S3 SE sill trim and clips

[gjz30075]

I have one sill trim pulling away from the body so I thought I'd just pop off the trim, Using a plastic
pry bar made for popping door cards, I managed to pull out three of the clips from the sill itself. The
rest of the trim piece remained on the clips and it was a bugger to pop off. I thought this trim piece
was open ended to make it easy to slip on/off but mine is not.

I now read that this might be the MG strip and clips that seems to be touted here as the easy solution.
Pictured is one of the clips still attached to the body. Is this an MG part? Also, the strip does not have
the profile of the strips I've seen in other posts.

Is the solution simply longer rivets?

[JonB]

That doesn't look like a Lotus clip. Or at least, not as the ones on my S4.

The clips are riveted through the fibreglass only, so longer rivets won't help. What you need are washers (of a sort - the hole needs to match your rivets) to put behind the fibreglass holes, in the sill. Pass new rivets through the fibreglass and then through the washer prior to popping. Because, I think your problem must be the fibreglass holes are worn and too large to retian the popped rivet properly.

[elans3]

Yes, that's an MGB clip.

[smo17003]

This is the correct clip

https://www.sjsportscars.com/files/X050 ... jpg?mod=86

[gjz30075]

JonB, you're right. However access would require disassembly of most of the newly restored by the previous owner interior. My thinking on the longer rivet is there's more of the rivet to 'squish up' behind the fiberglass, hence, acting like a washer, of sorts.

I have a feeling the sill strip is also an MG thing and the Lotus clips may not fit it. I'll get some Lotus
clips and test. If not, I'll source a Lotus sill trim piece.

Thanks everyone.

[smo17003]

Hi Greg,

Try and get hold of some "peel" rivets. They open out like peeling a banana, so you wouldn't need to get inside the sill to use washers.

A longer rivet will need more force to pull it through, potentially damaging the fibreglass.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312334210194 ... 6s8QAAAAAA

Mike

[gjz30075]

I like them, good idea!

[Ianstuart]

Some time ago, another member posted this drawing of the correct sill trim.
If this isn’t what you’ve got, and if you’re concerned about originality, then this is what you need (plus the correct clips of course).

[gjz30075]

Thanks Ian.

[skyarch]

SNAP
I've used these, they're the male half of the snap that's on the windshield frame to snap the hood.
The trim then is approx. a little less that 1/32" from the body, but no more struggling with stock, or by now aftermarket, clips.
First attach the all the snaps and then track the trim onto them one by one.

[alan.barker]

Hi Greg,

Try and get hold of some "peel" rivets. They open out like peeling a banana, so you wouldn't need to get inside the sill to use washers.

A longer rivet will need more force to pull it through, potentially damaging the fibreglass.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312334210194 ... 481-19255-
0&campid=5338723872&toolid=20006&customid=FI90ITIcAAAAxc-mnWjegOmr6s8QAAAAAA

Mike

+1
Alan

[JonB]

Does the trim have end caps?

[gjz30075]

^^^^^Yes. I ended up using what is on the car now (I think they're MG ones) and longer
rivets. I couldn't find the peel rivets in 1/8". I tried to slide the sill strip over the snaps,
beginning from the front, which required removing the wheel due to a small amount of
front to back curvature. I had to lift the end of the sill, due to the cap over each snap
but only got halfway. I ended up just 'snapping' the sill over the snaps with the heel
of my hand.

[tonyabacus]

Try Howard at Bresco who provide a lot of old type fixings and parts, can't just locate his number but it will be on the Net
Tony