I don't think you can remove the chrome from the trim, at least no in a destructive way.

 

Have window down and gently pull upwards inch by inch.
If you just pull at end trim will bend, because trim has alumium as base.

 

Up, not out. Very important suggestion. Thanks!

 

^^^
What he said.
Use a plastic trim tool to pry it up little by little, moving around so as to pull it evenly and not bend it.

Installation is best done with a long block of soft wood and a hammer, tapping a little bit at a time.
The block is to spread the force so as to not dent. Sand radius on each end so that you don't have sharp spots on the wood that might dent.
This is pretty easy to mess up, as simple as it may seem.

 

I appreciate the confirmation and additional suggestions.

 

I'm not sure what you are asking, but the trim around the window does not allow the metal strips to be taken off.

Here's a page from RealOEM for my E93, you want to look at Item 3. Notice that there is a version that has aluminum and one that's black. My thesis is that the same parts for your car are similar, but you have to find your car and check.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=WL13-USA-04-2008-E93-BMW-328i&diagId=51_6191

 

I'm not sure what you are asking, but the trim around the window does not allow the metal strips to be taken off.

Here's a page from RealOEM for my E93, you want to look at Item 3. Notice that there is a version that has aluminum and one that's black. My thesis is that the same parts for your car are similar, but you have to find your car and check.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=WL13-USA-04-2008-E93-BMW-328i&diagId=51_6191

What?
I'm not sure why you're posting E93 parts lists here, but why wouldn't E46 mount that trim similarly and be removable in the same way?
Also, several of us who have actually removed that trim on our E46s have already posted in this thread.

 

Easy peasey. Took about 15 minutes, thanks to input from group. Used an 8” piece of 4” pine board and a large plastic hammer to remove each piece upward, then reinstall gently. Note that the felt strip against the window comes off and is replaced with the trim strip, so it is not a consideration. Thanks, all!