Arrangement for fastening an externally mounted element to a body structure of a motor vehicle and method of making same

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document DE 101 20 444.2, filed on Apr. 26, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. An arrangement, optionally a running board or a side member covering can be mounted on a strip-type support profile connected with the vehicle body. The connection between the support profile and the running board or the side member covering takes place by mutually corresponding concave and convex longitudinal profile edges on the running board and on the support profile or on the side member covering. In a simple manner the running board with the support profile or the side member covering with the support profile may be optionally connected.