Today I tackled something Id been nervous about since beginning this crazy project: Shadowline trim removal.
I'll do my best to explain as I go so others can be less fearful when their turn comes...
Step 1. Ensure you have an e30 to work with. If not,the whole process tends to become quite a bit more difficult...
Now a few of you may notice the doors are not on my car. I will be tackling the removal of all the door sh*t once I start sanding the car.
I just have too many of these to deal with:
First things first: You'll need:
1) FLathead screwdriver, bigger is better.. ahem...
2) Philips screwdriver ( + )...
2) 8mm deep socket
3) a couple of scrappers, thicker is better... ahem again...Get in your car and remove this coat hanger.
It requires the (+) screwdriver. With the screw out, use a smaller flathead screwdriver to wedge it out of its hole. Start at the bottom then work up the sides. It IS tight but it will come out... Be patient!
Once all the cursing is done and its out:
Next, get a box and a baggie... put stuff in it as you go...
Inside the car, remove the cover on the seat belt pivot to reveal the 17mm bolt. This is on the same pillar which you removed the coat hanger. (Sorry no pic - mine was removed loooong ago...
) Loosen and remove the 17mm bolt.
Next, remove the small quarter sized plug on the same pillar using a flathead screwdriver...
With the plug off, inside the hole you will see a 8mm nut. If you look inside the coat hanger hole you will see the same 8mm nut.
At this point you can loosen and remove them both being careful not to drop them.
Use this...
With these nuts out the only thing holding the window is the inner rubber gasket. Don't worry, that window isn't going anywhere yet...
Next is to remove the upper trim. Grab a flathead screwdriver and hammer and gently tap on the clip to make it slide over towards the front of the car..
Until it looks like this..
Now, find your happy place and relax because the next part requires patience...
Starting at the door gently pry (with a screwdriver or scrapper) the trim off its track. Do this very slowly and try not to lift it too much, you dont want to bend it...
Once you have a bit off use a thick scrapper and very gently pry UPWARDS to lift the trim of its track.. Do this a few 1/8 inch at a time and keep moving towards the back of the car...
Eventually it will all be off and you may find as you get nearer the end it comes off fairly easily...
With that out of the way next up is to removed the remaining trim. This is attached to the painted part...They remove as one..
The best way is to use a long flathead screwdriver and using a cloth or something to protect the paint (not like in the pic!) gently pry the bottom out first...
It wont come out all the way but move up the side and every 5inches or so pry gently... There are clips there that may break. I broke 1 per side... In case you do break some the part number for these clips is: 51 13 1 870 459 (there are 6 total).
Now if you want to remove the black trim from the painted part, remove the insulation and remove the clips holding it in place. You may have to drill them out... However you do it, you will break them. The part number for these clips is: 51 13 1 884 467. You'll need a bunch...
Now the fun part. This was a complete B*TCH to do.
Until I figured it out...Remember only the inner seal is holding the window in place. I'll save you a couple of hours of anger and desperation and show you how to remove it:
Start by prying a scrapper under the seal like so:
Then using another scrapper do the same thing.
What you now want to do is use a flathead screwdriver and push the lip of the seal
over and inside the metal lip it sits on. Basically between the metal lip and the window..
You will only need to do this on the bottom portion of the window. Just go slow, wedging the rubber over and off the lip between the lip and the window...
With the bottom portion done and the forward corner of the seal as well (near the door) gently push on the window and it will cause the seal to pop off the edge as you push...
The first side took me a few hours to do. The second side took me 15 minutes. You guys are all smarter than me so if you tackle this it will all be easy...
Now, with this part done, I guess she is pretty much ready for sanding...
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