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View Full Version : E46 Coupe door seals, AKA "Don't break your inner door sill/scuff plate" doityourself



sketchyd
05-16-2013, 07:23 PM
So i did door seals on a coupe toady, and in the process figured out the method to safely remove the inner door sill/scuff plate without breaking either the trim or any of the retainers!

I'm not sure if this applies to facelift E46s or not, but the is a TSB for the door seals, which have weak glue and separate from themselves on coupes. the fix is to replace them with updated parts. these door seals contain the pinch sensors for the windows, as the coupes don't have window frames on the door.

the first part of this will be removing, installing the door sills, as most reference i've seen to these consists of "shits going to break" which is just poor form.



you will need a pocket prybar, and some (preferably bent) needlenose pliers for the trim. passenger side can be done with out the screwdriver.
insert your pocket prybar between the dead pedal/kick panel trim and the door sill, to lightly lever the door sill up over (should already be above it, but it needs to slide up slightly more)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0043_zpsf4cca2b7.jpg
just wedge it there and leave it, it'll do it's job on it's own. next from the rear of the sill, grasp the end edge and slide the whole piece toward the front of the vehicle.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0044_zpsbdedd628.jpg
it should move with moderate force, and hopefully your prybar/screwdriver lifts it over the kick panel enough to jump that slight bump. that is it for proper removal, nice and easy, no broken pieces (hopefully!) (PS, that's an aftermarket wire in the picture)
you are then left with 8 clips still in the body, 6 straight down, 1 at an angle in the rear corner of the door, and one in the side near where the seatbelt anchors
(two front clips from the top)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0046_zps44655b19.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/mambutu/media/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0046_zps44655b19.jpg.html)
(two rear most clips looking from ~center console, behind seat which is forward for rear entry)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0048_zps29786a6b.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/mambutu/media/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0048_zps29786a6b.jpg.html)

next, take your pliers or other suitable utensil to remove all 8 clips from the body. bent needle nose pliers worked extremely well for this.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0047_zps37486eca.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/mambutu/media/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0047_zps37486eca.jpg.html)
these are your trim clips
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0054_zps8297f0da.jpg

INSTALLATION
slide the retainers into the slots on the trim
(3 rear most pictured)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0065_zps0ca1c000.jpg

then starting at the rear press back into body. the clips have a slight amount of movement fore and aft, so you may have to slide skinny fingers or a srewdriver in to move one a little, but that's it, it's that easy, and nothings broken!

sketchyd
05-16-2013, 07:50 PM
now on to the door seals:

will require small screwdriver/pocket prybar, T20 preferably on a 1/4" ratchet, and possibly a rubber mallet.

with the door sill trim removed, the A-pillar trim also needs to be removed.
great time to fix the wrinkle.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0052_zpsf37a27ac.jpg

take your prying tool and gently remove the insert strip in the A-pillar
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0049_zps3176f6ce.jpg
it's clipped in lightly, so just pry up the top and should easily come out from there with gentle persuasion.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0050_zps4ce05356.jpg
behind are 3 T20 screws. (sorry could only get 2 in frame)
remove. carefully, as they are quite close to the windshield.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0051_zpse2f5503e.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0053_zps1f025332.jpg
grasp the top of the pillar trim with your fingers and gently pull it out and down from the A-pillar. pull it towards the steering wheel and then lightly up/back to get the tab in the bottom foremost corner out from the dash
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0055_zps04277abc.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0056_zpsa07e96f0.jpg
everything is out of your way now, so just grab the seal and pull. it's all one piece, just separate it from the pinch weld all the way around the door
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0059_zps34d2e8b3.jpg
careful at the a-pillar, as there is a 2 wire connector from the pinch sensor to the body here.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0060_zps069bbd8b.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0057_zpsd4d189dd.jpg
there is also a push pin retainer in the door jam at the very front
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0058_zps0b90c2f1.jpg
easiest way is to pull the rubber over it, then remove the pin by prying out (i just used a pair of wire cutters) if you're not rough with it, it can be reused.

INSTALLATION

starting at the upper rear corner of the door, begin pressing the new seal over the pinch weld. it's the only hard corner, and MUST be properly seated before the ONE PIECE SEAL with properly fit all the way around
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0061_zpsa2a0645f.jpg
a rubber mallet may be used to gently tap the seal to fully seat it on the body, but firm pressure will seat it most of the way down. very light taps with a RUBBER MALLET (can't stress the gentleness required here enough!). you do not want to damage the pinch sensor. at the end i noticed this on the inside of that corner, which probably accounts for some of the trouble i was having getting it to fit properly :facepalm
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0068_zps453f7819.jpg
so make sure its inside the B-pillar and roof liner trims like so:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0069_zps3884f88d.jpg
across the top, should look like the left side of this pic. the right side is not fully seated, just thumb that bit under the chrome (or shadow line)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0062_zpsbd639c77.jpg
the sensor wire goes BETWEEN the airbag and pillar! (i'm pulling on the wire to emphasize the gap)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0066_zps93ea2e7c.jpg
upper corner properly seated:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0063_zpse2da3ea8.jpg
reinstall the a-pillar cover and pull the seal over it (aftermarket phone mic seen in this picture)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0067_zps18dd3df5.jpg
when you replace the screw cover, don't slide your fingers over it, and do this
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0071_zps2499ca4e.jpg
reinstall door sill (see post #1), a quick vacuum
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j24/mambutu/e46%20door%20seal/IMAG0070_zps196cf3b0.jpg
and you're done! :applause2


sorry for the poor quality pictures. i was taking them with my phone while still trying to beat flat rate time.
this is also a good time to run aftermarket wires under these trim pieces if you've got some.

each side should take about 45min-1 hr. i'd say a 3-4/10.

BimmerWill
05-16-2013, 11:30 PM
I've noticed that my seal on the drivers side has become threadbare and worn with age from where I've gotten in and out of the vehicle. Is this the same rubber trim or is that a different piece separate? I feel like it is but not sure. The worst part is on the b pillar itself (can't be seen on the pillar until the door is open).

Great writeup btw!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

kayger12
05-17-2013, 04:22 AM
Great thread.

Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

Bookmarked for future use.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

sketchyd
05-17-2013, 04:22 AM
Sounds like it is. From the inside, it can be seen only around the window, part of it has an almost felt like feel.

Edit: this was to will. Kayger posted right when I did.

Tapped on a talk device

Hermes
05-17-2013, 05:31 AM
Great thread.

Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

Bookmarked for future use.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

+1

this will be helpful to me as well

UdubBadger
05-17-2013, 06:06 AM
nice DIY

NorCalZman
05-17-2013, 06:52 AM
great write u. Easy to understand and follow. I assume this should be added to a running DIY sticky list/thread we have on here?