[Luckystrike24]

There's a few ways to install these, and here's how I installed mine.

The door panel needs to be removed and the handle needs to be removed from the door panel. They are melted plastic rivets that hold the handle to the door card and can be removed a few ways, drilling, remelting the rivet, or sanding the rivet with a rotary drum tool. I drilled the first one and melted the rest off because it was faster.

If you're unfamiliar with why you would replace these handles, the rubber melts and leaves black residue everywhere. It's quite aweful. Deformed texture shown below:





So the fun begins with how the heck do you install the new ones. Well it's actually very easy and all.you need is a propane or mapp gas torch, a camping nail from harbor freight and a pair of vice grips:

Heat the nail with the torch until the gas flame turns red after it hits the surface of the camping nail.


With the handle fully installed on the front side flip the door card over to expose the long extruded plastic that we will be melting down to make the rivet. Use the extremely hot nail to melt the plastic down to the face of the door card. If you heated the nailhead enough there's more than enough temperature to do one rivet in one shot. Do this outside in front of a fan upwind of the smoke if you cherish your health.



Final product looks factory:




And door panel with new handle installed:


Enjoy

[hernacec]

Mine are marketed as well, did you get these brand new or at a junk yard? How much?

[richidoo]

Thanks for the DIY! I got the door apart and saw it was melted rivets, I said WTF!!

I removed the rivets easily by drilling down a little with 1/4" drill bit, then chisel the rivet cap off.

Turnermotorsports.com sells the new parts, search "door panel pull handle" or "door handle pull exterior cover"

The outward facing part of the door pull with the imprinted texture is vinyl and can be reused. Wash the rubber gook off of it with liquid dish soap, 3M adhesive remover will melt the vinyl.

[m_thompson]

I just ordered a replacement handle for our 328xiT from GetBMWParts.com. They suggested that I buy other items, so the kit included:

1x 51417230854: SUPPORT, PULL STRAP,
1x 51419150340: CLASP
4x 07147119858: SCREW
4x 07119904199: WASHER
4x 07119904207: WASHER

I cut the posts on the door handle so they only protruded a few mm above the surface of the door panel. Then drilled the existing hole in the post all the way through so there was room for the screw to be tightened. I put a larger washer around the post, a smaller one on the screw, and tightened the screw. Some of the posts should have been cut a little shorter so they handle would be tight to the door panel. I just added a few more large washers to take up the space instead of shortening the posts a little more. Total time was about an hour.