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Old Oct 6, 2016 | 08:19 PM
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I'm taking to get this piece where the paint is looks faded. I guess it's the equivalent of a BSM on a C5? Not really sure what that piece is called. Getting it done on the driver's side also. And the door handles as well. My question is, do I take off the BSM or is it OK to leave it in?
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 07:00 AM
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I believe you are referring to the belt line trim vice body side molding.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 07:39 AM
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Yes! Since I'm getting it painted, is it OK to leave it on the car while it's getting painted? Because it looks like removing it will be a pain.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 08:00 AM
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Getting the belt off was fairly easy except for the doors.

When we had mine painted, Brett masked the belt on the doors, after sanding right up to and close as he possibly could.

Mine is a 90, and the belt is black, and (I'd say) easier to mask, due to the design of the belt (it is narrower, and protrudes more than 91-96).

Question? Why wouldn't you also paint the belt, since it is the same color as the body?
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 08:04 AM
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Leave it all on - too easy to damage when you reinstall.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Paul Workman
Getting the belt off was fairly easy except for the doors.

When we had mine painted, Brett masked the belt on the doors, after sanding right up to and close as he possibly could.

Mine is a 90, and the belt is black, and (I'd say) easier to mask, due to the design of the belt (it is narrower, and protrudes more than 91-96).

Question? Why wouldn't you also paint the belt, since it is the same color as the body?
I'm not getting the whole car resprayed Just that belt line.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by BLUDICE
Leave it all on - too easy to damage when you reinstall.
I'm leaning towards doing that.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 10:21 AM
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It depends. Normally, they would want you to leave them on for a color match with basecoat, as they will blend the doors.

But if they're just painting the strips, I dunno if it matters?

As long as they tape it carefully, it should be fine either way.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 10:29 AM
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Not sure how easy that piece is for the later model C4's but on my 84, you'd have to pretty put gut the ENTIRE door to get that trim piece off, it's behind the glass (you need to drop the glass to get the motor assembly out) and you pretty much get the picture, one thing leads to another and almost all of it has to come out. You'd end up breaking atleast something, as a lot of these parts are very fragile (clips that go on the end of the door locks that are plastic, brittle, and break easy. I'd advise against it, unless they made the piece easier to get off the later C4's. Not to mention the door is a ABSOLUTE PAIN to put back together, the tight spots where the bolts go, all the angles you need, you need a flashlight up inside the door panel to get some of the screws back in, they fall off the socket and fall into the bottom of the door panel, it's an absolute nightmare. This may sound crazy, but it's pretty much a two person job to put the door back together, many pieces having to be temporarily held up while pieces are put under/around them. I never want to see behind a C4 door panel Ever again

Last edited by BrandensBeast; Oct 7, 2016 at 10:32 AM.
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 12:53 PM
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Yup. Sounds like it would be the same on the later c4s. I've taken the door panel apart on my other to get to the window motor. A pain. The guy I'm taking it to painted my targa two years ago, and it matches perfectly. Thanks everyone
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Old Oct 7, 2016 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 1993C4LT1
Yup. Sounds like it would be the same on the later c4s. I've taken the door panel apart on my other to get to the window motor. A pain. The guy I'm taking it to painted my targa two years ago, and it matches perfectly. Thanks everyone
No problem best of luck with the paint let us know how it goes.
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Old Oct 15, 2016 | 05:28 PM
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Very happy with how the paint turned out. I know the painted door handles aren't factory, but I like it.





Pic of the Car, just because
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Old Oct 15, 2016 | 06:01 PM
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That looks very good
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Old Oct 15, 2016 | 06:36 PM
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Thanks, from another Brandon, but spelled different
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Old Oct 17, 2016 | 01:21 PM
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That looks really good! Your car looks great!! Great job.
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Old Oct 17, 2016 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by zachaeous
That looks really good! Your car looks great!! Great job.
Thanks!
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Old Oct 17, 2016 | 05:47 PM
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looks Great!!
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