Adjust windshield rubber on a e86?

[Micke]

Might be a silly one but have not found an answer. My coupe has had the windshield replaced by the previous owner couple of years ago. What is annoying is that the rubber around the windshield does not sit correctly. No idea if the rubber is OEM (most probably not). Please see the pictures below for the issue I have.



Is there any easy way to push it towards the other side so it would sit correctly on both ends?

And sorry for the dusty pics, some stuff has been falling off the trees around here lately.

 

[bigwinn]

You’ll never safely get that moved in situ

Easier to pop it out and reseat it in my opinion?

 

[Micke]

That’s what I was afraid to hear, that it has to come off. In that case I’ll get it done in a distant future and maybe get a genuine windshield installed at the same time.

 

[bigwinn]

From experience they are either easy as pie or the hardest job ever. No inbetween

 

[TriggerFish]

If it helps, it doesn't look genuine. Here's mine for comparison





Edit to add - both sides taper in like that, it's not shrunken (or if it has shrunk, it's done it evenly!)

 

[Micke]

[ref]TriggerFish[/ref], thanks for the pictures. I thought it would somehow sit even/flush on the A-pillar. But now looking at my pictures I see that it would not be possible as there is not enough rubber and it would be as in your coupe.
In that case I’m not so annoyed anymore about how it sits

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mine looks like it fits better, but is also looking very tired.






So I'll need to deal with it soon. I'm just a bit worried after reading about issues people have had, like breaking the screen getting the trim off.

But I think it might be the original as the screen has the BMW logo at the bottom left-hand corner which seems to suggest it might not be too challenging - fingers crossed!

 

[CliveN]

I can answer this as I have just had my windscreen replaced with a genuine bmw screen and rubber. Getting the screen out is difficult and you will destroy the rubber. The new rubber fits around the screen so needs to be installed on the screen before fitting the screen to the car. It includes steel wires in it to provide strength. Even with a trained operator I also have the edges at the corner lifting. We were able to settle the edges down the side of the screen but the corners not. I have since found out that some techs use rubber glue to glue the corners down. It’s the only way I assure you as my rubber was super supple and the screen genuine (cost me lots). I am living with it. It won’t leak.

 

[CliveN]

And while my previous rubber was not lifting that was because the fitter (it was a pilkington) used loads of glue on the top rail. I think it’s a trait of the car…..but don’t please think you can just remove the rubber and replace it with the screen in place. It’s impossible.

 

[CliveN]

Finally it’s also difficult to remove the screen without damaging it as it needs to be cut out and the fact that the rubber wraps around the screen edge gives the fitter little scope to get the cutter wire in so they have to butcher the rubber and the screen inevitably gets chipped. So ensure you buy a new screen and rubber if you aim to do this job.

 

[bigwinn]

And while my previous rubber was not lifting that was because the fitter (it was a pilkington) used loads of glue on the top rail. I think it’s a trait of the car…..but don’t please think you can just remove the rubber and replace it with the screen in place. It’s impossible.

Sorry Clive I disagree

It’s very possible I’ve done plenty

Some are harder than others and that is as you point out down to the fitting of replacement screens and over use of adhesive

But it’s not impossible at all

 

[CliveN]

Okay I take that back. My problem must have been because the first replacement screen and rubber was fully glued in. It was immovable. I was helping the auto glass tech so was there. The rubber would just not move and we had to remove it in pieces. The screen needed to be replaced so I didn’t mind that it suffered. It was very difficult. I will amend advice to say if it has been replaced before and glue used then be careful.

 

[darich]

I replaced the trim on my E86. Such an easy job.
Took less than an hour to remove the old one, clean the area up, fit the new one, then remove it to refit it because it wasn't sitting right.
But I've read of others who really struggle so I wonder if there's a tolerance in glass fitting - if it's sitting a bit higher, then it's a real pain.

No glue required and if your windscreen is sitting low enough to allow the top edge to be inserted easily, then there's no need for glass removal , special tools or special skills.