How do I remove D2 windshield pillar trim without breaking it?

[Bosbefok]

What's the secret to removing the pillar trim without breaking the piece of crap? :banghead:
I destroyed mine being impatient and have a replacement sitting on a donor vehicle. The trick is to unclip the metal clips from the body, but they are a bitch to get off.
Do I need to buy the land rover tool # LR-001-BIG-FUCKIT?

 

[jgdisco2]

What's the secret to removing the pillar trim without breaking the piece of crap? :banghead:
I destroyed mine being impatient and have a replacement sitting on a donor vehicle. The trick is to unclip the metal clips from the body, but they are a bitch to get off.
Do I need to buy the land rover tool # LR-001-BIG-FUCKIT?

it is easy, just take a flat head screwdriver to help you release the metal clips. they trick to getting it back on is installing the metal clips on the plastic A-pillar and then putting it on the windshield. its still a bear but that was the easiest way for me to get it back on.

 

[Bosbefok]

I've had a go at it with screw drivers, crowbars and a wrecking ball, but that bitch ain't budging. The metal clips hold on to the body very tightly and then the plastic tabs break off the trim piece rendering it useless.
I tried approaching this logically (I'm a programmer) with the trim off and the clips stuck to the body. The problem is coaxing the metal clip to release the body without breaking the plastic trim. Even with the trim off it is a battle to remove the clips, there must be some secret hook to use, or the trim was never designed to come off.

 

[crystalclear]

sounds like you know the "tricks"

i assume this is for wiring up the roof lights - taking off/on the trim literally took me 2 hours

i don't have advice - but the only way i was able to get it back on was to just say screw it and go for broke 110%, thought it was breaking/cracking, then bam....it was on right...

gentle = destruction for me....

edit: my one method of success when putting back on was to get the top clip back onto the metal frame, then mash the bottom two almost at the same time...

 

[Bosbefok]

Nope, I replaced the windshield plenum that was broken in 4. I broke the driver's side trim pulling it off with brute force and impatience, then applied much more patience and finesse to the passenger side and managed to get that off in one piece. The passenger side is back on, that was actually easy after seeing how it fits and gently coaxing it back.
So my next step is to get the replacement trim off a donor vehicle without braking the darn thing. I need some pointers on removing the trim.

 

[crystalclear]

gotcha...taking off was pretty easy (in relation to putting back on)

- drill out the 3 plastic retainers
- flat head to pry off top of trim
- when top portion is semi-off, take out flathead, hold with hand, pry the bottom portion

i did that and it worked pretty well.....

i admit though, my methods have proven less than successful when it comes to auto related things...

 

[dannyballs]

The inside or outside trim? The inside trim requires you to PUSH in the middle piece of the three plastic rivets. Once the middle piece is pushed in, use a flat edge to pull out the remainder of the rivet. The outside trim should pull off with gentle persuasion. When your ready to replace the pieces, pull off the metal clips and place those into the metal frame of the pillar(s) and then push the trim pieces back on.

 

[Bosbefok]

The outside trim. I got the 3 rivets on the door side, those are easy, just punch in the centers and the rivets pull out.
Unclipping the side nearest the windshield is the issue. The plastic tabs on the trim that push into the metal clips tend to break off, leaving you with a useless piece of trim.
Let me rephrase my question:
a) do you pull the plastic trim from the metal clips or
b) do you pull the plastic trim and the metal clips from the body?

 

[dannyballs]

The metal clips on mine came off with the trim piece. I don't remember it being a PITA when I ran my cables.

 

[Sam C.]

The outside trim. I got the 3 rivets on the door side, those are easy, just punch in the centers and the rivets pull out.
Unclipping the side nearest the windshield is the issue. The plastic tabs on the trim that push into the metal clips tend to break off, leaving you with a useless piece of trim.
Let me rephrase my question:
a) do you pull the plastic trim from the metal clips or
b) do you pull the plastic trim and the metal clips from the body?

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When I did this the plastic trim came off without the metal clips. For re assembly remove the metal clips and place them onto the plastic trim tabs and reinstall.

 

[Bosbefok]

I pulled the trim pieces off this weekend and it was so easy that it was not funny. I pulled them off by hand and the key is to go slowly and let the plastic tabs slip out of the metals clips at their own pace. Too much pressure and you will break the plastic, and avoid the temptation to yank it off. The metal clips stay attached to the body. I started at the bottom and worked to the top, the first clip is tight but the second and third came out easier.