Side Finisher Rubber Replacement and Rear Side Window Trim Replacement

[Maxima SE]

Maybe a dumb question but does this rivet issue not come up if you choose to install the OP aftermarket weather stripping option? Is this something that’s only encountered with this OE style weather stripping?

No. The aftermarket stuff is just some generic weatherstripping that is forced into place, especially around the rivet area. It is kind of a ghetto solution to be honest. I do not remember seeing a rivet but it has been well over 3 years since I did the aftermarket fix. The install for the OEM one gotta be different.

[nachizl8]

Maybe a dumb question but does this rivet issue not come up if you choose to install the OP aftermarket weather stripping option? Is this something that’s only encountered with this OE style weather stripping?

[SQ13]

Still scared to install mine bc of this rivet issue. And it’s like 105° here 😭

[9kracing]

FWIW mine showed up awhile ago, looks good, if it's not OEM it could certainly pass for it.

Seems to be very good quality. When I install them I will post a pic.

[gmanM3]

Had to sign up for an account to this forum just for this. In for 2 sets!

[PSUEng]

Strange, when I did my 3M weather stripping I definitely didn't have any rivets to deal with, just screws, the trim pieces came off fairly easily.

I also don't think any of the previous owners had taken the trim off as the weather stripping was in bad shape.

The rivet fastens a bracket to the aluminum finisher to allow the finisher to attach to the body and probably provide some degree of seal position control. The way the bracket fits is such that there is an interference with the rubber seal making it tough to position into place with a new seal. I’m still wondering if there wasn’t a better design—like integrate the bracket shape and mounting points into the aluminum trim and make some shape change on the rubber seal if necessary . Here are some photos of the area…

[Cubieman]

Strange, when I did my 3M weather stripping I definitely didn't have any rivets to deal with, just screws, the trim pieces came off fairly easily.

I also don't think any of the previous owners had taken the trim off as the weather stripping was in bad shape.

[E46 M3]

Maybe this is why BMW never sold it?

[PSUEng]

The riveted bracket wasn’t too bad for me but it’s definitely an unnecessarily tight fit. The back window is fitting pretty tight in that spot on the bottom of the kink now.
I marked the end of the old strip with some masking tape as a target to stretch the strip towards.
Worst part of the whole project was removing the adhesive for the lower strip.

If you're saying it's a tight fit near the kink, at the bottom, mine is the same. But I'd say this riveted bracket deal is one of the worst auto trim designs I've seen in a while; would love to talk to the designer about that one. That was the worst part for me. It's like the bracket designer and the rubber seal designer never talked, never test fit any parts, never thought "hey, maybe we can add a recess for the bracket"...it's just there--and a b**tch to mess with; I bet the supplier loves building these trim finisher assemblies. And I now realize maybe why BMW doesn't sell this part--no dealer is going to fight this on a repair due to time alone.

[PSUEng]

Well I’m tapped out to do the other side, it’s in tact so maybe some other time. Bmw foam piece to cover the bracket is: 51717037260

Finished product...definitely a difference from the original, the fit is a little different--maybe because it's new? But overall, a great go at this price. I fought the aluminum trim gap to the body at the kink, and just ultimately gave up. I'm not sure if it was like that originally, or there is some magic method to positioning this thing, but, it's one and looks better than the rot that was there.

[T.J.]

The riveted bracket wasn’t too bad for me but it’s definitely an unnecessarily tight fit. The back window is fitting pretty tight in that spot on the bottom of the kink now.
I marked the end of the old strip with some masking tape as a target to stretch the strip towards.
Worst part of the whole project was removing the adhesive for the lower strip.

[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.