How to fit - Door (waist) chrome strip

[NYK]

I’ve pretty much finished the 5 year £30k rebuilt of my Plus 2. The final job prior to being able to photograph it for insurance purposes is fitting the external waist chrome strip on the door. I managed to do the o/s but it was a bastard of a job and the n/s is not proving any easier.

It’s a high risk job as it would be really easy to mess up the recently chromed strip or the paintwork. The retaining clips I purchased from Sue Miller were of a slightly different design to those I took off. Thinking that might have been the problem I have re-used the original clips on the n/s and if anything they may be even more difficult.

The technique of fitting the strip that I’m using is to hook the top of the chrome strip over the top of the clip and then try to push the bottom of the chrome strip over the bottom of the clip. I’ve even tried tapping the chrome strip with a bubbler block on the strip and using a rubber mallet to tap the rubber block. Needles to say, but I shall, this is not working either. There seems to be no give in the chrome strip or the clip to enable them to clip together.
So does anyone have any proven technique that does not result in damage to the strip or paintwork?

I got the final bits of trim back from the upholsterer this week, the door cards. This is my finished interior which I’m generally quite pleased with.

[alanr]

Can't offer any advice about the chrome strips, sorry, however I do think the interior looks beautiful!...Just wondering what car those lovely looking seats were originally from?

Alan.

[davidj]

Yes, I was very nervous doing this both on my +2 and S3 but was successful with a bit of effort and brute force. Like you, I hooked it over the top and hit the lower edge. I think I had the "claw" end of the clip at the top so the curved section is sprung back the when the strip is hit. I am sure you have checked the clips all line up? I think my clips came from Matty's.

[NYK]

Can't offer any advice about the chrome strips, sorry, however I do think the interior looks beautiful!...Just wondering what car those lovely looking seats were originally from?

Alan.

Thanks Alan, I went for MX5 seats there are different variants from memory these were Mk2.

[NYK]

Yes, I was very nervous doing this both on my +2 and S3 but was successful with a bit of effort and brute force. Like you, I hooked it over the top and hit the lower edge. I think I had the "claw" end of the clip at the top so the curved section is sprung back the when the strip is hit. I am sure you have checked the clips all line up? I think my clips came from Matty's.

Well it sounds like there’s no special trick to fitting the chrome strip just brute force and ignorance. I think I’ll swap to the new ones I have which have the ‘claw’, I fitted them as you describe, claw to the top.

[mbell]

Only refitted mine to old clips and paint that I am not concerned about but followed the same method. Hook over one edge of the clip and a few knocks with something suitable. Might have been a dead blow hammer, mallet or hammer and length of wood.

[TeeJay]

This is how I fitted my Strip.

Note Clips are upwards.

The top of the Strip hangs over the clips, then I used the palm of my hand to hit them onto the clips.
It helps if you push the strip down over the clips, before hitting it at the bottom downwards and into the car.