncoming traffic when exiting the car instead of having the door to shield you. In real life a parked car is more likely to be hit by a car coming from behind.

The Mazda RX8, the BMW i3, the Honda Element and Toyota FJ Cruiser are the only mainstream cars in recent times to have suicide doors. In the RX8 the rear door is really half a door - the front doors need to be opened before rear passengers can get out. It's a clever way make a wider opening for rear passengers.

Suicide doors are a popular modification for show cars. It's a relatively simple job for a competent person. Usually the area where the hinges are mounted will need to be reinforced or the doors will sag over time.

Suicide door options for 2 and 4 door cars.

For 2 door cars the only option is to relocate the hinges to the rear so the doors open at the front. If you have a 4 door car then you have a couple of options.

  • Option 1 for a 4 door car is to get just the rear doors reversed into suicide doors. This gives easier access for rear passengers.
  • Option 2 for a 4 door car is to have all 4 doors converted into suicide doors. This configuration looks more impressive but it's usually less practical.

The wiring for indicator repeaters and electric door mirrors will need to be rerouted. Check all the electrical joins and wiring around the hinges to ensure they will not rub or be overly flexed as the door opens and closes.

Downsides to suicide door conversions.

Suicide doors generally need to be opened wider for passengers to get in and out.

A standard door only needs to be partially opened because the gap at the front only needs to be wide enough to slide your legs in. With a suicide door more clearance is required.

Another issue is the need to lean forwards quite a distance to close the door. Fitting strategically placed handles or straps can solve this problem.

You can have fun watching passengers hunt for the door handles, especially if the handles have been shaved or removed. Beware of cheap suicide door conversions.

Doors that are poorly fitted can soon becomeĀ  difficult to open and close. The weight of the door can cause the hinges to sag if the hinges have been mounted without the proper reinforcement.

Get more inspiration for your car styling project by joining our friendly forums where you can swap hints and tips with our members about all aspects of modifying and customizing cars.

Please Check out my YouTube channel, we're regularly adding new content...

PLEASE HELP: I NEED YOUR DONATIONS TO COVER THE COSTS OF RUNNING THIS SITE AND KEEP IT RUNNING. I do not charge you to access this website and it saves most TorqueCars readers $100's each year - but we are NON PROFIT and not even covering our costs. To keep us running PLEASE Donate here

If you liked this page please share it with your friends, drop a link to it in your favourite forum or use the bookmarking options to save it to your social media profile.

Feedback - What do You Think?

Please use our forums if you wish to ask a tuning question, and please note we do not sell parts or services, we are just an online magazine.

Help us improve, leave a suggestion or tip

Your Constructive comments on this article, I really want to improve this article with your help and suggestions.


Please watch this video and subscribe to my YouTube channel.



One Response to “Suicide doors”

  1. Arse4991 says:

    Suicide doors? New? Fiat 600 would like to have a word with you.

Member Benefits

Join our forum today and benefit from over 300,000 posts on tuning styling and friendly car banter.

You will also have full access to the modifed car gallery, project car updates and exclusive member only areas.

(All car owners of all ages and from all countries are welcome).


BMW 335i - 2021 COTY

We gave the BMW 335i our coveted car of the year award, read more about this awesome car and see why 335i Tuning Guide

Tips for N54 Tuning

Tips for N55 Tuning
Tips for B58 Tuning

Popular articles

Diesel tuning
ECU remapping
Double Clutch
Induction Kits
Customize a car
Chip tuning
Modified Car insurance
Track day insurance
Diesel remaps
Calculate MPG
DPF cleaning
Tuning Stages


Twin Scroll Turbos

Twin scroll turbos
Read more...

Sport Catalysts

Decats & Sports catalysts
Read more...

Vehicle Wraps

Total vehicle wraps and applying vinyl wrap to your car.
Read more...

Painting Calipers

Tips on brake caliper painting.
Read more...

Cleaning Alloys

How to clean alloy wheels
Read more...

2010 Car News

Review of 2010 car news and car developments
Read more...

MPG Calculator

MPG calculator UK miles per Gallon – calculate MPG
Read more...