G50 Rear Reflector Clips

Wasatch 911S · 03-12-2024, 08:39 AM

I an trying to replace the 5 clips that hold the center reflector on the back of the car and for the life of me can't figure out how to attach them to the body of the car. Please refer to the photos of the old one on the left and the new one on the right.

I tried to just press on the new ones thinking the two small tabs would catch the sheet metal, but no matter how much force I use they will not drop in and stay. When removing the old ones the small tabs were bent back. Do I need to "pre-bend" the small tabs on the new ones? I hate to mess with a new part if there is trick to getting these to stay secure in the car.

almostordinary · almostordinary's Garage

The tabs are very odd.

Mine went in on two occasions where I barely put any pressure on them, the opposite of what I thought I should be doing... it's been a while, but be a bit more delicate and surgical when pressing them in and you should find the sweet spot.

GL.

Wasatch 911S · 03-14-2024, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the help, but no joy. I tried putting a lot of pressure down with "soft" tools and they will not seat. Freshly painted car so I am reluctant to use metal to push them home.

Wonder if the design changed or the new paint is too think.

Wasatch 911S · 03-14-2024, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the help, but no joy. I tried putting a lot of pressure down with "soft" tools and they will not seat. Freshly painted car so I am reluctant to use metal to push them down further until I know they are right.

Terrafirma · 09:02 PM

The tabs on each side that are under the base plate need to be bent properly so that they will catch underneath. I pressed down with a flat head on the base plate right above those tabs for it to lock in on each side. But a plastic pry tool should work also. It looks like yours need to be adjusted.

Wasatch 911S · 03-17-2024, 07:05 AM

If I bend the tabs out slightly when I go to press them in they just move back and refuse to seat under the sheet metal. Amazing how something so simple can be so difficult to install.

The car was recently painted so maybe the new paint is thick enough that the tabs will not catch. I am now thinking or trimming them so it will create more of a gap when I press down from the top. Thanks for the help.

Wasatch 911S · 03-18-2024, 08:26 PM

Just a follow up. I carefully trimmed a small amount of metal from the front tab and then was able to seat the back tab. I then very firmly press the front down to catch the trimmed tab. Can't believe how long I struggled with these things.

The good news is once both tabs seat under the sheet metal the clips are going nowhere.