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Hi, how do you get the chrome trims from around the side windows off without damaging? Just can't work it out!

Thanks

Which chrome trim?? In the rain gutter or at the bottom of th windows?/ If you are talking about the rain gutter trim, forget it. It is almost impossible to remove without destroying it.It is available new for replacement. Once that is removed, you can remove the rain gutters and then the lower rear window chrome will pull up from the hidden clips holding it. The front door window chrome has a tiny screw in each end and then can be pulled straight up

the rain gutter trim comes out really easy, you gotta be super patient, VERY VERY gently pry them at the bottom on each end (NOT AT THE TOP WHERE THEY MEET!) then just pull, pull gently, it will be a giant curve when its out but leave it, when you put it back in you'll just start at one end and run your hand along it to push it in. I restored four 6ers and removed every piece of trim for that.

e24trapt wrote:the rain gutter trim comes out really easy, you gotta be super patient, VERY VERY gently pry them at the bottom on each end (NOT AT THE TOP WHERE THEY MEET!) then just pull, pull gently, it will be a giant curve when its out but leave it, when you put it back in you'll just start at one end and run your hand along it to push it in. I restored four 6ers and removed every piece of trim for that.

Great to know this will work! but a question on technique.

Do you keep moving up the trim and prying close to where the trim is still attached and if so how do you support the end of the trim that you have pried off and keep it from kinking?

Or do you stay at the end and keep pulling from the end you started at, and if so, how do you keep it from falling and kinking when the far end comes loose?

This is a very timely topic, but feels like I've missed step 1 & 2, can we start with some basic steps & insight on how to remove, then install the rear window trim in a few easy steps. I am removing a rear window chrome piece from one E24 to another. I just can't seem to picture on where to start the removal process.

thank you

M.

to get started on the gutter trim at the rear it is best to remove the lower trim from the rear window. To remove this, its best to remove the B pillar grille trim; this comes out only once the door seal is pulled back.

The window lower trim just prys off but it is a tight fit and may foul on the B pillar even with the grille trim off. I've even had to slacken the rear window glass in its mountings to get this trim off, but maybe I was doing it the hard way.

Once the window lower trim is off, the gutter trim strip is readily started as per posts above.....

cheers

Okay, so I believe I am finally seeing the light here. Speaking of rear window trim...is the gutter trim the rubber black strip? I guess I am getting the terminology confused between gutter trim and the chrome trim. Basically I will remove a perfect chrome piece from an E24 rear window & place it on Sky6, as I found out it was missing. Since I don't need to remove the rubber piece, this caused a bit of counfusion on my part. I understand this is basic, but sometimes I just have a difficult time understanding. So thanks for all the help and patience.

I am not planning to earn another BA just for this...

Bright trim = #2 & #4, gutter trim = #1 and the 2 un-numbered pieces forward.

If the image doesn't open: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=20

I understnd the mix up on my behalf...I am identifying the back large window with the rear window, thus getting great help with the removal process of the rear side window trim; I meant to say the large back window chrome trim. Information provided for side rear windows is great however. Phew...sorry about that.

Dug from Baja Ca. pointed out I was missing the chrome piece, so I figured I jump on this riight away.

Well, the bright trim is supposed to be inserted into the window seal before the window/seal assembly is roped into the car. I'm not so sure you can replace the trim with the seal still in the car? Anyone done this?

And to get the trim out without kinking it, you have to cut the old seal out and then remove the trim. Cutting the old seal out from the Workshop Manual:

<a><img src="http://bigcoupe.com/ims/pic.php?u=21GvpX2&i=388" border="0"></a>

Chris Wright wrote:Well, the bright trim is supposed to be inserted into the window seal before the window/seal assembly is roped into the car. I'm not so sure you can replace the trim with the seal still in the car? Anyone done this?

And to get the trim out without kinking it, you have to cut the old seal out and then remove the trim. Cutting the old seal out from the Workshop Manual:

<a><img src="http://bigcoupe.com/ims/pic.php?u=21GvpX2&i=388" border="0"></a>

You CANNOT fit the rear window chrome trim into the seal with the screen

fitted. Once the screen is out, the chrome trim pieces come out easily.

