Help with replacing trim....
 

Hi - has anyone tried to replace the triangular trim between rear passenger door window and quarter panel glass (black gloss piece)? For some reason the piece on the passenger side is fine but drivers side is badly corroded, I have taken a look but cannot work out how it comes off????.

Also can anyone recommend where I can get a replacement (tried A8 parts but they can't help - apprently its a common problem so the cars they break always have corroded pieces).

On a related note, I'm also trying to find a replacement passenger door mirror. The unit is fine but the chrome cover is scratched badly - searched and searched on-line with no luck (also tried A8 parts but no luck), so any help appreciated (along with clues of how to replace - I'm a complete novice to the world of DIY car repair!!)

I can't understand why they used alley for this piece, but used a black plastic and therefore corrosion free trim on the "B" pillar. :Confused:

The picture from EKTA suggests its just a pop off item. You could always just pull it off and see what happens! :eek: If successful let us know as I am in the same boat.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1280130401

I think you have 2 choices. Get one from A8Parts and repair/respray or new from Audi.

There is how-to here. +++

Also in the same boat.

From what i can remember Ian mentioning - i think you have to take the whole top part of the door off :(

I'm sure he'll be along to verify shortly...

Oli

Thanks for this +++- I was about to charge in hoping it would pop off (that could have been an expensive learning curve!!:(). I'll hang on and wait to see what Ian says......

rear triangular trim problem
 

okay - so tried to see how I could remove the trim as when washing the car at the weekend a piece of paint actually flaked off leaving a horrible white powdery mess behind :eek:

It turns out that you do have to remove the top section of the door trim as well as the door card by the looks of things as the fixing sits about 2 inches below the door sill. Frankly the thought of pulling the door to pieces without much of a clue as to what I'm doing put that idea to rest.......so plan B - repair in situ +++

This actually turned out to be pretty straight forward - in fact the more coroded the trim the better as the gloss finish is sprayed on to a sort of rubbery/plastic coating a couple of milimeters thick on top of the aluminium - what seems to happen is that water gets between this and the aluminium and 'blows' causing the white powdery effect and 'bubbling' behind the paint. Where its coroded the paint and rubbery stuff can be just pinged off with a flat blade leaving the aluminium exposed below.

Mine was only gone in the corner so the rest had to be sanded down to the bear metal (this rubbery finish won't let you get it smooth and feathered in to the aluminium no matter how hard you try as it just has an 'edge' to it) so I sanded thru grades 240 all the way down to 1200, primed, then painted (3 coats) and then laquered (another 3 coats)

Now, with it in situ you can only get to the visible part above the rubber seal on the window, but if your patient and careful you can mask it up and get the paint just below the door seal so cannot see anything even on close inspection.

So, 5 hours start to finish in elapsed time - in total only about 2 hours work (rest was waiting for each coat to dry) and bingo - nice shiny trim again :D

Any photos?

yes, but only thought to take them once I had rubbed it down (although anyone interested will know exactly what the trim loos like coroded!).

I took them on my blackberry so just need to get them loaded onto my laptop and I'll post them up as soon as I get a a few minutes over the weekend.

Can I edit my post and add the pictures?

I would imagine it goes like those revolving aluminium revolving washing lines - after a few years exposed to the elements :(

Did anyone manage to remove outer triangular corner moldings?

I'd like to solve rust problem on my car, but don't want to repair in situ, since I think it'll be impossible to paint edges properly, so rust will get through imperfect edges in a year or so. So, going to remove door card and upper door part to change the damn triangles.

I'm particularly interested if I can just loosen the upper window frame structure and just incline whole upper frame without having to disassemble window mechanism to allow access to area between outer door alu sheet and lower part of triangle.

So, has anyone disassembled doors?

I'm going to buy those triangles from stealer first. I think it'll be a bit more clear when I actually hold parts in my hand...