Door chrome strip top next to window

[n/a]

Hi,

My chrome strip (LHS) is loose. It is the strip at the top of the door covering the window glass opening. The clips seem OK but is there some trick to locking it in place? I've searched through the technical articles as I am sure this is a common problem but cannot locate anything.

Thanks
Andrew

[Cees Klumper]

What I did to get the strip securely in place after a repaint was - hit it! Obviously you want to be careful, but it / the clips can take a harder jab than you might think. Anyway that's what it took on my car. Tom Sargeant's car was having the same problem and I fixed that the same way two summers ago.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[n/a]

Cees, thanks. Did you "hit" it in multiple places? I assume that the piece clips in tight. Is that right?

[Cees Klumper]

You need to make sure the strip settles in properly at each of the (4 or so?) clips. I banged at the location of each clip that needed it. The chrome strip needs to move down at a bit of an angle to properly catch the clips if I remember correctly - if it's not on tight it's also not sitting perpendicular to the door surface (I hope I make myself clear).

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[jeffc280sl]

The clips you are speaking are made of spring steel and they have two small "barbs" of each clip which dig into the underside of the moulding.  If it is partially in place you need to push the inside edge of the moulding horizontally with a hammer and small block of wood.   Nice even taps starting at one end and moving to the other should seat the barbs.  You may find the barbs are rusty and no longer sharp enough to hold the moulding in place.  If so, they need to be replaced.  Its not hard to do.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed