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Author Topic: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....  (Read 21947 times)

Offline RedRobin

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How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« on: April 17, 2009, 07:23:14 pm »
....

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







« Last Edit: April 23, 2009, 08:14:22 am by RedRobin »


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Offline Greeners

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2009, 07:57:07 pm »
^^^ Thats not your car is it Robin?  :confused:

Offline SteveP

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2009, 07:59:12 pm »
^^^ Thats not your car is it Robin?  :confused:

Well spotted  :laugh:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2009, 08:04:41 pm »

^^^ Thats not your car is it Robin?  :confused:


....The first 2 pics are of mine < Most of the pics are now mine. The others are of a Scirocco supplied by wigit.

Oh, and that's not me wearing that T-shirt either :wink:

« Last Edit: April 23, 2009, 08:01:39 am by RedRobin »


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Offline Greeners

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2009, 08:23:19 pm »

^^^ Thats not your car is it Robin?  :confused:


....The first 2 pics are of mine. The others are of a Scirocco supplied by wigit.

Oh, and that's not me wearing that T-shirt either :wink:



Yeh the one with the air vent pic in threw me!

And that is definaltely you you ugly old bugger!  :P

Offline RedRobin

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2009, 07:30:40 pm »
....

The original post has now been updated with better pics and description.

:smiley:


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Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2009, 09:12:38 pm »
Great write-up!  So what are you proposing to replace the alu-trims with instead?

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2009, 09:24:51 pm »
Would appreciate to know how you get on Robin, would love to do the same to mine,and they are over my back garden fence.  :happy2:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2009, 09:27:38 pm »

Great write-up!  So what are you proposing to replace the alu-trims with instead?


....It's just the first step in me shedding weight off my car.









I'm only joking. They are going to wrapped and re-installed on Tuesday. Same as my Recaro seat backs.



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Offline RedRobin

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2009, 09:29:41 pm »

Would appreciate to know how you get on Robin, would love to do the same to mine,and they are over my back garden fence.  :happy2:


....I'll be posting a new thread with pics when I get back home. :happy2:


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Offline Shaun

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2009, 08:00:30 pm »
I thought I was the only saddo with a copy of 'Roadcraft' in my car, Robin!

I've got a Highway Code in the glovebox too... and a copy of 'Driving Etiquette' - those were the days!!!
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Offline VC

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2009, 11:17:56 am »
RR once the skins on the trim and seat backs are on your car it's going to looks so sweet inside fella  :happy2:

i've resisted successfully thus far not putting any cf of any description inside the car, i know you love your slopes...but interior cf is the slipperiest of the lot  :grin:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: How To Remove Alu Strip Trim....
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2009, 08:15:51 am »
....

I've now added to my original post. :happy2:


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