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The complexity comes from your request to be able to "re-install them". I believe ISTA indicates to replace them. I've removed 3 sets of front wheel well liners. I'm sure others have future tips...
1. Use a metal scratch awl to push the center plastic "pin" inward until it is past the plastic rivet and tumbles into the unknown within your wheel well. I use a small forked nail puller to get under the plastic rivet and pry up. If the plastic rivet is being difficult, I will pry between the liner and wheel arch trim with integrated parking lamp/reflector to pop up the plastic rivet.
2. Removing the wheel arch trim without damaging the retainers is difficult. I pop the hood and push on each retainer from the inside with a M8 or M7? socket so that the retainer is compressed while pushing outward. Disconnect the parking lamp wire harness connector, then reattached the retainer black o-rings that are likely stuck to the sheet metal of your wheel arch. Note that the 3 tabs connecting the wheel arch trim to the front bumper can be a fight and you don't have to fully remove the wheel arch trim with parking lamp.
3. Once the wheel arch liner is fully removed you will need to pry the first large plastic retainer from your plastic rocker panel trim, along with removing 1 small Torx plug. This allows you to drop the very front of your plastic rocker trim and scrap/brush all the debris out. In this debris you will find some of the plastic "pins" (see the pile near my jack).
If I clean everything, each corner takes me 1.5 hours. Cleaning out the sunroof drain tubes adds more time.
An alternative is to buy new plastic rivets, but you miss the benefit of removing the moisture retaining debris that may eventually rust out that corner of your wheel well.
If your parking lamp socket has failed from heat, this is a good time to replace that combo socket/reflector part.
Nope, those are supper helpful. I have an old split flat tool from the 1950s i use that is the craftsman one that was made in the usa. Looks like the one above but shorter and bent neck.
According to the 'FRONT WHEEL COVER Diagram' [above]' for the R60 Countryman-
It is showing= Removing only '4 clips/screws' in order to take-off the Plastic WHEEL COVER = screws & clips # 5. #4, # 10, #6
Am I correct, that I only need to remove those 4 clips/screws' to remove it? = screws & clips # 5. #4, # 10, #6
You can see the holes on the factory cover and they are on the front and rear section, their are some screws for the front air ducts and then those. The main ones are those expanding screws.
