How to safely remove roof trim strips, W210?
 

Gentlemen, I realize this question is more appropriate for the bodywerk section (I've posted it there, too), but the diesel forum gets much more traffic. Please forgive me.

I'm preparing for some paint work on my '96 E300 (a smash repair, as the Ozzies say). It has a pair of long, thin, painted trim strips running from the hood to the trunk. How do you remove these without damaging them?

I'm sure there's a bunch of plastic clips underneath, most of which will break, but I'm more worried about the trim strip itself, which costs $100-$200.

pjc
Arlington VA

I would like to know the answer too as I have one getting loose.

You might pop into a shop that does windshield replacement and ask them. They removed mine when they did my windshield and as I recall popped them out using a plastic putty knife looking tool but I can't swear to it. I can tell you it didn't take the guy more than 30 seconds to pull each one off though, and maybe a minute to replace them.

The answer to my own question
 

No plastic clips. The cross section of the trim strip describes a "T" shape. The vertical part of the T is pressed into metal clips riveted to the roof panel at several locations along the length of the strip. (See pic. For orientation, the black object at the top of the photo is the sunroof glass.) To remove the trim strip, you just pull it straight up at those locations. To avoid damaging the painted surface (and bending the trim strip), a body shop would use plastic wedges to lift it.

BTW, these trim strips are about $100 each, prepainted.