E30 Zone

We Touring types have probably all had our interior tailgate trim off at some point. There's four pieces: a short plastic hinge cover across the top of the glass, two vertical pieces on either side of the glass and the main big plastic panel that covers the wiper motor. There are two tiny exposed screws near the bottom corners of the glass where the vertical trim pieces lap over the ends of the main panel.

When I had my rusted tailgate replaced a couple years ago the new one wasn't exactly the same as the old one. There's nothing for the tiny screws to bite into, but rather a small rectangular cutout in the steel. Is there a clip or something that's supposed to pop in there? Without the little screws to hold the loose ends of the main panel tight, the whole thing rattles and makes me C R A Z Y!

I know this is a finnicky question. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

there should be a clip in plastic thingy on each side. bmw trim screws rarely screw into metal, usually into a plastic captive nut type affair

There shouldn't be any screws, but they are often found there. Fitted by whoever broke/lost the correct clip.

there is definately 2 EOM bmw screws on the inner plastic bits on mine, on both tailgates. teeny ones mind.

None shown on the ETK.
Blobs of silicon rubber are useful when fitting this trim.

There are 2 small screws on the top part. These screw into some clips not the tailgate itself.

SPADGE wrote:There are 2 small screws on the top part. These screw into some clips not the tailgate itself.

Hmmm. Thanks for the info, guys.

The big trim panel definitely has two factory holes for tiny screws. No sign of the mystery clips on the ETK, which makes them kinda hard to order from the dealer. I don't suppose anyone would want to pull a couple of them off a wrecker, throw them in an envelope and post them to a brother in Canada?

Take a picture so we are certain wot you are talking about and someone might be able to sort you out.

Both my tourings have had the screws holding the lower trim piece in place, it does look like an after thought, but both cars were identical so i assumed it was a BMW fitted bodge.

Chris wrote:Take a picture so we are certain wot you are talking about and someone might be able to sort you out.

Here's a shot (hope it works) of the trim pieces prised apart. You can see the rectangular cutout in the steel frame of the tailgate and the corresponding cutout in the plastic side trim piece. The red arrow is pointing at the little factory hole in the main cover--which also aligns with the rectangular cutout.

http://img484.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... rimlg6.jpg

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/8717 ... rimlg6.jpg

If there were more than 20 E30 Tourings in North America, I'd just run down to the wreckers and grab the clip myself. But there isn't, so I'm hoping someone on the other side of the pond is willing to help out!

Been out and looked at a few tourings! The early ones don't have any screws, but the later ones do, so it looks like it's a mid production bodge introduced at the factory.

A-ha! So, is anyone willing to pluck these clips and screws off a wrecker and send them across the pond? I'll PayPal you for the trouble!

the clips that the screws screw into are probably still on the old tailgate!

KDS wrote:A-ha! So, is anyone willing to pluck these clips and screws off a wrecker and send them across the pond? I'll PayPal you for the trouble!

Wouldn't new ones from your local dealer be easier?

Brianmoooore wrote:

KDS wrote:A-ha! So, is anyone willing to pluck these clips and screws off a wrecker and send them across the pond? I'll PayPal you for the trouble!

Wouldn't new ones from your local dealer be easier?

That would be much easier. But with no part number, my dealer can't really help. Luckily, oze30 has offered to help out. Thanks, bud!

Why can't the dealer find them on his ETK?

Brianmoooore wrote:Why can't the dealer find them on his ETK?

The part doesn't show up on his ETK either. His screen looks just like this:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=65

Can't you just bond something behind the 'hole' and then drill and screw into this? I'll have a search through my parts bins, but i don't think i have any spare trim clips that will fit.