Dealing with those pesky trim screw caps. - Wiki entry added

Titan

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British Zeds
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Points
97
Location
North North Yorkshire
Model of Z
sDrive35i
If you need to remove any of the lower dashboard trim panels, you will encounter the fiendish trim screw cap.
These are virtually impossible to remove without damage to them, the panel, and or yourself :ymsigh:

By using a very small electrical Phillip's screw driver, it is possible to "stab" the plastic cover and undo the underlying screw behind it without doing too much damage.
It's not perfect but until new covers are purchased, it's a reasonable solution and as the plastic recovers from the deformation, the cosmetic disfiguration become less obvious.
If you have got replacement caps, they are much easier to get off the screw once it has been removed.

The OEM part numbers are:

51161949793 black
51168398920 beige


This is what one of mine looked like shortly after it was re-inserted with its old cap having stabbed it with the screwdriver.

ai102.photobucket.com_albums_m105_Telbar_Z3_Indicator_20Stalk_eaf3624a.jpg
 

HornelZ3M

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East Anglian Crew
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Dec 4, 2011
Points
63
Location
Raglan. South Wales
Model of Z
Z3M Roadster
Re: Dealing with those pesky trim screw caps....

Thats a pretty screwdriver you have s;)
 

GazHyde

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M Power
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Dec 2, 2011
Points
226
Location
Berkshire
Model of Z
Z4 MR
Re: Dealing with those pesky trim screw caps....

This is one for the knowledge base, so I will copy it over!

Wish I knew about this before removing my centre console as they are such a pain to remove. I used a flat blade under the edge, but it can damage the panel it's holding in place. Think I lost a couple as well!

May have to order some new ones now.
 
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