e88 A pillar trim remove

olds350 · 01-13-2018, 01:25 PM

good day all.... I found over in the DYI section a thread on removing the A pillar trim, but I think that was for the coupe. I have the convertible and there is no airbag tab to remove nor are there any caps on the trim itself. The removal is required so I can run the power wire for the dash cam I want to install.

I've got the top part of the trim on the passenger side slightly pulled back, but I don't know what direction I need to pull the trim to safely remove it. I don't want to break any tabs. Would appreciate any feedback here please.

olds350 · 01-13-2018, 03:49 PM

OK, got this one figured out on how to remove the A pillar trim. It's best to pull back the rubber trim around door frame near the A pillar, that way you can see the tabs you need to get lose. In the pics below you can see the 2 blue push pins and the 2 tabs on the very bottom of the trim. One item of note, is my car is a '12 and there is no airbag mounted in the A pillar. Must be due to the fact it's a convertible.

With some plastic trim tools, carefully pull back the top of the A pillar trim. It may pop or just slowly release. Carefully move down toward the middle of the trim and keep pressure on pulling it away from the car. For me, this was a pretty sudden release.

Once those blue pins are free, slightly push the top of the trim towards the windshield as to lift up the heel of the trim and then pull back towards the rear of the car. That will allow the 2 tabs to clear the slots they are in.

Also of note, is the passenger side kick panel is held in by 2 push pins as well, so just pry gently on the sides towards the center of the car and it will pop out of place.

With all of this out of the way, it was easy to run the cable for the dash cam down to the fuse panel.

Hope this helps anyone installing the dash cam on a convertible.

Mageshkk · 01-13-2018, 04:20 PM

Nice. Thanks for the update. I might be doing it at some point. I was wondering if I can plug the camera power supply to the USB port in glove box. Anyone thought about it?

olds350 · 01-13-2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageshkk

Nice. Thanks for the update. I might be doing it at some point. I was wondering if I can plug the camera power supply to the USB port in glove box. Anyone thought about it?

What USB port in the glove box, didn't know there was one.... Now I need to go look...

Mageshkk · 01-13-2018, 06:51 PM

There was one in my F30 and there is one in my 2013 E88. They are used mainly for Nav updates.

olds350 · 01-14-2018, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageshkk

There was one in my F30 and there is one in my 2013 E88. They are used mainly for Nav updates.

No NAV on my 128 and didn't find any USB port. As stated, must be for the NAV update. That said, I did discover a slide switch that disables the trunk release button...

bbrugger · 01-15-2018, 08:56 AM

Might be a good idea when you have the pillar covers off to apply some foam between the dash and bottom of the pillar cover. this will reduce the creeking that is common from that area.

methodz · 07-06-2018, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds350

good day all.... I found over in the DYI section a thread on removing the A pillar trim, but I think that was for the coupe. I have the convertible and there is no airbag tab to remove nor are there any caps on the trim itself. The removal is required so I can run the power wire for the dash cam I want to install.

I've got the top part of the trim on the passenger side slightly pulled back, but I don't know what direction I need to pull the trim to safely remove it. I don't want to break any tabs. Would appreciate any feedback here please.

How did you get the top part loose? I want to run a wire also but I can't figure it out.

olds350 · 07-07-2018, 12:02 PM

On the e88 convertible, you just need to grab the A pillar trim about a 1/3rd of the way down and pull. There is no airbag in the A pillar trim like there is in the e82 coupe. Just get your fingers behind the rubber trim and pull towards the center of the car. There are no tabs on the top of the trim, but there are line up tabs on the bottom.

Once you release the blue push tabs, you need to pull the trim towards the back of the car to free up the bottom alignment tabs. Pretty easy stuff once you see how it installs.

methodz · 07-07-2018, 12:36 PM

Sorry I meant the top part where the sun visors are. Did you unscrew the bolts to the sun visor to get the top part loose? I want to get the cable to go from the rear view mirror down the A pillar but my cable is kind of thick and I can't tuck it under the top plastic spanning from the rear view mirror to the A pillar. Thanks!

olds350 · 07-08-2018, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by methodz

Sorry I meant the top part where the sun visors are. Did you unscrew the bolts to the sun visor to get the top part loose? I want to get the cable to go from the rear view mirror down the A pillar but my cable is kind of thick and I can't tuck it under the top plastic spanning from the rear view mirror to the A pillar. Thanks!

Oh, sorry, mis-read your comment. I just used a plastic trim tool to slightly pull the trim away from the glass and stuffed the wire in. Nothing in the top of the bow to get in the way. Come to find out the motors for the top clamp are in the convertible top, so nothing to get pinched when you place the wire under the trim.

