Well, I took all of your advice into account and finally did the install yesterday. It REALLY wasn't bad!! I dreaded the job and kept procrastinating. But when I did it, I used a combination of your suggestions. I did it by myself...so that put me at a disadvantage, but I put blankets on the floor to prevent the trim from scraping and marring it or the car. Taped the ends so to not slam against the car. I first put the stuff in a bucket of warm(not hot) water. Then I started in the back heating up the trim with a hairdryer about one foot at a time. But I found that my wife's hairdryer didn't get hot enough. So, I used a heat gun, but had it set on low and I never let it stay in one part of the trim for any length of time. Once I got it to a temperature that I could still touch it with my hands without burning myself, it seemed to be fairly easy to work with. It would GIVE and fit. After I felt it give to fit, I held it there until it cooled. Then moved to the next one foot section. Doing the sharp curve around the wheelwells was the most challenging. But even those weren't bad.

Overall, looking back at it, I don't know why I procrastinated. I guess the whole job took me about an hour and a half. But remember, I was working by myself. I turned out nicely. I am happy with it.

I previously tried to install the chrome trim around the roof drip rail. I ended up getting so mad at it, that I ALMOST ended up throwing things!! I did in fact give up on that. Couldn't get the corners right. I think after I accomplished the lower trim, I may give the roof trim another try.

Well, you live and learn. Thanks for all your advice. It helped.

Had a crack at this job last weekend after dreading it for months (years?!), turned out to be not too bad.  My car is an Oz with the extra flares but here is my 2c:

-> The type of trim I have ('Cooper S') only went on one way, not possible to flip it to fit the curve of the trim to the tight curve on the car.  The way the trim is coiled when you get it is the opposite of what's needed for this, didn't matter in the end though.

-> I fitted the trim on the wheel arch, then heated where the tight bend will be with a hair dryer while gently applying pressure to the trim.  Once the trim is warm enough, you will feel it give a little and you can slowly start to bend it to the desired shape and fit to the car.  Stop heating with hair dryer when you feel it start to give.

-> Put something like a blanket on the ground under the trim as you put it on, the free end will scrape on the ground as you go and get scratched

Si

I guess it comes down to quality also.

Not sure what "brand" my deluxe trim was....but the heat gun ( on low ) melted trim on my first attempt.

Thanks all. I am going to attempt to accomplish this in the next day or two. Everyone but Alex thinks that this job is very frustrating. I will report back when the job is done. Hopefully, with no tools being thrown around the garage!!!

I dunk the strip in not-quite-boiling water, let it soak and then unroll it and pull it tight while letting it cool down.
Once it is in a straight untwisted line it is pretty easy to fit, and a hot air gun is ideal for the tight internal bends.

10mins a side all in.

Spitz's link is to Rachel's article on this site.

x2 on the hairdryer.  ( heat gun is too hot )

Lots os patience is required

//www.minimania.com/article/1581/Factory_trim_molding_installation_-_GFZ107___GZF105

Everyone has their tricks to make this work.  A couple that come to mind are...

• Stretch the trim out in the sun and pin the ends down so the trim relax and becomes a bit straighter.
• Though it seems intuitive to match the natural curve of the trim to the curve of the wheel arch... don't.  Bend the trim the opposite direction when installing it.
• The cautious use of a hair dryer to soften the trim at key points will help but don't go overboard.

Have any of you had any success with fitting the chrome trim around the wheel openings and the lower trim connecting the front and back? There HAS to be a trick to this. I heard there was a tech article on how to do it without tearing your hair out and throwing things around the garage!!

ANy secrets?