I have a 2004 coupe. Can the trim on the windshield be removed(hopefully easily)?

I'm wanting to paint it, as it's losing its color, a different color and would really rather not paint it on the car.

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes you can remove it. Start with the center piece on the top. There are five clips holding it in place. The clips are metal about two inches square, and they come up from the front side of the trim next to the windshield. Use a flat bladed screw driver (people use various tools for this , but a screw driver is strong enough to get the clips to dislodge and if used carefully will not scratch anything) get it centered in the clip and twist. There is a slot centered in the clip just about 1/16 " above the plane of the glass that you can feel when you probe with the screw driver. Measure from the seam between the A pillar trim piece and where the top piece meet towards the center of the car 3 inches. That is the center of the first clips. The second set of clips 11 5/16" from the same seam and the fifth clip is in the center. Five clips in all along the top section of trim. There is also a tab on the top trim piece that engages with the trim piece on the pillars just inward from the seam. Get the clip loose first and the tab will disengage with a little pressure. Once you get the first two clips up the others come easy. Similar set up on the pillars. I think there are four clips on each of those. There are pictures somewhere on the forum. Use the search function. Remember to twist the screw driver to disengage the clips. no need to pry. If your in the slot the clip will release. If you start prying too much you could break the plastic or rip the clip from the trim piece. It can be reapplied to the trim with two sided 3M tape if that should happen. I added some pictures: The first picture is the underside of the top trim piece. You can see the first metal clip (half the clip will stay on the trim and the other half will remain on the car) and the center slot you need to find with the screw driver. The first picture also shows the plastic tab that snaps into the pillar trim. The second photo shows the metal clip part that remains on the car after they have been separated and you can also see the piece of the side trim that the tab on the top piece engages. The third picture just shows the five clip parts that remain on the car after you have removed the trim. IF you just use a nylon/plastic pry tool you may snap the clips loose from the trim piece. That is what the "professionals" did when they removed it. I found it loose when I got home and it is why I recommend you twist with a screw driver rather than pry. I reapplied the clips to the trim with double sided tape.

 

Yes, it can be removed. As I remember, the side pieces need to be removed last. Use a nylon tool for removing trim, you can get them at Harbor Freight for about $10.

 

Be absolutely sure to get it reattached very well. There are hundreds of threads here where the top piece has flew off after reattaching. Good luck finding a replacement under $200~$300.

 

Top piece first as in post #2.

 

Got them off, painted, and back on. Looks so much better! I'll post some pictures later.

 

The silver windshield trim on my coupe was in very bad shape. I bought a second "project" set from someone who had tried to paint them to match his car body color. Unfortunately, his results did not come out as desired. I had to do a lot of sanding to remove prior sanding marks. One spot had a chip out of the edge, but a little body filler took care of that. I primed them with a high build auto body primer, wet sanded that, and then top coated with an automotive trim black. That was almost a year ago and the trim still looks great. I also painted the grille and fender trim black as well.

 

Looking pretty good. Thinking about repainting the entire car to alabaster white and giving the trim a blackout. I really like that style.

 

What paint did you use? Any important prep you did?