How to remove rear boot trim?

[dan_b]

I bought myself some silicone sealant today to try and fix once and for all the infamous leaking Coupe rear design feature.

Anyway, I thought it would be a simple case of unscrewing the 4 screws holding the plastic trim in place on the outside of the rubber gasket and that would come off and that would be it.

Not a chance. I take the 4 screws out, but something's holidng the middle of the trim in place still I think. What else do I need to remove? I don't want to blindly tug at things in case I break stuff.

Any help appreciated.

[s2driveruk]

do you mean the actual light cluster or the centre section with the number plate. If its the light i think you have to carefully tease the cluster away from the body, the mastic stuff is going to still be holding it fairly tightly, might be worth heating it up a but with a hot air gun/hairdryer to see if that helps?

David

[desmo888]

Are you talking about the tail lights and/or the rear center section between the tailights?

If so, do not use silicone!!! I will explain more once I know what you are sealing...

If you are talking about removing the plastic portion just inside the rear hatch, the center has a tight fit around the latch. You must carefully work the trim over the latch. Nothing but the tight fit holding it in the center.

[dan_b]

Sorry that wasn't very clear was it!
When you open the rear coupe boot lid, there is a rubber gasket that seals around the whole of the aperture. To the back of that is a long black plastic strip which runs the length of the width of the car, along above both sets of light clusters and above the number plate unit. There are 4 big screws which have seal covers on them which screw this down in to the body work. I'm convinced that these screw holes are the source of water ingress down in to the boot well and the light clusters below them - on my car all 4 of these screw wells are full of water, and the screws themselves are rusty.
I removed all 4 said screws and tried to prise it off, but like I said it seemed to me to feel as if it were being retained by something else in the middle? I wish I had a digital camera so I could show you exactly what it is I think I'm doing!

[Doug_RS2]

I think I know what you mean - You have to pull hard to get the plastic off from the plastic part off the locking mechanism. I think mine was broken by the previous owner so I find it easier to get off.

[Doug_RS2]

and it is easier if the ends - after the bends are removed from what holds them in - then you can bend it slightly

[s2driveruk]

I seem to remember there being two metal supports that fix to the bodywork and require you to remove the centre section which houses the numberplate in order to get it off. The 4 screws go through some kind of mastic tape and mine were leaking when i replaced the boot seal a couple of years back....

David

[newsh]

yes, I seem to remember there's some bracketry in the middle, behind the red bit or maybe inside? I did mine at the garage meet, with advice from ppl there, Greg Martin etc

[Doug_RS2]

I'm a muppet - i read that wrong

I have taken that off before - but can't remember how.

[martinjs]

yeah, as david and john said you need to remove the number plate surround first, there is two screws behind there holding that trim on also. Mine is leaking through those 4 screws you mentioned as well. Bit of a design error me thinks.

[Greg_S]

to take the black plastic bit that goes over the hinge unscrew the two rear parcel shelf supports from either side of the boot then with a trim too remove the 3 clips that are along the back inside of the boot. undo the carpet cover to the drivers side light then you can then carefully lift the black trim which goes over the lock and interior light etc out.

Fixed this one on mine sometime back, when you use the sealant make sure you get underneath too between the trim and the body work and when you put the plastic screw covers back in a little bit on them too.

Greg

[Phillio]

BTDT

take the top bit of trim which is held with the v clip things. this allows you to take the carpet out so you can get at two hex nuts that hold the number plate and surround on. pull number plate surround off (it is stuck so needs a bit of gentle persusion)

You can then see the metal bracket that hold the trim with the 4 screws on.


i put silicone sealent along the red line and around the screw holes. where the blue arrow is there was loads of dirt and moss and stuff which i think may have been causing the water to sit on top of the lights and soak through.

it seems to be dry in the boot at the moment

Phil

[dan_b]

Right, so basically it's unscrew and remove everything that looks remotely like a fixing and fill it with silicone
Naff design in the boot area for sure.
I'll have a go at all this after Xmas methinks - not something to be doing on Christmas eve...