[lfedje]

How are the trim pieces held in place?

I would like to remove the bottom trim piece and know that in order to do so you use wedges and start from the center and work toward the sides. What I want to know is what holds these in place. I just want to know what I am in for when I go to reinstall it.

Are they glued in place? And if so, what sort of glue is used?

The left cowl vent has a rise on it in the left corner closest to the A-pillar and I believe that the trim is what holds that down and into place. If that's the case I would have to assume that at some point the trim was remove and not replaced properly. This has been bugging me for quite some time and since I have to have the hood repaired and painted this might be a good time to do it. (don't leave tools sitting at high points in your engine bay and then close your hood, it can be expensive. For that matter it's probably not a good idea to leave tools in that area at all. )

Loren

 

[ussun]

Last year I had 3 of the chrome pieces fly off my car. So after getting one replacement I decided to reinstall all of the chrome so I took off all the pieces and cleaned and primed the entire track and little clips the chrome pieces into.
What there is is these little clips that are installed into the windshield glue I ask a windshield guy what kind it was. And bought 2 tubes they fit into a chalking gun. It's a real messy job. But cleans up easy with thinners.
Don't take the clips off they are riveted in.
But clean all the old crusty shit out of them and around them. Cuz your going to need to slip the chrome edge into each and every single one.
prime real good then the mess starts. Chalk in the black windshield chalk the whole way around except the clips.
Having all the pieces all ready I started on the top and worked down the sides. Two people are a must. Cuz some you really have to do the whole thing at one time which is impossible. So you need extra hands.

Good luck

PS let dry at lease two days and check about every hr the first 5 hrs. and readjust They are going to move.

I hope this helps. It was really a pain in the ass to do.

But remember it all cleans easy. I'll look for my pic and post them.

 

[ussun]

Also the removal is pry straight out. It's only glue and pinching clips.

 

[lfedje]

Thanks, ussun

I look forward to your photos. It could be that when the bottom strip was installed they missed getting the chrome strip hooked to a clip or 2 near the corner that I am talking about, or possibly the clips are missing. I will only know when I get it apart.

I only need to remove the bottom piece so it shouldn't be too bad.

Loren

 

[ussun]

Here are some pic I hope you can see the clips.

 

[ussun]

Thanks, ussun

I look forward to your photos. It could be that when the bottom strip was installed they missed getting the chrome strip hooked to a clip or 2 near the corner that I am talking about, or possibly the clips are missing. I will only know when I get it apart.

I only need to remove the bottom piece so it shouldn't be too bad.

Loren

About the bottom I just remembered why the bottom was the worse.

When they originally installed the windshield I guess it slid down a fraction. so there's less room at the bottom so you have to be extra carefull to clean it out better.

PS it's going to be bad believe me what a mess.

 

[volvo164]

My bottom trim doesn't lay flush to the windshield, there's about a 1/4 inch space. I removed it and the problem is there's too much windshield glue all over the place. Question: is there a rubber or foam seal under the chrome trim on the bottom? If not, that would mean that water goes under the trim regardless, so I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[lfedje]

I now see where the problem is. The vent panel has a bit of a twist in it causing an upward torque at the A-pillar corner. The best bet here would be to bring it back into shape and then reinstall. Without any upward pressure on the trim it should fit properly over the vent panel.

I was able to flip the lower corner up and can see the clips and all appears proper and well aligned. Once I put that back into the clips and applied a fair amount of pressure on the corner the trim slid all the way into the clips, pushed the vent down, and all fits well.

From what I can see, the bottom trim piece is not glued in at all. It merely clips into the corner pieces and onto the clips.

Loren

 

[ussun]

It's glue all the way no seal at all. To clean it I used a exacto knife for hrs and a screwdriver. Make sure not to cut underneath the glass. Cut clean to it.

PS what a mess.

Sorry I can't remember the name of the glue.

 

[daryn]

That's how you can tell if you are driving fast, when parts of your car start flying off.

Cool glass sunroof window, I'd like to get my hands on one of them.

 

[ussun]

I now see where the problem is. The vent panel has a bit of a twist in it causing an upward torque at the A-pillar corner. The best bet here would be to bring it back into shape and then reinstall. Without any upward pressure on the trim it should fit properly over the vent panel.

I was able to flip the lower corner up and can see the clips and all appears proper and well aligned. Once I put that back into the clips and applied a fair amount of pressure on the corner the trim slid all the way into the clips, pushed the vent down, and all fits well.

From what I can see, the bottom trim piece is not glued in at all. It merely clips into the corner pieces and onto the clips.

Loren

That's what I did for about 3 years till off it went out on RT. 9 one day and I just had to reinstall the whole thing.

 

[lfedje]

Thanks, ussun

I will be holding off removal until the car is scheduled to go into the body shop just in case the weather turns out good enough on the weekend to take it for a spin. Don't want miss any good driving time.

I will take some photos of what I discover in the process.

Loren

 

[Nick450]

My bottom trim doesn't lay flush to the windshield, there's about a 1/4 inch space. I removed it and the problem is there's too much windshield glue all over the place. Question: is there a rubber or foam seal under the chrome trim on the bottom? If not, that would mean that water goes under the trim regardless, so I'm not going to worry about it.

This is a question I posed a while ago when trying to identify a water leak.

There isn't a rubber seal/foam section. The water travels to the sides and enters the gap between the side vents and the bodywork. There is a very thin strip of rubber that fits into the back of the chrome finisher, however, that prevents the trim rattling against the windscreen.

The strip is driven out with plastic wedges, or similar and when refitting you just have to make sure it engages with all the clips (they are quite thin).

 

[MBGraham]

Corner windshield trim.

Just noticed that the driver side aluminum windshield corner trim pieces is missing on my car. It always was a bit loose and I bent it back into shape a few times. Probably should have glued it.

Is this a dealer only item?

Looking at the MB parts price list it looks like they want an arm and a leg for that little clip if it is part # 1076713530 for a '72 SL. ($25+??)

Graham

 

[isthisdave]

Is this a dealer only item?

Yeah, probably just the dealer.

Or Sokoloff

Or Chuang Tzu

Or Alabassi

Or Fochmann

 

[strife2]

I've used the right tools vinyl wedges, on relatively rust-free cars, and I've still managed to bend those corner pieces (only). The good news is, of all the pieces, those are the least expensive.

 

[BenzHacker]

I want to hear more about the extra greenhouse panel in the centre of the hard top in the first few images! Was that some obscure option on some of the Euro cars, or was this done as a one of a kind custom fab?

 

[rowdie]

I want to hear more about the extra greenhouse panel in the centre of the hard top in the first few images! Was that some obscure option on some of the Euro cars, or was this done as a one of a kind custom fab?

Sorry guys. That is the winshield but the pictured is rotated 90 degrees counter clockwise.

 

[isthisdave]

I want to hear more about the extra greenhouse panel in the centre of the hard top in the first few images! Was that some obscure option on some of the Euro cars, or was this done as a one of a kind custom fab?

Rotate that first pic 90 degrees clockwise in your head.


Or.......


Tilt your head to left 'til your ear touches your shoulder.


It really is the windshield.

 

[MBGraham]

I've used the right tools vinyl wedges, on relatively rust-free cars, and I've still managed to bend those corner pieces (only). The good news is, of all the pieces, those are the least expensive.

I will check with local dealer, but if anyone has a parts car and wouldn't mind mailing such a small part, that would help! Maybe I will post separately because I also could also use a chrome seat hinge cover.