Running Board Rivet Gun
 

I just ordered the Al running boards and read that I need a rivet gun for installation. Is this what is needed? Thanks.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...rtnumber=47999

Thats the one.You can use it on plastic or aluminium rivets.Good luck with the installation.

Great. Thanks. Parts should be in next week, will have them on by the weekend. Looks like an easy and straight forward install. I will know where to go if I have problems :)

Or you can get the one from Napa store. It's the same one used by BMW dealers (at least the one where I live). Many folks who retrofitted the alum running boards have used this same rivet gun but I think the one you ordered should work too.
http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/nc...rfnbr=15623140

I prefer the NAPA rivet gun. That is what I used when installing the r/bs.

I just installed my alu running board without the rivet gun and I didn't have any trouble. I used something to hold the rivet in place and use a nose plier to pull out that little stick from the rivet.

Well done!I have done mine and a few dozen more on my custoners cars and I always need the rivet gun and an assistant to hold the fenders in place while I use the rivet gun to ensure the rivets are pushed in properly.
That little stick in the rivet is pushed in so that the rivet opens up!To take the oem rivets out you need to push them in all the way until they fall out!To put the new ones in ,you have to rivet them in(they are very hard!You cant even hammer them!) until they are flat level with the rivet surface...Cant figure out how you push them in without a rivet gun????Also what do you mean"..use a nose plier to pull out that little stick"???There is nothing to pull out,only the rivets themselves,and only after you push the stick out!!!
Even if you did manage to pull the little stick out with the nose pliers in removing the oem rivets,(much easier to just punch them in!)how on earth can you push the new ones in without a rivet gun???

What he meant was he pulled out the black plastic core of the rivet when he installed the new rivets. It can be done that way, but is much easier with the gun :)

Wrong Rivet Gun
 

Just a note. I purchased a rivet gun from Kragen's and was ready to install the running boards this weekend. Good thing I checked before taking everything apart. That rivet gun is too small for the plastic rivets that came with the running board. I went to my local Napa Auto, and they don't stock the larger one, and neither does Home Depot. They all have the smaller one.

So I just ordered the right one from Napa Auto online. So don't make the same mistake I just did.