just go buy new ones. the metal rails on the inside rust and brake over time so they start to warm and come out of the tabs.

 

$60 for all four at the stealership??? Im trying to get my lowers painted and my plastic is ripped...looks like im gonna be heading to the stealership right now!

 

depends on the dealer. at my dealer if i was to buy it with my employee pricing it would be about 100$

 

The car is almost 4 years old, is that old enough for the clips and things to have gone?

Apart from the visual things, is there any problem in leaving them like this. No water can get in because of the seal, can it?

 

The clips break when removing them.

Yes, leaving them pulled out could cause the door to rust.

 

okay i dont know how you brake the clips but youre not supposed to. the RAILS rust on the moulding itself.
If you want to take off the moulding, it should slide right off since its on rails. and if they are in a really bad state you can just pull it off since the rails hafe disintergrated(sp)

 

Thanks for your help.

I had a look, there are two screws holding them on, no sign of any clips ever being there. Once the screws have been removed the trim slides of its rail. Looks like it is the plastic whish is curved. Leaving it like this cant damage the car in my opinion, no more water can get to the bottom of the door than when the trim is flush. More can get under the door onto the cill, but this is plastic protected anyway.