Hi Bricksters,

My appologies if this question has already been raised, but can't find the name of that trim in Bentley and so can't do a search in the archives !

While unloading groceries from the rear seat of my sedan I accidentally drop a heavy back which hit right on the rim of the trim that is below the doors attached to the body of the car -- it runs all along the side of the car. It is black and the inside is metal. There were plastic clips which used to hold the trim to the body of the car and these clips broke. The trim is fine.

1) I can re-attach the trim, should I? How? Put good clips in and hammer trim in with rubber mallet?

But I would have to buy the plastic clips from the dealer. I went over to the nearest junkyard (only two 240s) and both were missing these trims, I pulled the clips off by pushing in the small rods in the middle. Most of the clips were broken though, so between my car and the 240s from the yard I have about 5 clips (4 short which I would have to buy at dealer).

2) Or should I not re-attach it and in fact remove the one on the other side and clean all débris from there.

In my trim I saw a lot of road débris accumulated in there and which could potentially start rust. At the yard both cars had rust there -- seems like a weak spot. I could clean the surface and run some black tape to plug all the holes and have a black strip all along under the doors. Seems like this would avoid gunk and moisture that the trim keeps there.

3) Does the trim have any utility? Or is it just, well a trim for decoration.

Thanks for your input on this trivial matter.
--
'89 244DL M47 159K miles