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Rain Gutter Trim Installation

Mark92131

Entry posted by Mark92131

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So I received a huge box from Bridgewater BMW last week containing the now back in stock Rain Gutter Trim.  God knows how much it actually cost to ship because they only charged me $18 from CT to San Diego, CA.  The price with shipping was $199, but I think the car looks naked without the full compliment of trim, so money well spent.  Installation was challenging to say the least.  I started with the driver's side, removing the radio antenna mast so I would have room.  I used some silicon grease on the newly painted gutter and after reading multiple posts on this process, started at the curved "A" portion.  This didn't work well for me, the bends down the "A" pillar and down the back of the car seemed radical with the curved portion attached.  What did finally work was starting at the back of the car and working forward to the curved section, carefully positioning the trim so it matched the curve at the "A" pillar.  The trim at the rear sticks out about a half an inch from the end of the gutter when the curve is lined up correctly.  Once the trim is correctly positioned on the "A" pillar curve, it can be rolled and forced on to the gutter as it goes down the "A" pillar.  Both the hood and door need to be open to have enough room to get the trim pushed down on the gutter.  I did notice that as the gutter moves below the level of the hood, it turns in slightly towards the "A" pillar and hook the end of the trim, holding it securely. After doing the driver's side, the passenger side was a snap. I am still debating if I need to buy a tool to pinch the trim on the gutter for a tighter fit, but I think it looks so much better than the naked look.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mark92131

2016-10-16 13.29.02.jpg

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5 Comments

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MildSeven

Nice. I thought the driver side was NLA... did you also buy new a new driver trim? it was available?

 

 

Edited by MildSeven
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nbcbird

I had the same difficulties with my gutter a couple of weeks ago.  The problem is that the original factory bend of the trim does not fully match the actual gutter profile--the result is that you get about 1/2" of trim sticking out the back end.  The realigned mine (moved it forward) and now it extends fully down to the windshield trough at the bottom of the A pillar, resulting in less than 1/8" extending in the back.  I also used some pinch weld pliers to even out the angle of the trim to the roofline--it rotated in particularly (due to more stress at the bend) at the A pillar.  Both sides are still a little loose over the B pillar and I think a little use of pinch pliers will tighten it up.  You really must finesse the bend of the trim first before you attempt the do the whole thing.  Good you got yours installed.

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Mark92131
20 hours ago, MildSeven said:

Nice. I thought the driver side was NLA... did you also buy new a new driver trim? it was available?

 

 

 

The left side, part number 51135450112 is back in stock.  I found it for $87.55 at Bridgewater BMW in NJ.  The passenger side 51135450113 was $92.60.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mark

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Mark92131
15 hours ago, nbcbird said:

I had the same difficulties with my gutter a couple of weeks ago.  The problem is that the original factory bend of the trim does not fully match the actual gutter profile--the result is that you get about 1/2" of trim sticking out the back end.  The realigned mine (moved it forward) and now it extends fully down to the windshield trough at the bottom of the A pillar, resulting in less than 1/8" extending in the back.  I also used some pinch weld pliers to even out the angle of the trim to the roofline--it rotated in particularly (due to more stress at the bend) at the A pillar.  Both sides are still a little loose over the B pillar and I think a little use of pinch pliers will tighten it up.  You really must finesse the bend of the trim first before you attempt the do the whole thing.  Good you got yours installed.

 

When I first tried to install it on the driver's side, I was trying to match the bend of the trim to the gutter profile and did get your 1/2 inch sticking out the back issue, which prompted me to start over, but not before I ended up with a slight kink as the trim angled down the A pillar.  When I restarted from the back with a 1/4 inch extension, I was able to roll the trim over the gutter at the A pillar bend and get it snap over the gutter running down to the windshield trough.  I have the same issue at the B pillar, the bottom of the trim rides up on the B pillar trim at the top, so I may invest in those pinch weld pliers to secure it completely.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mark

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