Chrome cover on rear hatch lid grip? How to remove?
 

Hi Folks,

I searched and can't find it ..

2006 X5 3.0

I am replacing the rear hatch lid "grip" assembly which includes the rubber-covered upper hatch button and two license plate lights and related electronics.

Part# 51137170840

My current (faulty) grip assembly has a chrome metal cover...It looks and feels pretty well secured - likely with an adhesive. Before I go gorilla on separating it from the old and installing it on the new, does anybody have any advice or tips on how to remove it?

An after market chrome cover on top of the handle unit? If so I would check the price of new cover as it's likely attached with double sided tape.

No an OEM chrome cover on top of an aftermarket grip assembly.

I am having trouble finding a separate part number for the cover.
According to RealOEM, the grip assembly comes in silver or black,
And it looks to me like the chrome cover gets moved onto the new part..

Don’t want to pry it off- might bend
Don’t want to use heat - may discolor chrome

I may try fishing line

Never seen a chrome version of this handle assembly - only black or painted to match the body colour.

A picture?

I agree about this being aftermarket, but if you want to see about removing use dental floss or fishing line.

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Heat it up with a heat gun and then start to pull it off gently. Wear gloves obviously and plastic trim removal tools can aid in initial separation of the likely double sided adhesive that was used.

Dental floss/fishing line might work too as pulling risks damaging the chrome. But heating it will likely help whichever method you choose.

Yep. Plain black plastic, grey base painted (for painting to body colour) and Titan line.

I have added pics below... The chrome cover is definitely metal and came off my '06 X5 which is metallic brown/silver in color (sterling-grau metallic)...My '06 has the sports package and came with the aluminum running boards if that helps.

The last pics shows it next to my silver '05 X5 which has the more typical paint-matched cover on the grip handle assembly. BTW - the two grips ARE the same size - the different sizing in the picture is an illusion...

Thanks for the input...

Like this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273110817184

Thanks for that EBay link Clavurion...Mine is definitely metal...

Anyway, I got the chrome cover off and like the Ebay part it was held on with 2-sided tape...pretty good stuff I'll say for sure...After 15 yrs outside, no sign of failing .


I used a long thin blade to cut through the adhesive and did so carefully so as not to damaged the cover.

I'll use 3m auto tape to install it on the new part.

Thanks everyone!