Drip Rail Clip Install

[Philo]

My driver's side drip rail trim flew off the car one day when pushing some speed. I sourced another one and bought new clips but cant figure out how to get them in the trim piece. They slide in from the aft end, right? I noticed that there's crimp marks where I think the old clips were, but with these crimp marks in place there's no way I'm gonna be able to slide the clips in, Anyway, you guys get the gist, lmk what you think.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2l8n7acb ... 7oome&dl=0

[Mike W.]

I've had the drip rails off before, several times, and IIRC the clips just push in, I don't recall sliding them in from the end. Of course 2008 was the last time I
R and R'd one, so I've slept once or twice since then so I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

[Philo]

Hmm, there is no way I can push these things in the slot. The square end of the clip is wider then the slot. This is why I thought they slid in. I bought the clips from ECS based on the E28 part number. Wonder if I have the right ones.

Does anyone have an old clip that they can measure ? Would love to compare it to the ones I have.

Thx.

[Mike W.]

Yeah, they do seem to slide in. I've got a pair of raingutters out in the shed and I checked, it does slide out, it feels like it should just push in, but without working it too hard it didn't. The base goes in, but not the flanged part. I forgot you wanted dimensions so I just snapped a pic, but here it is. Pic make it look good sized, but it's pretty small, obviously to fit into the raingutter.

[Philo]

Thanks Mike ! Ok, so this is the same clip I have. I looked at the drip rail on the car last night (trim off) and the witness marks from these clips are only along the windshield. Over the doors there's just a small rub mark every eight inches or so and they match the crimp marks on the underside of the trim piece (see link in first post). I'm getting the feeling only the leading edge gets clips and the trailing edge over the doors get crimped on or maybe snaps in place ??

Surprised I'm not getting more input on this. I know there's a bunch of members that have had their car painted and have gone down this road before.

Thx for the pic Mike, no need to measure the clip.

[Mike W.]

Yeah, the clips are only along the windshield. The rest of it kind of rolls on so the windshield part has to come off before the rest of it can, so it kind of locks the whole thing in place.

Even as hands on as this forum is, I suspect most people probably let the body shop do the trim removal, if done at all.

[Philo]

Awesome ! Thx.