how do you remove the trim for a respray?

[Jay-Tee]

Sorry if there is already a thread about this, i looked in the maintainence and info section but couldnt find anything. Im looking into getting my GTI resprayed at some point because its covered in chips, spots of rust and other things. I've already looked in the "Full respray?" thread and found that you can save the body shop some labour by removing all the trim yourself but how is this done? my 16v wheelarches seem to be held on by plastic rivets, are these replaceable once drilled out? do you have to take the door cards off to take the trim out? i mean i know with the mk2 things are pretty straight forward but i basically dont want to break anything, also the window seals need to come out apparently because rust has gotten underneath them. So basically i need tips from someone whos done this kinda thing before.

[BIG D]

Hi its easy enough the rivits are replacable and the side strips just pull off and the window seals you need to push the lip on the inside out by pushing the rubber under the frame

[rubjonny]

take the roof gutters off as well, otherwise the respray will look rubbish.  Start at the back, pop it off with a screwdriver.  No need to worry about the paint after all, just dont dent it
Next, pull the the outer lip along the bottom of the strip down and outwards to pop out of the ridge, start over the door then work your way to the back.  Now just gently lift the trim upwards all the way along, dont put too much pressure on as you'll bend the strip too much and it'll never sit flat again.
Now just remove all the clips, I find using a large set of pliers at each end does the trick, gently squeeze and they'll release from the pegs

Count how many snapped, and either go to VW or down yr local scrappy to get some more.  For the door glass, take the mirrors off 1st, then wind the window down then the seal will just pop off, the lower seals have the rubber bit which clips into a metal tray, which will come off with a little persuasion.

The front screen is the trickiest, its very fragile and easily cracks!  If you're gonna get a newun just boot it out, if not cut the seal all the way round its the only sure way to avoid cracking the screen.  Replace it with a new one to ensure a watertight seal

If you can, get the body shop to smooth off the spare wiper hole, its a good rust spot.  Otherwise just pop off the top (its like a peg) then remove the body.  Wipers are easy to remove, a couple of nuts to remove the arm then the plastic trim piece.  You could remove the wiper linkage at this stage, or just tape up the spindles so they dont get paint on em.

Bumpers are held on with 4x 17mm bolts, but DONT DRIVE IT without the front bumper, leave that on till you get to the body shop.  The front lower valance is held on with a few bolts, remove that along with the grille and spoiler so they can paint that seperate.

If it has any trim foils along the swadge lines or along the rubbing strips, REMOVE them.  I can't STAN paint jobs where they've just masked em up, such a bodge job and pitty the poor soul who wants to take them off in future, or needs to replace one as they'll have to get it EXACTLY the same size and position or it'll look like arse