Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Exterior door trim removal

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
Monkey Tennis
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:58 pm

Exterior door trim removal

Post by Monkey Tennis » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:09 pm

Hi Guys,

I'm new here but have been on other beemer forums for a few years. I've bought the wife a 55 plate DSport and i will be giving it the works in the coming weeks.  I will be getting the machine polisher out and I want to make sure that the door trim (the thin strip on all doors about a third of the way up) is taken off before starting.

Any ideas how it comes off? I assume its just plastic clips but do they break off when taking the strip off and is there an easy way to avoid this.

Thanks

Raj
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4512
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: Midlands

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by Raj » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:15 pm

Welcome aboard.

They are held on by clips but if you're careful enough they will come off without damage. You will need to be very careful with the strips themselves as they may bow in which case won't back on properly.
Image

User avatar
Sanj
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5624
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:45 am
Location: Berkshire

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by Sanj » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:35 pm

Yeap - use a sharp blade to get behind it. The clips in the door don't hold the strip on at all, they're just for guidance.

If you want to get the black gloss trim at the bottom of the windows off at the same time, that just pulls up and off. Try from the edge (there's one clip there that needs to release first). Be careful though, it's all plastic and it will deform.
Scn Protect,Alarm Chirp,Ashtray del,Sub install,IV2,Screens,PS2 Media,Chrome rings,Schnitzer pedals,Reverse cam,Silver Grills,F/mirrors,Comp Spkrs,Heated S/W,20"168s,Splash scn,Arches,Remap,LED Tails,ACS Spoiler,'is' Bumper Trim,Rear heated seats,Rear blinds

User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18776
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by X5Sport » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:50 pm

Is something like this tool any good for the trim removal?

Or even this set?

Richard
Last edited by X5Sport on Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Monkey Tennis
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:58 pm

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by Monkey Tennis » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:34 pm

I thought it would be pretty simple. If the clips are just for guidance I am right in assuming that double sided tape is required when putting them back on. Is it easy to get the old tape off? If I put new tape over the old tape then they arent likely to fit flush when refitted.

User avatar
Sanj
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5624
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:45 am
Location: Berkshire

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by Sanj » Fri Nov 30, 2012 10:08 pm

[quote="Monkey Tennis"]
I thought it would be pretty simple. If the clips are just for guidance I am right in assuming that double sided tape is required when putting them back on. Is it easy to get the old tape off? If I put new tape over the old tape then they arent likely to fit flush when refitted.
[/quote]

Right on every count. Double sided and very sticky, hard to get off but a must to get the new stuff on. Only thinking 3M but there must be better stuff out there. This is foamed, so it sticks out ever so slightly.
Scn Protect,Alarm Chirp,Ashtray del,Sub install,IV2,Screens,PS2 Media,Chrome rings,Schnitzer pedals,Reverse cam,Silver Grills,F/mirrors,Comp Spkrs,Heated S/W,20"168s,Splash scn,Arches,Remap,LED Tails,ACS Spoiler,'is' Bumper Trim,Rear heated seats,Rear blinds

Raj
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4512
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: Midlands

Re: Exterior door trim removal

Post by Raj » Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:18 am

Why not just mask them before machining? Will save a lot of hassle and cost (if you should accidentally deform one of them).
Image

Post Reply