DIY: BMW E39 A Pillar Trim Removal

Difficulty Level

Tools/Supplies Needed:

• none

Procedure:

• start by pulling back the rubber door gasket adjacent to the pillar trim
• work your fingers around the top and slowly pull back the trim, releasing each clip
• also slightly pull the trim towards yourself, so the pillar trim unclips from the windshield portion (there is a total of three tabs next to the windshield)
• work your way down to the base (there is a total of two snap clips)
• once all the clips have been popped out, pull the trim upwards to remove it from the dash
• if one of the clip inserts comes off with the pillar trim, just pop it off and stock the grommet back in the hole on the metal pillar
• assembly in reverse of disassembly

Video tutorial on how to remove the A pillar trim around the windshield on a BMW E39 body style. This car is no equipped curtain airbags, therefore the procedure to remove the pillar equipped with an airbag is slightly different. If yours equipped with an airbag, the "srs" plastic name plate does need to be removed and there will be a bolt underneath which does need to be removed as well. This particular tutorial was done on a 1997 BMW 540i.