Front door trim removal - please help?

rrr · 21st August 2010, 08:13

I am nearly desperate and want to ask if there is another way how to remove the door trim cards from the front doors than the one described in Haynes manual. The metal clips which hold the card are so strong I cannot remove the card with reasonable force. Haynes´ advice to use a long screwdriver for the clips is probably good when you are an octopus but I have just two hands.
I successfully removed the door trim from the rear doors to treat them with Waxoyl and did not expect the front door to be worse. I was wrong...

Raistlin · 21st August 2010, 08:57

The way I do it is to make sure all the plastic clips are out and then, holding the bottom of the door trim slightly away from the door, sharply hit the bottom of the door trim upwards with the heel of the hand.

This always works for me.

rrr · 21st August 2010, 11:44

Thanks a lot - success at the first attempt

Raistlin · 21st August 2010, 13:37

Pleased to hear it

Now just be careful when removing the door latch as it is very easy to break the chrome trim

kevin18050 · 21st August 2010, 15:21

i followed the haynes book the first time and pulled the clip clean off the door once off i saw how it should have gone now the books a last resort lol

T-Cut · 21st August 2010, 20:41

A little late, but here's a comprehensive HowTo derived from the experience of several members. If that includes you, please accept this as acknowledgement of your contribution.

The instructions in the Haynes Manual are liable to cause damage to the central retaining clip.Page 11.13, section 14.4 starts well, by releasing all the clips around the edge of the door card. Section 14.5 goes on to describe the card is pulled away from the central clip that holds the middle in place. DO NOT PULL HERE!

(Go to .....http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=79190)

Once all the edge clips are undone, simply grasp the panel at the armrest/handle and firmly lift it vertically. Don't lift it too high or you might break the door release chrome bezel. It should come off the plastic slider, leaving this on the fixed clip attached to the metal door frame. Once the card is off, you can remove the slider from the clip and remount it on the rear of the card ready for the refitting. The two central clips will need to be removed from the door structure using a pair of pliers to compress the metal spring clips and can the be refitted in the door liner. Advise caution because these clips are very sharp. Ensure to refit the right way up!

Door Card Clips

These usually snap when removed, so spares are almost essential.
The white ones from Xpart cost about £15 or something daft for six.
However, you can get BMW ones on ebay for pennies and fit perfectly. These are the better quality red ones (white are very brittle).
Search on eBay for BMW E36,M3,M5,E30,E46 E32 ,10 x DOOR CARD PANEL CLIPS.

drewbie · 22nd August 2010, 10:42

Nice bit of info T cut, ive put that into favorites cos i'll never find it when i need it

.

21st August 2010, 08:13	#1
rrr Regular poster 2001 75 1.8 LHD, 2000 75 1.8 LHD Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Prague 6 Posts: 68 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Front door trim removal - please help? I am nearly desperate and want to ask if there is another way how to remove the door trim cards from the front doors than the one described in Haynes manual. The metal clips which hold the card are so strong I cannot remove the card with reasonable force. Haynes´ advice to use a long screwdriver for the clips is probably good when you are an octopus but I have just two hands. I successfully removed the door trim from the rear doors to treat them with Waxoyl and did not expect the front door to be worse. I was wrong...

21st August 2010, 20:41	#6
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	A little late, but here's a comprehensive HowTo derived from the experience of several members. If that includes you, please accept this as acknowledgement of your contribution. The instructions in the Haynes Manual are liable to cause damage to the central retaining clip.Page 11.13, section 14.4 starts well, by releasing all the clips around the edge of the door card. Section 14.5 goes on to describe the card is pulled away from the central clip that holds the middle in place. DO NOT PULL HERE! (Go to .....http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=79190) Once all the edge clips are undone, simply grasp the panel at the armrest/handle and firmly lift it vertically. Don't lift it too high or you might break the door release chrome bezel. It should come off the plastic slider, leaving this on the fixed clip attached to the metal door frame. Once the card is off, you can remove the slider from the clip and remount it on the rear of the card ready for the refitting. The two central clips will need to be removed from the door structure using a pair of pliers to compress the metal spring clips and can the be refitted in the door liner. Advise caution because these clips are very sharp. Ensure to refit the right way up! Door Card Clips These usually snap when removed, so spares are almost essential. The white ones from Xpart cost about £15 or something daft for six. However, you can get BMW ones on ebay for pennies and fit perfectly. These are the better quality red ones (white are very brittle). Search on eBay for BMW E36,M3,M5,E30,E46 E32 ,10 x DOOR CARD PANEL CLIPS. Last edited by Dragrad; 4th November 2012 at 11:47..

21st August 2010, 08:57	#2
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	The way I do it is to make sure all the plastic clips are out and then, holding the bottom of the door trim slightly away from the door, sharply hit the bottom of the door trim upwards with the heel of the hand. This always works for me.

21st August 2010, 11:44	#3
rrr Regular poster 2001 75 1.8 LHD, 2000 75 1.8 LHD Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Prague 6 Posts: 68 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks a lot - success at the first attempt

21st August 2010, 13:37	#4
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Pleased to hear it Now just be careful when removing the door latch as it is very easy to break the chrome trim

21st August 2010, 15:21	#5
kevin18050 Regular poster Rover 75 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i followed the haynes book the first time and pulled the clip clean off the door once off i saw how it should have gone now the books a last resort lol

22nd August 2010, 10:42	#7
drewbie Loves to post Rover 75 Club SE 1.8T 03 plate. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tenterden Posts: 277 Thanks: 28 Thanked 41 Times in 37 Posts	Nice bit of info T cut, ive put that into favorites cos i'll never find it when i need it .