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The A-pillar and C-pillar trims on .:R32's with Curtain Airbags are held in place with a specially designed two-piece clip to prevent the trims flying off if an airbag is deployed.

VW advise to replace these clips whenever you remove the trim pieces. The part of the clip that remains in the metal pillar is destroyed during the removal process.

There is a special VW Tool number T10078 available to aid the removal of the trim pieces.

Essentially you need to hook the end of the installed clip through the hole in the end of the tool.

On the A-pillar, the removal of the clip is done completely blind and only by "feel".

Slide the T10078 tool under the trim into the plastic molded receptacle surrounding the clip and the hole in the tool will hook over the spike sticking up on the clip. You will hear an audible "click" if it engages correctly.

You then pull the tool out and "hopefully" the two parts of the clip disengage, which unlocks the clip and allows the trim to be removed. There are also some plastic clips retaining the A-pillar trim as well along the pillar. These will just pull out as you remove trim.

The second part of the clip remains in the A-pillar sheetmetal after you remove the plastic A-pillar trim. This clip needs to be removed from the sheetmetal. A brand new clip is installed in the A-pillar trim itself before re-installing A-pillar trim.

When re-installing trim replace the metal clips removed from the metal pillar with new ones. Here are a couple of closeup pictures of how the two clips are installed onto the A-pillar trim prior to it's reinstallation:

The two clips are pre-installed on the A-pillar trim piece and then the assembly is firmly clipped into the A-pillar sheetmetal during installation.

Unclip the trim strip at rear of headliner running across top of the hatch opening.

Unclip the trim running up the side of hatch rubber.

Pull the C-pillar trim away from the pillar. There are some plastic clips retaining the C-pillar trim.

The C-pillar trim will still be retained by the metal airbag clip at the top inner corner of the trim.

You can reach in behind the trim with the T10078 tool and visually see where the clip is to engage the tool.

Slide the T10078 tool under the trim into the plastic molded receptacle surrounding the clip and the hole in the tool will hook over the spike sticking up on the clip.

You then pull the tool out and "hopefully" the two parts of the clip disengage, which unlocks the clip and allows the trim to be fully removed.

Again, part of the metal clip will remains in the C-pillar sheetmetal after you remove the trim. This clip needs to be removed from the sheetmetal. A brand new clip is installed in the C-pillar trim itself before re-installing C-pillar trim.

When re-installing trim replace the metal clips with new ones.

The two clips are pre-installed on the C-pillar trim piece as per above photos and then the assembly is firmly clipped into the C-pillar sheetmetal during installation.