E36 door trim

["POWELL"<jim.powell@xxxxxxx>]

     From: "Lane Flynn" <vortexic@domain.elided>
     
     Asked >>>
     Sorry, I know this has been asked before but I don't have saved 
     digests going back far enough and I can't find anything elsewhere.  
     The trim on the driver's door of my '94 325is is starting to come off 
     from whatever it's attached to.  So far it's just a little loose at 
     the top, and the passenger side is fine, but I seem to recall this 
     being a common problem, and I'd like to take care of it ASAP in hopes 
     that I can keep it from spreading.  I know some other people have had 
     this and had solutions recommended; I'd really appreciate it if you 
     could let me know what works.  Thanks very much.
     <<<
     
     Lane,
     
     The trim is held on without about 5 clips per side that snap onto the 
     trim and then push into holes in the door with these cute little clip 
     condoms.  No kidding.  If its coming loose the clip may have come 
     loose from the trim or the clips are coming out of the door.  If 
     they're coming out of the door just push in along the length and the 
     trim will cinch up.  I imagine you've tried that so I imagine that the 
     clip has either broken the molding or is broken itself.  The little 
     clip condom (Is this thing called a Tulle??) may have worn out too.
     
     On my car everything is new enought that I can work the clips out 
     slowing from the holes in the door.  Maybe you can too.  In any case 
     these things break all the time and the dealer should have gobs of 
     them.  Drop in tomorrow and see before you try to get the molding off. 
     Try to make sure you pull the clips out of the door and not the 
     molding off the clips.  Its likely the trim will crack at the the clip 
     mounting points if you just yank on it.  That will turn this into a 
     more expensive repair if you have to replace the trim piece.  Plus the 
     old ones are faded and the new one may not match colorwise.  So be 
     careful.
     
     Jim Powell
     '98 M3/4

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