windows trim?

[smilerbaker]

Don't know what its called, but the trim panel that runs down the windows to the dash, on the inside, can you get replacments? on my drivers side the vynal covering has started to come off, but it seems to have the hood seal attached to the top, so if I get a new seal do I get this panel as well?? or has someone just glues the rubber to it?

also, how the hell do you remove it? I can't see and screws and I don't want to just pull it off and split the rubber seals.

Ta

[rip]

Sounds like you're describing the 'A' pillar trim.

[smilerbaker]

not sure, it runs down the windscreen to the dash on the inside. the vynal seems to have shrunk so I can't even re-glue it, unless someone knows a way to? maybe heat it up?

[saska]

Don't know what its called, but the trim panel that runs down the windows to the dash, on the inside, can you get replacments?

This is the A Pillar Cover Trimmed -- D100V0350K Right Hand / D100V0349K Left Hand -- dunno if available. I'd suspect not but you never know your luck.

also, how the hell do you remove it? I can't see and screws and I don't want to just pull it off and split the rubber seals.

There are 2 methods and both are only securing at the top end --the bottom end is just jammed between dash and the alloy A pillar.
1. Single screw -- this goes into the top with the screw head pointing toward the rearview mirror
2 Two Screws -- 2 screws go into the horizontal portion of the A Pillar approximately where the big black plugs into the seal are but into the trailing edge - 90 degrees to the black plugs.

In either event the cover has to be peeled back to get at the screw(s) and then re-glued after, which means you'll probably have to lift the horizontal portion of the A pillar seal.
If you don't want to have to replace the A Pillar seal then I'd recommend you do this the same way porcupines make love -- slowly, carefully and with sharp tools.
I'm currently replacing a windscreen on the SE so have had to remove these and they were the 2 Screw variant -- I'll try to take some photos next time I'm working on it.

[smilerbaker]

I pulled these both off at the weekend, they where held in with 2 screws, the screws are under the leather covering at the top!!! as the leather had already shrunk and looked awfall I ripped it and undid the screws. then the fun bit, recovering them!!

I bought some fake black leather from a local fabric shop (resisted the fake alcantera, glad I did now) and some glue and set about covering them, cut more or less the same template using the leather I took off them, but added a lot spare just in case. The glue was a nightmare, it was the type where you spread it on both bits, wait a bit and then stick them together, horrible stuff that gets everywhere, as its fake leather it peeled off the showing side (I don't think it would have done on the alcantera), first one came out ok, 2nd one came out much better. neither has any creases etc and both look a million times better then before. Just have to make sure you really clean the covers after you peel off the leather, and apply glue ALL over the cover.

Why lotus used real leather is beyond me, epecially on a bit that is going to get wet and so the leather will shrink, they should have been more generous and covered a lot more of the inside of the cover to stop the leather lifting off.

I didn't bother screwing the covers back on, just used the plugs on the top of the screen and lots of black silicon sealant, job done.