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Removing this tiny trim

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Old Nov 2, 2025 | 07:50 AM
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Default Removing this tiny trim

I picked up a 57 plate low mileage example this week that I think has spent much if its time garaged. After heavy rain yesterday I have a small amount of water in the boot on the very far right hand side. I've been investigating today and I'm pretty sure it is under the little rectangular infill strip near the boot and the aerial. If i poke a finger around there, it is wet directly underneath.
Is this a common place to leak or could it be tracking from somewhere else? I've tried removing the strip but after removing the screw it's stuck in pretty tight, which I believe is a glue pad, but it's certainly tough. Is it just a case of keep wiggling it?
thanks


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Old Nov 2, 2025 | 01:12 PM
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Give it some welly. It’ll come off. You’d be best do both sides. Strip and clean the old paint and sealant in the panel joint. Reseal etc etc.

Probably be best to remove the boot trim and check. Water gathers in the boot well. Rusting from the inside out isint that clever.
If you’ve just got the car, removing the rear bumper and rear lights might be a recommendation. There’s a lot of trash thrown round the back of an S as they have no rear wheel arch liner. Some of stuff in there is more delicate than you might expect. You might get a shock. The rear crash bar and and bumper brackets suffer rust easily.
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 03:21 AM
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They're a pig to remove!
I did it by sticking a bit of wood on with good quality double sided tape and then giving it a whack with a mallet.
There's a seam under there which is easily sorted with "Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure".....google it. It cured my boot leak.
Once removed you'll find a small plastic clip which is the reason for the difficult removal. Leave it out when you put the trim back!
Can't understand why it's in there anyway as it's not needed.
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 03:57 AM
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Mine was also leaking from there. Use a heat gun to soften the tape holding this in then pull straight back, they are held firm by that tape!
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by WallaceS2K
Mine was also leaking from there. Use a heat gun to soften the tape holding this in then pull straight back, they are held firm by that tape!
That's a good idea. I'll get the hairdryer out :-)
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by devon2k
They're a pig to remove!
I did it by sticking a bit of wood on with good quality double sided tape and then giving it a whack with a mallet.
There's a seam under there which is easily sorted with "Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure".....google it. It cured my boot leak.
Once removed you'll find a small plastic clip which is the reason for the difficult removal. Leave it out when you put the trim back!
Can't understand why it's in there anyway as it's not needed.
Yikes! Do you mean stick the wood to the painted surface? Won't that damage it?
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 06:53 AM
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I would not personally recommend using items like wood, your hands are enough.
These are held with double sided sticky tape from the factory. I'm almost certain yours may have been super glued in place. There's a knack though, in case they aren't.
You kinda press at the edge of this slat near the black roof trim, and quickly pull it back. If you don't press down, it will stick on the black trim. I'd wiggle it a bit forwards and backwards to get it moving and free the adhesive.
What colour is your car ? Just in case the slat breaks....
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Old Nov 3, 2025 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by s2k4tony
I would not personally recommend using items like wood, your hands are enough.
These are held with double sided sticky tape from the factory. I'm almost certain yours may have been super glued in place. There's a knack though, in case they aren't.
You kinda press at the edge of this slat near the black roof trim, and quickly pull it back. If you don't press down, it will stick on the black trim. I'd wiggle it a bit forwards and backwards to get it moving and free the adhesive.
What colour is your car ? Just in case the slat breaks....
Thanks for the additional info. I don't think it's glued as there is 1-2mm of movement now, so it feels like it is probably just a case of continuing to work at loosening it until it gives. Colour is Silverstone but hopefully it won't come to that.
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Old Nov 4, 2025 | 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Simon797
Yikes! Do you mean stick the wood to the painted surface? Won't that damage it?
It's car paint, it's tough. I tried all the other "solutions" and couldn't shift it. There's a plastic clip holding it in and it needs a sharp tap to release it.

If you've got the parts diagram it's this bit that's holding it in.
PFKL1011796
91502S2A003
CLIP, MOLDING

Last edited by devon2k; Nov 4, 2025 at 01:05 AM.
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Old Nov 5, 2025 | 02:59 AM
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Just thinking about this further Simon, have you checked that this is not your radio aerial that is causing the leak? Quite common for the seal to perish underneath

Last edited by s2k4tony; Nov 5, 2025 at 03:03 AM.
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