Update: I just got my Defender back from the dealer for the A pillar trim warranty replacement and from detailer for PPF installation from windshield forward.

The latest redesigned A pillar parts were installed as part of the warranty work..

Since the detail shop’s PPF pattern for the fenders stopped short of going under the A pillar trim, the detail shop added a thin PPF strip under each lower A pillar trim. Hopefully presence of the PPF will help protect the paint on the top of the fender from damage from the A pillar trim being too tight.

When I got the Defender home, I removed the A pillar lower trim pieces and the bolts holding the long A pillar trim in place. Since the trim was pretty tight against the fender, my goal was to try to adjust the large A pillar trim pieces upward.

Unfortunately, the long A pillar trim pieces didn’t want to move upward much at all. The result was at least a thick piece of paper gap for one side and the same for the other side except for no clearance toward the rear.

On both sides, the gap is larger at the front than the rear. I tried to tilt the long trim piece in an attempt to balance the gap to no avail.

Bear in mind that the PPF under the A pillar trim reduces the effective gap.

 

Had an appointment at my dealer to replace the A pillar trim, and to perform a software update, but the day before I was to go, the service advisor called to say that one part was on back order and he doesn’t know when it is expected. Figures.

 

So the dealer replaced the two little lower pieces or the whole A pillar piece too? Do the replacements come painted from the factory or does the dealer need to get them painted?
Thanks

 

All three pieces on both A pillars were replaced. The underlying long part, the long outer part and the short bottom part are designed to work together. Mixing and matching these parts from different versions of designs is probably not a good idea.

The bottom parts are primed and need to be painted.

See the latest part numbers as of at least last month here:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/20...umbers-118556/

 

Thanks so much

 

If I understand correctly, several here had the body repainted where the pillar trim was rubbing. However, has anyone had any new trim part installed, or some other correction made to keep this problem from recurring? Otherwise, even after a respray the cycle repeats and rubbing will remove paint again? Has anyone discussed this with Land Rover for a permanent warranty fix?

 

I had the A pillar problem 2 months ago. Following a 300 km. to Sweden in cold weather the bottom part was missing! It appeared to have broken of the clips inside - and the plastic was broken. Dealer said it was hit by a rock during the trip - but when looking at the passenger side it was clear, that the pillar trim was moved way to low on the pillar. Dealer installed 2 new bottom parts + new pillar trim on driver side on warranty.