Fitting a new windscreen seal to an E86 . Anybody done this ?

[1536Z4]

Help required please ,

Can anyone shed some light on how to fit a windscreen rubber seal to an E86 as there are a few videos on how to do it on an E85 but not an E86 . I am asking as this is on my to do list and another forum member Barty is having problems getting the rubber to fit in the gap between the roof and the windscreen even with lube . I am wondering if the procedure is different even though the seals are the same ?

Please see post by Barty https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131066&start=30

Any help much appreciated . Thank you in advance .

 

[1536Z4]

:tumbleweed:

 

[Wildfire]

Are you using a genuine seal or a patent one? I had a patent one fitted and it was awful. Autoglass guy came back with a genuine one and it was a massive improvement.

 

[1536Z4]

Hi Wildfire I have got a genuine seal but not tried fitting it yet . I think Barty has a genuine item but he will see this and hopefully reply . Thanks for the info Is that Sutton Surrey as I grew up around there ?

 

[Barty]

[ref]Wildfire[/ref] original BMW item here as well. Did the autoglass guy replace the entire screen and seal at the same time? As we’re only replacing the seal itself; screen is staying put. This poses the challenge of slotting it between the screen and roof section

 

[Dark Diggler]

I have replied in Barty's thread, here's my reply, I hope it helps

I did mine on my E86, I spent 3 hours and nearly removed all the skin on my fingers and could hardly hold a brew for an hour or 2, I'd looked at the guy in the US with the E85 do it on YouTube and it took minutes.
I eventually got a small torch and very closely inspected the glass that it should slip under and clip in, I noticed a minute amount of bonding sealant bulging from the windscreen, hardly noticeable really, I thought I'd cleaned the channel out thoroughly and I had, apart from when I looked down the channel from roof level using a decent torch and I could see what was stopping the trim going where it needed to.
So I got a craft type scalpel and went down the glass edge carefully, the sides were fine but about 50% of the roof edge needed cleaning up. I used washing up liquid and as much force as my fingers had left in them and it did then seat.
On a side note, shortly after this experience, my neighbour pulled the screen trim out of his 90s Fiesta, it wouldn't go back so he used a rubber mallet.....it cracked the windscreen, obviously. worth mentioning
Hope this helps as it was one of the most infuriating jobs I've done on the car.

 

[1536Z4]

Hope this helps as it was one of the most infuriating jobs I've done on the car.

Thanks Dark

 

[Wildfire]

Hi Wildfire I have got a genuine seal but not tried fitting it yet . I think Barty has a genuine item but he will see this and hopefully reply . Thanks for the info Is that Sutton Surrey as I grew up around there ?

I had a new screen fitted at the same time. Yes, Sutton Surrey. I'm originally from near Croydon myself. Lived all over the place and then ended up back near London. Definitely didn't fancy being back in Croydon.

 

[1536Z4]

Definitely didn't fancy being back in Croydon.

I don`t know Croydon that well ( but it has a reputation ) apart from being dragged there for the occasional shopping trip even though Sutton had everything you needed :headbang:

 

[Penelope]

Autoglass fitted a brand new BMW screen and BMW seal to mine in the pouring rain and freezing cold and did a perfect job but took a while...well over an hour. He did say that aftermarket screens without the BMW logo and or aftermarket seals or any combination of the two just don't work. Both screen and seal need to be genuine. The rain sensor doesn't work properly on aftermarket screens either apparently. Top guy.

 

[bigwinn]

I've just fitted the seal to Ians Z4- fiddly but simple

The biggest issue I'd say was the way the seal was pre-folded by the dealer

Old one out, crud removed. No issues

Took advice on trimming back the pre seated seals- done

Corner first and pull downwards to get the position correct- no issues doing the first vertical. Worked across the screen into the next corner and repeat- all good but still struggles with the positioning a bit. Used plastic tools etc to get the seating right. The benefit of the E85 was I could drop the roof and get more leverage on to the middle of the screen

I wouldn't write a how to as its so simple, just fiddly!

 

[patriot66]

Hi Stu
My screen surround is past its best and needs replacing really but this makes my OCD muscle very twitchy Did you get it to seat flatter ? :?

 

[bigwinn]

Hi Stu
My screen surround is past its best and needs replacing really but this makes my OCD muscle very twitchy Did you get it to seat flatter ? :?
Screenshot_20211220-132942_Chrome.jpg

Rest assured its much better now- I've done a better job flatting and reseating it

 

[1536Z4]

Both screen and seal need to be genuine.

Seems to be the way to go from what I have now read

 

[1536Z4]

I could drop the roof and get more leverage on to the middle of the screen

I think this could make all the difference as I really struggled getting the new seal on a E91 to push in because of the stretch over the roof .

 

[bigwinn]

I could drop the roof and get more leverage on to the middle of the screen

I think this could make all the difference as I really struggled getting the new seal on a E91 to push in because of the stretch over the roof .

100% agree

Without roof down you were pulling it down the screen toward you, with the roof down you were able to get a better angle and push away from you

Sorry that doesn’t help you e86 guys…

 

[1536Z4]

Sorry that doesn’t help you e86 guys…

I`ll have to hang myself from the garage roof Tom Cruise style

 

[bigwinn]

:rofl:

 

[Barty]

Thank god for 6’1 and long ape-arms The Tom Cruise alternative sounds good too

 

[1536Z4]

Just a quick update on this . I have tried to do this and gave up as I didn`t want to break the windscreen . A local windscreen guy with over 20 years experience confirmed that the coupe windscreens need to come out to replace the seal and they sometimes crack when doing it . He is hopefully going to replace the seal this week so will update then . Hope he doesn`t crack the windscreen as BMW have none in stock in the UK or Germany and I have been told it will be at least 2 months before I can get one from BMW .