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I'm talking about the brushed aluminium trim running horizontally along the doors and through to the dashboard.
All you need is one of those hard nylon tools and some controlled brute strength!
I borrowed an upholsterer friend's Bojo tools : -
Insert on the blue Bojo's between the
TOP edge of the aluminium trim and the grey door trim above. If you insert on the bottom edge there is a much higher risk of any leverage marks being much more visible. It's best to start about a quarter distance from the righthand side for door trims and quarter distance from the lefthand side for the dashboard trims. This is because there is a 'hook' feature at the extreme side.
Tackle the door trims first because afterwards you'll have a better feel for the slightly more awkward dashboard ones later.
At first you wonder how much strength is needed because those Germans really build their cars well. But once you've managed to release the first 'plug' fixing the rest will leverage out quite easily. Don't panic if you bend the alu trim - It can be easily bent back providing you haven't been extreme.
Take care not to lose the small female metal sleeves which fit between the male plugs on the back of the trim and the female holes on the door/dash. Some of these sleeves may pop out with the trim but just pop them back in the door/dash. It isn't possible to lose anything inside the door panels or dashboard, so don't worry! The sleeve is shown in the middle hole in this pic : -
Slide away from the hook side and pull outwards at a gentle angle. It'll ease out quite easily at this stage. The tricky bit is the initial leverage : -
^ Showing the shape of the 'plug' and therefore the resistance as you lever the trim away from the door.
^ The rectangular slot on the extreme right is where the 'hook' fits. Also note the 'sleeves' in place.
When you've removed all the trim you'll enjoy inspecting just how well the Germans build everything!
REPLACING THE TRIM:Much easier than removing! Gently offer the 'hooked' ends into the rectangular recess and ease the male plugs into the sleeves (which importantly should be still on the doors and not on the plugs). You may need a slight wiggle of the plug angle is needed to gain further entry (no comment!!) but they then snap into place quite positively and firmly.
I removed my aluminium trim for wrapping in carbon vinyl. It's practical to send away the strips for wrapping. I have posted a review here:
Linky : -
Review - Carbon Vinyl Interior
