Chrome wheel arch trims - removal thereof!

[cheesebox]

I recently took delivery of a rather tidy 318is. It's in ver good nick (73k on the clock) and has a nice (IMO) Zender body kit. Unfortunately it also has chrome wheel arches, which I'd like to remove. I believe these were fitted at the same time as the chrome goes under the body kit in places. It looks like a professional job.

In the defence of the chrome trims, they seem to have kept the arches completely free of rust - they feel very solid on the inside of the arch. They seem to be fixed on very well with something like underseal - black and slightly soft.

Now, would anyone have any advice on how to remove these without damaging the original paintwork underneath? Should I bother risking it? I'm kind of getting used to them now, but occasionally I have a moment of clarity and feel quite unconfortable about them!

[smithy318i]

you can lightly heat them up and they should come away from the adhesive.

[cheesebox]

Great tip - thanks v much.

[stevo]

has anyone painted a set? wonder how that would look???

[cheesebox]

I finally decided to have a go at removing the chrome trims. After removing the screws holding them onto the wing, the trims came off without too much of a struggle. Underneath, the rear arches themselves look to be rust free. Hooray. The front arches need a little tidying - some paint lifted off with the chrome trims, and there's a little bubbling. Nothing too serious though.

My first challenge though, is removing the black rubber stuff which was used to bond the trims to the arch and stop water getting between the two. It's practically welded to the paint. I've had a go at scaping it off with a plastic tile grouter, my nails, nail polish remover, white spirit, and finally, swearing at it, but it's pretty tenacious stuff. As you can see in the picture, some of it's coming off, but it's very hard work.

Anyone got any suggestions for an easier way to remove it? Something that won't damage the paintwork, obviously...

[nwmlarge]

light use of acetone ie: nail varnish remover has always done me proud i would then follow this with a polish and wax though as it will remove some of the protective layer.

[DanThe]

The best thing to use is petrol mate, it wont attack your paint but theres plenty of solvent there to soften that horrible sealer.
Dont go near it with a scraper blade cause it will take the paint off the curve of the arch
Soak a rag and use your finger nail to scrape at it once the petrols soaked in
Never tried the nail varnish remover though

[eko]

The best thing to use is petrol mate, it wont attack your paint but theres plenty of solvent there to soften that horrible sealer

agreed