Painting the 'Trim'
 

First off the black 'trim' on the sides on my car here:

http://206.130.98.72/test/auto/SophieBirth002.jpg

What is it called? I am looking for parts, and I can't figure out what it is called. The front piece is falling off the driver side, and I've got it on with tape right now. [:-]

And what is the best way to paint it? Take it off? How does it come off? I can't figure it out.

Mask around it?

Prime, Paint, Clear? Sand anywhere in there?

Any/all suggestions mightly welcome!

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

Here in the U.K we refer to them as "bump strips".

Oh boy did they give me a headache, when I took mine off the front rear screws were so rusty the sheared off. Then all the plastic clips snapped off.

For the main door part, on mine there is one screw on the rear inside of the door, unscrew that ( or shear it off lol). Then you just need to carefully poke something under the strip itself and prize it out. There are some little clips that pop out when you do this.

For the other two bits, carefully prize them out the same way as the door one, there are no screws to remove.

When it comes to painting

1 - Rough them up a little with a scotchbrite pad, or some 600 wet an dry paper (used dry)

2 - Hit them with some gray primer, wait 15 mins btween coats. Use thin coats instead of thick coats.

3 - Very lightly rub them down with some 600-800 wet and dry paper to remove any imperfections.
(if the finish is good then dont bother)

4 - Spray on your colour, 3 light coats should do the trick.

5 - One or Two coats of clear, let them dry for a while, then re attach.

Hope this helps

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

Oh, If like me your clips snap off when you remove them, use some double sided adhesive tape to reattach them.

Before you laugh, I'm not talking crappy kids craft tape. Make sure its some heavy duty stuff, 3M make some.

Be sure to wipe down the bodywork where the strips go with some degreaser/cleaner.

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

So do you have to come at all of the 'from behind'? Which means you have to take off the inside door panel, and both wheel well liners?

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

No you shoudnt need to take panels off. Use an object and just prize them away from the edges,

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

Im feeling kind so I've just taken these pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7..._0001_0001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7..._0001_0002.jpg

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

i want to do the same thing to my 2000 civic,i want to do the door handles, trim, and the side skirts, but im scared that if i paint it,its going to start to chip or somthing, and im also scared to take off the trim part, i dont what to take it off, break somthing, then its going to be really loose when i put it back on...but this wont be till the end of winter/spring time, when your done post some picks of the process, taking it off, the back of it, paint, any problems, and how the paint sticks on...thanks...and good luck, oh and 1 tip, but the good automotive primer,paint,and clear.. not just some plastic paint

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

Yeah, I really don't want to have to break it to take it off.... while I appreciate your suggestions Jeffro, does anyone know how to take it off without breaking it?

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

i believe it's called molding, so if you're ever looking to buy some on ebay or whatnot, search using that term.

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

If I read it right, he didn't break anything other than some of the clips. I'd just make sure I got all the screws out, then pry it out with something that won't scratch the body, like something plastic.

If you do break the clips off, the double-stick tape sounds like it would work, because some body kits' sideskirts are held on that way. Don't know what kind to suggest, though.

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

M3 double sided tape like jeffro said

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

Cool, finally managed to find somebody wanting to do the same as me. My '98 civic 1.4i Hatch is a light metallic blue colour - pretty girly at the minute tbh. I'm thinking that if I can colour-code the trim strips it'd look much smarter, along with some nice KEI Kruze black-spoked alloys.

I've been wondering about the trim strips and how they can be removed, but it seems like one of those mods that seem to be a bit of a gamble. You basically have to decide whether its worth possibly snapping the clips, for a better looking car. I'm still in two minds whether its worth it. I may try it, but I wanna make sure I can get hold of the same paint code as the rest of the car uses first! Also what about the front and rear bump strips on the bumpers? I presume these just pull off with a bit of encouragement?

I'm also thinking about doing the mirrors, and possibly the side skirts to complete the look. I resprayed a friends mirrors on his Vauxhall Corsa a while back, as he bought some replacement ones from a scrapyard b'cos the glass was broken in the originals. We did a decent job, but with my mate being a cheapskate - he wasnt willing to buy an extra can of laquer which would have really finished the job off perfectly. Am pretty confident in doing it again, but how do I remove them from the car? I'm thinking a Haynes manual would be helpful...any one know if theres an online workshop manual for this car floating about anywhere?

Lastly, does anybody know how the side skirts come off? I'll have a look later, but I'm thinking it will be bolts holding them on rather than clips, which is probably a good thing. All I'm worried about is making sure that anything removed from the car will go back on without much trouble.

=chris=

RE: Painting the 'Trim'
 

for the sides there are screws under your car holding the skirt to your car, you need to take thos off and yes the skirts do clip onto your car as well so your going to have to slowly pull the skirt away from once you got all the screws off and you will here and feel it start to pop out, pull close to the clip that your getting out so you dont brake the skirt