That said, if you have one the power wires that has that "barrel shield" on it, then that's going to be a problem to stuff behind the bow trim with out loosening it. Not sure what to tell you there....

methodz · 07-08-2018, 08:06 PM

Thanks man, I thought there was a trick to it I might have been missing. I had a friend at an electronic shop install my last cable and he unscrewed the sun visor so I did the same to no avail but I guess I'll just pull back on it with a pry tool though the point where the top and side of the A pillar looks tricky.

olds350 · 07-09-2018, 10:57 AM

I found the worst part of running the cable for my dash cam was trying to fish it in-between the dash and side panel. Very tight there to run any cables. I found it helped to pull the rubber door trim away so you can have some room to work and see where the cable goes.

methodz · 07-09-2018, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds350

I found the worst part of running the cable for my dash cam was trying to fish it in-between the dash and side panel. Very tight there to run any cables. I found it helped to pull the rubber door trim away so you can have some room to work and see where the cable goes.

Haha, that's the easiest part. Just remove the plastic piece on the side of the dash, just pops right out and you have all kinds of room!

01-13-2018, 01:25 PM	#1
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 347 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	e88 A pillar trim remove good day all.... I found over in the DYI section a thread on removing the A pillar trim, but I think that was for the coupe. I have the convertible and there is no airbag tab to remove nor are there any caps on the trim itself. The removal is required so I can run the power wire for the dash cam I want to install. I've got the top part of the trim on the passenger side slightly pulled back, but I don't know what direction I need to pull the trim to safely remove it. I don't want to break any tabs. Would appreciate any feedback here please.
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01-13-2018, 03:49 PM	#2
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 347 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	OK, got this one figured out on how to remove the A pillar trim. It's best to pull back the rubber trim around door frame near the A pillar, that way you can see the tabs you need to get lose. In the pics below you can see the 2 blue push pins and the 2 tabs on the very bottom of the trim. One item of note, is my car is a '12 and there is no airbag mounted in the A pillar. Must be due to the fact it's a convertible. With some plastic trim tools, carefully pull back the top of the A pillar trim. It may pop or just slowly release. Carefully move down toward the middle of the trim and keep pressure on pulling it away from the car. For me, this was a pretty sudden release. Once those blue pins are free, slightly push the top of the trim towards the windshield as to lift up the heel of the trim and then pull back towards the rear of the car. That will allow the 2 tabs to clear the slots they are in. Also of note, is the passenger side kick panel is held in by 2 push pins as well, so just pry gently on the sides towards the center of the car and it will pop out of place. With all of this out of the way, it was easy to run the cable for the dash cam down to the fuse panel. Hope this helps anyone installing the dash cam on a convertible.
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01-13-2018, 04:20 PM	#3
Mageshkk Canyon Carver 50 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 135is 6MT; 2000 M5;1991 M5 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Alpharetta, ga iTrader: (1)	Nice. Thanks for the update. I might be doing it at some point. I was wondering if I can plug the camera power supply to the USB port in glove box. Anyone thought about it?
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01-13-2018, 06:51 PM	#5
Mageshkk Canyon Carver 50 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 135is 6MT; 2000 M5;1991 M5 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Alpharetta, ga iTrader: (1)	There was one in my F30 and there is one in my 2013 E88. They are used mainly for Nav updates. __________________ Dinan Stage 2; CF Diffuser; CF splitter; Dual slat black grille;
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01-15-2018, 08:56 AM	#7
bbrugger Private 25 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Oklahoma iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	Might be a good idea when you have the pillar covers off to apply some foam between the dash and bottom of the pillar cover. this will reduce the creeking that is common from that area.
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07-07-2018, 12:02 PM	#9
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 347 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	On the e88 convertible, you just need to grab the A pillar trim about a 1/3rd of the way down and pull. There is no airbag in the A pillar trim like there is in the e82 coupe. Just get your fingers behind the rubber trim and pull towards the center of the car. There are no tabs on the top of the trim, but there are line up tabs on the bottom. Once you release the blue push tabs, you need to pull the trim towards the back of the car to free up the bottom alignment tabs. Pretty easy stuff once you see how it installs.
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07-07-2018, 12:36 PM	#10
methodz First Lieutenant 40 Rep 393 Posts Drives: '12 Le Mans 135i Vert Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Hollywood iTrader: (3)	Sorry I meant the top part where the sun visors are. Did you unscrew the bolts to the sun visor to get the top part loose? I want to get the cable to go from the rear view mirror down the A pillar but my cable is kind of thick and I can't tuck it under the top plastic spanning from the rear view mirror to the A pillar. Thanks!
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07-08-2018, 08:06 PM	#12
methodz First Lieutenant 40 Rep 393 Posts Drives: '12 Le Mans 135i Vert Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Hollywood iTrader: (3)	Thanks man, I thought there was a trick to it I might have been missing. I had a friend at an electronic shop install my last cable and he unscrewed the sun visor so I did the same to no avail but I guess I'll just pull back on it with a pry tool though the point where the top and side of the A pillar looks tricky.
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07-09-2018, 10:57 AM	#13
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 347 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I found the worst part of running the cable for my dash cam was trying to fish it in-between the dash and side panel. Very tight there to run any cables. I found it helped to pull the rubber door trim away so you can have some room to work and see where the cable goes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote