Side Finisher Rubber Replacement and Rear Side Window Trim Replacement

[Maxima SE]

Yeah…… sometimes you gotta stretch things to make it fit fit……

[PSUEng]

Yes I figured that out; it needs stretched.

[Ryan_R]

Yep, this bracket is a b**ch. Drilled out old rivet, and getting the bracket on with the new seal is a massive PITA. Heat gun is helping along with brute force. Got everything into position and got the rivet head set after an hour of messing with it--final installed the rivet and then realized the holes in the new gasket don't align with the trim rail in the last two spots. Laying the old piece next to it and approximating visually, there is a significant "length" difference--shorter--on the new piece; so drilled out the rivet, and try again. I am going to attempt a re-position down at the kink area to get some extra space with the hole alignment, then temp fit the finisher back on the car. The holes can be opened in the gasket, but if the gasket is too short, it won't fit to the window opening gasket and that's not something I want. This is turning into a massive job--at least for me. I may abort the passenger side, as that one hasn't degraded like the driver's side (what I'm into now).

The new seal needs to be stretched as you go along. Otherwise the holes will not line up.
I started at the rivet side and removed the plastic on one adhesive strip at a time, slowly stretching it and using the holes to judge how much to stretch it. By the time I got to the end it was all lined up and worked well. Do not remove the red covering from the adhesive all in one go. You need to so one at a time and slowly work it into place. Apologies I didn’t get photos as I did mine but in the end my lined up great.

[PSUEng]

It actually will line up; there is a scribe mark on the underside of the aluminum that you need to align the part with. I first secured the piece using the bracket; then using a combination of heat and starting at the scribe mark, pulled the adhesive and managed to get it to line up. Now I got the trim finisher back in and the aluminum isn’t properly gapped with the body; off it comes again. Also remember to cover the bracket with a fresh piece of foam or it will contact the paint.

[Maxima SE]

can u post a side by side picture of how the new one is shorter than the old ? from what I remember the old one comes to about the door window edge

[PSUEng]

Metal rivet. 1/8” diameter. I used a die grinder to get the old one out but I’m sure you could also use a 1/8” drill bit. The fit on the rivet is really tight. I had to get it started and then lightly tap it in.

Yep, this bracket is a b**ch. Drilled out old rivet, and getting the bracket on with the new seal is a massive PITA. Heat gun is helping along with brute force. Got everything into position and got the rivet head set after an hour of messing with it--final installed the rivet and then realized the holes in the new gasket don't align with the trim rail in the last two spots. Laying the old piece next to it and approximating visually, there is a significant "length" difference--shorter--on the new piece; so drilled out the rivet, and try again. I am going to attempt a re-position down at the kink area to get some extra space with the hole alignment, then temp fit the finisher back on the car. The holes can be opened in the gasket, but if the gasket is too short, it won't fit to the window opening gasket and that's not something I want. This is turning into a massive job--at least for me. I may abort the passenger side, as that one hasn't degraded like the driver's side (what I'm into now).

[Maxima SE]

Email matt. he shipped to europe and australia too

he told me we have had about 30 orders so far

[SQ13]

Thanks, but I need shipping to Canada, not USA

Then email the vendor.

[Amos]

See Post #157

Group buy info

Price: $130 USD for one set. $260 USD for two sets. shipped to USA
Send paypal payment to: [email protected]
Under the payment amount it will ask you what this is for and type:
Group buy E46 Rear quarter weather stripping and include your name, full address including USA and phone number.

Thanks, but I need shipping to Canada, not USA

[PSUEng]

Can’t believe BMW made it that difficult to replace. The E36 seals were super easy to replace smh. Gonna cry when I install these inside my 110° garage in a couple of days. 😭

Looks like if one has an assortment of screw drivers, window removal isn't necessary, but maybe this is much easier if the window is out. For those that have done this, window out or in?

EDIT: Got all the screws out w/o window removal. Any tips on actually separating the trim from the body? I'm sure I've got all the screws out, but it's not coming off; seems to be glued on or something.

[SQ13]

Can’t believe BMW made it that difficult to replace. The E36 seals were super easy to replace smh. Gonna cry when I install these inside my 110° garage in a couple of days. 😭

[Ryan_R]

I'd like some pointers on the bracket portion--is this a metal rivet, or plastic?

Metal rivet. 1/8” diameter. I used a die grinder to get the old one out but I’m sure you could also use a 1/8” drill bit. The fit on the rivet is really tight. I had to get it started and then lightly tap it in.

[Ryan_R]

How did you remove the trim piece?


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Trim piece is held on by approximately 10 screws behind the weather seals. You’ll need to remove the rear side windows.

[PSUEng]

The install isn't horrible. The worst part is probably the small bracket that retains the seal at the rear of the trim piece. You need to remove a rivet that holds the bracket in place. I tried silicone lube and sliding the seal in without removing the bracket but after 15 minutes of fiddling with it I decided to just remove the rivet, install the seal and then rivet the bracket back into place.
Overall the seals feel like OEM quality and the wavy rubber does not show once reinstalled. I do have a bit of gap between the seal and trim but that could be due to my lack of skill or the fact my trim pieces are 20 years old and slightly warped.

I'd like some pointers on the bracket portion--is this a metal rivet, or plastic?

[Grke46m3]

The install isn't horrible. The worst part is probably the small bracket that retains the seal at the rear of the trim piece. You need to remove a rivet that holds the bracket in place. I tried silicone lube and sliding the seal in without removing the bracket but after 15 minutes of fiddling with it I decided to just remove the rivet, install the seal and then rivet the bracket back into place.
Overall the seals feel like OEM quality and the wavy rubber does not show once reinstalled. I do have a bit of gap between the seal and trim but that could be due to my lack of skill or the fact my trim pieces are 20 years old and slightly warped.

How did you remove the trim piece?


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