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Thread: Painted Shadowline Window Trim - Full removal, not masking in place.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Denver
    Posts
    5,376
    My Cars
    '91 M5

    Painted Shadowline Window Trim - Full removal, not masking in place.

    I painted the window trim in place on the Calypso Red '95 525i I sold about five years ago. Because I masked it in place, there were some issues that bothered me once it was done. There were angles where you could see that I just was not able to get coverage, and then there were places where I made a mistake or paint peeled off with the masking tape. I could always have redone it, but it was never worth it.

    I think painting the trim black is one of the best things you can do for the car. It's up there with '95 skirts and euro trim as a no-brainer for me. I wanted to do it on the '95 530i that I bought with a M70 swap. I decided to remove the trim to paint it and I prefer this method. It is really not bad. I would say the amount of work is about the same as making it in place and it felt like it was done right when finished and not as much of a hack job. The painted trim looks better than the OEM shadowline that I installed on my '91 M5.

    An added benefit is that you can replace the clips that hold the trim to the car, which I have had break in other cars and that leads to window trim flying off on the highway or caused rattling sometimes.

    Below I attached some videos showing how easy it is to remove the pieces. They are pretty lazy videos and won't help a lot of the experienced guys but might help somebody who is working on the E34 for the first time.

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    Untitled by Trevor, on Flickr

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5aW8FvF4c0&t=59s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhNLF8t4gPg

    https://youtu.be/oMieh2ifOiM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXU_bKmZFiM
    Last edited by TGreene; 02-07-2017 at 04:38 AM.
    Current Fleet:
    E34 1991 M5 Macaoblau on Complete (ruined)Leather Champagne - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1705166

    Past:
    E34 1989 535i 5-Speed AlpineweissII on Natur - Parted
    E34 1992 525i 5-Speed Islandgrun on Pergament - Parted
    E34 1995 540i 6-Speed ShwarzII on Shwarz - Sold to Sneezy.
    E34 1995 525i 5-Speed Calypso Red on Parchment - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1748143 - Sold locally.
    E39 1998 528i 5-Speed Black on Black - Sold locally.
    E34​ 1993 M5 Alpinweiss on Black - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...lpinweissII-M5 - Parted


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Posts
    343
    My Cars
    01 M5, 93 M5, 94 525iT
    That makes a world of difference Trevor. I need to do this on the touring!
    Tommy L.

    (
    oOO \ (IIII) (IIII) / OOo)

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    2001 BMW M5 LMB
    LHD Euro
    Bilstein PSS, Black Kidneys, Dinan Rear Anti-sway Bar, Matte Black Style 65, UUC SSK w/DSSR, Alpine iLX-007, Alpine MRV-F 340 Amp, Boston Acoustics Pro components, Alpine MRP-M450 Amp, Infinity Kappa 102.7W Sub x2

    Current Garage:

    1993 BMW M5
    1994 BMW 525i Touring 5spd
    2004 Ford SVT Lightning

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Great White North
    Posts
    11,299
    My Cars
    various
    I think this looks particularly good on black cars. I tried the trim tape originally but it shrunk and peeled. Another spring project for me.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Melb, Oz
    Posts
    136
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 540i
    On the calypso red one I have the shadowline looks fantastic. I gave it a clean and disassembled when I rebuilt the door interiors (PO mangled the fibreboard to all hell) - there's a reason eBay sellers sell the door trim clips in lots of 50

    I'm not doing it on the granite silver 540 though, it's already got black wheels and the chrome trim offsets it nicely I think
    Last edited by bennyg; 02-07-2017 at 05:44 PM.

    1993 BMW 540i

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    166
    My Cars
    1988 BMW 530i
    Looks awesome. I did mine a couple years ago and love the look (lachssilber).

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Denver
    Posts
    5,376
    My Cars
    '91 M5
    Bump for the best Shadowline DIY
    Current Fleet:
    E34 1991 M5 Macaoblau on Complete (ruined)Leather Champagne - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1705166

    Past:
    E34 1989 535i 5-Speed AlpineweissII on Natur - Parted
    E34 1992 525i 5-Speed Islandgrun on Pergament - Parted
    E34 1995 540i 6-Speed ShwarzII on Shwarz - Sold to Sneezy.
    E34 1995 525i 5-Speed Calypso Red on Parchment - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1748143 - Sold locally.
    E39 1998 528i 5-Speed Black on Black - Sold locally.
    E34​ 1993 M5 Alpinweiss on Black - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...lpinweissII-M5 - Parted


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Manila, PH
    Posts
    27
    My Cars
    E34 HD61 E39 DH61
    E34 BMC 05 Feb 2016 (1).jpg

    Maybe I'll do the same very soon.
    Do I have to prepare a set of clips when removing the trims?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Quezon City, Philippines
    Posts
    636
    My Cars
    '89 535i/5, '88 735i/5
    Shadowline looks good on a white car. I've had mine also done.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    60
    My Cars
    '90 535i, '91 M5
    Not sure if I just missed it in the videos, but can anyone recommend the best finish for this? Not just color, but the most durable solution. Would it be possible or even advisable to use some sort of heat cured finish or electroplating, or is there a good metals compatible trim paint?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    280
    My Cars
    92 M5
    Quote Originally Posted by dschneider View Post
    Not sure if I just missed it in the videos, but can anyone recommend the best finish for this? Not just color, but the most durable solution. Would it be possible or even advisable to use some sort of heat cured finish or electroplating, or is there a good metals compatible trim paint?
    The most durable finish would be powdercoat.

    Best finish as far as ease and aesthetics is SEM trim paint. Stuff levels out very smoothly so it'll look like a pro job even if you suck at painting (aka me). As Trevor said, one of the best visual mods I've done for my car.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Long Beach, CA
    Posts
    433
    My Cars
    93BMW 525i/95 BMW 540i/6
    Well done. I'm pretty sure I'm doing this on my 95 Calypso 540i/6. I think i'm keeping the chrome on my 93 Black 525i.
    USC Ralph - Long Beach, CA USA
    1989 E34 White 525i (M20) 310,000m (Sold)
    1993 E34 Black 525i (M50) 308,955m
    1995 E34 Calypso Red 540i/6 (M60) 201,254m
    1993 E34 Black 525iT (M50) 138,500m

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    513
    My Cars
    1995 540/6 Calypsorot
    Trevor, do you recall how many clips, inserts, grommets are needed per side?
    Jason Grace

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