Exterior trim snapping off on the motorway!!

[willig666]

Hi, I am a new bod here and love the site. Got my 2002 Cooper In feburary and all has been great fun................except yesteday driving round the road to hell (M25) on my way home travelling at 75mph when I hear a stone chip noise followed by a second similar noise almost straight away, this is then followed by a loud whistling like the window is open a millimetre or so. I pull over to investigate expecting the window rubber maybe to have come loose............but the whole plastic cover (length of the pillar) on the door pillar between the passenger front door and windscreen has snapped off!!!!. There are 4 clips which I guess were the stone chip sounds but its also screwed in all down one side.

Obviously not too happy and need some advice as to anyone having had the same problem, off to the dealership next week I guess to find a replacement, does anyone know where to get these except through the dealer??

Any advice please

[xianxuk]

HI there same happened to me on the M40 going to birmingham last september, very dangerous really as i was in the fast lane when it flew off, luckily no one was behind or beside me.

I went to my dealer and got a replacement for £30 i think it was.
They have made alterations to the foam under the a pillar, it now fills all the space so air cant get under and ripe it off.

[willig666]

Cheers for the info.......off to the dealer tomorrow

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by willig666

Cheers for the info.......off to the dealer tomorrow

might not be the dealers fault, as most times when window trim fall off are due to the car having had a replacement window

A good way to spot if it has had one is if the warning sticker is gone from the top left corner when looking out, its the sticker that says ACTUNG!!! ATTENTION!!! yes I know it could have been removed just because the person that owned it before you, but if its there then it will confirm that your car still has the original windscreen

[cliftonian]

oh my god! the same thing happened to me on the m5 on friday with my 02 cooper. gave me a real shock and i hope nobody behind me suffered any damage. windscreen was replaced by autoglass 6 months ago. at the time the guy told me the trim he removed was broken but that he had fitted a new one (not sure which side replaced though. off to dick lovett bristol tomorrow...