Re-installing front fender lower trim - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Graham · #1 09-09-2019, 08:25 PM

I had a little rust showing above the fender trim. I removed the trim (pried it off using claw hammer). No problem. Clips still intact.

Once I have rust repaired/painted, I need to put that trim back on. I have done this before but forget how I did it!

I found that I had 3 new clips. (But now I seem to have lost one

) . Easy way would seem to be to install clips on the trim them push the trim on. But the trim pieces have a pin that has to be hammered to set the clips in place. So it seems that the clips need to be installed on fender first and then trim fitted over the clips and hammered on?

Can anyone confirm this? My memory now says I had to hammer them on. Maybe heat the trim first? I am sure we had a discussion here about it but search doesn't find it.

Clemson88 · #2 10-10-2019, 05:14 PM

I have all the lower trim off my SD. I was figuring I'd use a hammer and a block of wood with a rag between the wood and plastic panel. I'd think hot water might be the heat source because the water would serve as a lube too. That may be idle speculation.

I'll follow this thread and try to learn.

Clemson88 · #3 10-10-2019, 05:14 PM

I have all the lower trim off my SD. I was figuring I'd use a hammer and a block of wood with a rag between the wood and plastic panel. I'd think hot water might be the heat source because the water would serve as a lube too. That may be idle speculation.

I'll follow this thread and try to learn.

Graham · #4 10-10-2019, 08:19 PM

After looking more closely at the metal tracks on the trim, I noticed that one side (top) has sharp edge that can act as a hook. Other side has somewhat rounded edge. I hooked top side on and then just hit the other side hard with palm of my hand and trim snapped on.

I did heat top edge of rubber first with hot air gun - THis is needed so that the trim can be pushed on hard against body so that it hooks onto the upper side of the plastic trim clips. I had to replace a few that were kind of mangled!

dlssmith · #5 10-14-2019, 01:25 PM

Those trim pieces are meant to be slid on from the front. Turn the wheel and line up the trim and slide it over the clips. Having everything clean and lined up and a little wd40 on the clips or channel helps.

Graham · #6 10-14-2019, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlssmith

Those trim pieces are meant to be slid on from the front. Turn the wheel and line up the trim and slide it over the clips. Having everything clean and lined up and a little wd40 on the clips or channel helps.

Sorry, but that is just not correct.

In this video, the guy did it same as I did. Only extra step I did was to heat rubber along upper edge to make it more flexible so tops were easier to clip on.
If you watch the video, you will notice that the tracks are not continuous and no way the trim could be slid on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiRCQUEjuas

dlssmith · #7 10-18-2019, 12:47 PM

The trim slides on on a 124 and so I assumed that because the clips on a 124 are the same, the install would be the same on the 123. My mistake. You are correct, it is a kind of a bump on process. I would advise using new clips just because they get brittle with age. They are readily available online.

Graham · #8 05-31-2021, 07:29 PM

I am back doing this job for at least the 4th time. (I have owned the car for 30+ years!) Once again, I had trouble re-installing those lower trim pieces. Trouble is that after 36 years, the rubber gets very hard. But it needs to flex to install the trim.

I got them on by first immersing the trim pieces in boiling water. However, after so many times and some misalignment caused by rust repairs around holes that the clips go into, I am not confident they will stay on.

The design is kind of poor. Has anyone come up with a better way of holding the trim on? I don't want to lose those trim pieces. If I have to, I might put in a couple of S/C sheet metal screws just below the metal trim strip.