Exterior trim strip - removal?

[Benz]

Hi, can anyone tell me how to remove the black plastic/rubber strips that run along the middle of the doors?

Thanks
Norm

[Big_Richard]

they simply clip on using ball and cup clips. Don't be too concerned if you pull out some of the red cups they are dirt cheap new. Also don't bend the rubber strip excessively or it'll stay that shape and haze the appearance of the chrome. There is quite likely a plastic wedge available for removing these, but i just used my hands.

[oscar]

Very long tapered plastic wedges between door and mould is ideal like that one WGB had.  I've only removed one and did it with using chisels prying it off.  I didn't care much for the door, it was discarded.  But like Pat says, they don't flex much at all and once they do flex past a point, they're bent and are difficult to get perfectly straight afterwards.  Bend them enough and you get that ruining of the chrome part that Pat talks of then you might as well chuck it away.

Here's WGB's wedge.  Sorry if I beat you to the punch again WGB, not my fault the sun rises in the east

[Ryan1980]

good idea - i used a flathead screwdriver.

what concerns me more is you paid $49 bucks for a bit of plastic?

[Big_Richard]

the $49 wedge is much less likely to do damage, if its at all possible, in comparison with a flat blade screw driver.

[WGB]

They now make chinese copies of my $49 wedge (I also have the $55 wider one) and they are available in Perth for $13.

They are indispensable for all exterior and most interior trim in the newer models.

Bill

[Ryan1980]

cool where do u  get em? might come in handy!

[WGB]

cool where do u  get em? might come in handy!

Automotive tools and Paint, 14 Gibbs St, Cannington. Tel 9356 1874

He is an obsessive ex Bikie (Well he looks like one) tool Merchant who sells a lot of obscure tools and also sells Dulux Paint.

He is open Weekdays and Saturday mornings and has an Alladin's cave of tools that are a bit different to the rest of the world.

Him and his partner are a couple of the best paint colour matchers in town and used extensively by the Hot-Rod Trade.

They definitely had the $13 variety wedge a month or so ago.

Bill

[Benz]

Thanks for the reply guys. So its just a case of prying them off from the outside gently with some sort of wedge, and trying not to bend them too much. Will give it a shot.

Thanks
Norm

[Papalangi]

You guys need to find out if eastwoodco.com ships overseas.  They have some of the coolest stuff for trim removal.  http://www.eastwoodco.com/images/us//local/products/detail/p20204.jpg

Don't know if you can get plastic leveling wedges from the big box home center but I would think they work almost as well

Michael

[WGB]

The wedges are made of a specific hardness of plastic that is solid but does not mark.

The two that I have in different widths are German made (With trhe makers mark embossed into them) and both expensive for what they are and absolutely indispensible for all models of M-B.

The plastic has particular qualities of hardness, not causing scratches to paintwork and slipperiness when forcing it through.

$50 starts to look pretty cheap if you have to repaint a panel because you slipped with a screwdriver.

You have to resist using them as levers and purely use the angle of the incline to cause the separation.

I have never purchased the cheaper chinese copies but presumably the angles will be the same if they are copies but can't speak for the quality of the plastic.

Bill

[nathan]

benz,
if you find the wedge great, but you dont need it in my opinion.
ive dismantled a few 116s. the key to getting them off unbent using your hands is
-start using two hands at different points maybe 20cm apart
(do not start at one end at try and work backwards one by one clips or it will bend and wont be correctable!)
-lift the rubber bit in an outward rollingupwards motion with both hands and this will release the socket like joint PB was referring to

good luck

[Benz]

That's exactly why I did, just used my hands. You get a lot more feel (ok, its a little sort on the fingers) but at least I got them off withing bending them.

Thanks
Norm