Clean the seal of all traces of old sealant, put the seal back around the

glass and re-fit the chrome trim pieces. (I use a smear of petroleum

jelly-Vaseline- to ease fitment). Clean the screen aperture and use

screen sealer around the seal before re-fitting.

Chris, not sure why you need to cut the seal to remove the trims??

I've removed and replaced about a dozen front and rear screens and

have not kinked any trim pieces.

ron wrote: Chris, not sure why you need to cut the seal to remove the trims??

I've removed and replaced about a dozen front and rear screens and

have not kinked any trim pieces.

Well, I guess my statement wasn't too clear (a common occurrence with me ). This would have conveyed my meaning a bit better (but still not good):
"And to get the trim out without kinking it, you have to cut the old seal out (of the car) and then remove the trim."

I was trying to say, as you so succinctly stated, that to remove the trim easily (without kinking it*) the seal must be out of the car, and since cutting the seal is the Factory suggested method for removing the window (not the trim) from the car, that is what I stated, but it came out sounding like the seal need to be cut to remove the trim.

"It was late, I was interrupted, the phone rang, there was a fire, and then an earthquake .... honest, it wasn't my fault!" - (He kisses her hard and then drops her in the mud, replaces his Ray-Ban Wayfarer's and strolls from the tunnel), anyway, that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Do you have a clever method of removing the window with the seal intact?

There was also a post where someone fitted some black coax cable in the empty trim groove of the seal while it was still in the car to fill the groove and give it a "shadow line" look.

*I've read several posts where people have mangled the trim trying to remove it while the trim is still installed in the car.

[quote="Chris Wright"
Do you have a clever method of removing the window with the seal intact?
[/quote]

Carefully release the seal from the aperture on the inside of the car by

running a scraper/screwdriver around it. Once released, gently lever

and push the screen out from the top. It should come out without too

much trouble complete with seal and trim strips. Re-fit using the length

of cord method.

HTH.

e24trapt wrote:the rain gutter trim comes out really easy, you gotta be super patient, VERY VERY gently pry them at the bottom on each end (NOT AT THE TOP WHERE THEY MEET!) then just pull, pull gently, it will be a giant curve when its out but leave it, when you put it back in you'll just start at one end and run your hand along it to push it in. I restored four 6ers and removed every piece of trim for that.

I have just done this and would like to add my 2cents worth. The drivers side was done as above very carfully and removed without any kinks. Before I removed the other side I sprayed the chome channel with WD-40 thinking it might come out easier. Well it was a sensation and removed within minutes. The chrome trim did not curl like the other side, very slight curl as the pic shows.
Another great use for WD-40!

billy635 wrote:Another great use for WD-40!

Add it to the list.

viewtopic.php?t=15328&highlight=wd40

the only bit of advice i can add to this, is a very pricey lesson i learnt. make sure you tighten all screws holding the gutter trim on before replacing the chrome trim. I paid ?300 for all new chrome gutter trim. the screws had obviously slackened over the yrs, but obviously didn't effect trim when prizing it off. however when i was gently repressing on again, the screws were above level of the main gutter trim, and marked a section of my new chrome trim.. an awful and costly disaster, so just make sure you tighten up those gutter screws.. i honestly felt seriously stupid when i saw my new chrome looking like something from tales from the crypt!

Hi guys,

How do I remove rear window lower trim?

Remove b pillar shark fin,remove the clip then pry upward. There are 3 or four clips that hold it to body.
You can C two in pic, just a press fit onto body weld and chrome trim slides into channelon the clip that is not visible in pic,faces glass. Most my clips came off with trim n I put them back on body while I had trim powedercoated.
Had more pics but must of deleted them.
Start from b pillar and gently pry up,I used plastic trim removal tool wrapped in cloth so not to mar paint between trim n body.

Thanks!
what is best way to remove shark fin? Are there screws from side behind weatherstripping?

Yes, the screws are behind the strip

And those fins can be restored without Painting them
Mine were like yours or worse n they came out great for a few hrs work when off car.
The were so bad they had a sand finish.
Just progressively sanded them up to 2000 then polish n they came out great!