Rear Quarter Molding Trim

[YOYO1111]

Hello. I recently acquired this 2001 740i. One of the things that was bothering my was the rear driver side quarter trim. It was separating and there was a gap in the shadow line trim. Got the part at the dealer. Wasn't cheap. They installed it. All good. A few months go by and as I'm washing the car, I noticed that the trim piece was separating again. Took it to the dealer. They replaced it at no cost. Now just a few weeks later, here it goes again! That gap is starting to form. The car doesn't move much. I don't mess with it. I touch to molding to try to move it and it feels impossible to move. What force could it be to make it move? Anyone have this problem before? Thanks in advance.

Jorge

[lapd1989]

I left mines and didn’t bother with it. Still the the aluminum trim on it without the plastic

[Sobek]

I would suspect this is a case of heat expansion / contraction affecting it, potentially combined with the tiniest distortions of the body during driving. Likely, there is nothing you can do in the long run... But perhaps you can find something to put over that join, some kind of tiny plastic clip or an adhesive, something that would be indistinguishable except upon eyeball inspection but would cover that gap.If the lower piece could be shimmied up just enough to close the gap, you could look at wedging it up at its base to ensure it never falls back down again, if that makes sense.

Best I can offer sorry.

[Ruskii]

Check the trim end at the front, by the side mirror -- is there a gap between the trim end and where it meets the door (I've made a red circle in the image below)? Now compare driver's side to passenger's side -- is the gap the same?

I bet my money on the fact that the long trim piece (which goes over A and B pillars) slides forward = hence your gap! I have this issue on my car (haven't fixed it yet).

IMG_1530.jpg

[racer2086]

All those trim clips have rubber/plastic grommets in the body. If those are wasted, there will be play in the trim and it can slide.

[YOYO1111]

You're right Ruskii. The longer piece is off causing the separation. I wish it didn't bother me as much because the part is expensive to replace. Thanks again!