Windscreen surround replacement

N

nr.

Member
 The Fens
One thing that I always knew I'd need to do with my E85 was the windscreen surround rubber. It was 22 years old, perished, and turning green in places. The part is easy enough to find (I ordered one from LLL - came in at about £40 including postage) and I'd seen the videos that showed the complete removal and refitting process being completed in just about enough time for a decent pot of tea to brew.

So, I popped the kettle on, assembled the tools, filled the teapot and got stuck in.

Blimey, what a trial. I can only assume that at some point in the past, my car has had a replacement screen and the fitter used industrial quantities of some secret mastic that's used to glue aircraft wings on. It took two hours to clear the channels of the stuff. And even then, I only got 90% of it I reckon. The old trim came out in about 97 pieces, as it just kept snapping as it was so tightly bonded in. This is impressive testimony to the glue as I tried to cut a few of the bigger pieces up to pop in the bin, and realised just how tough it is.

Anyway, job done - and it looks 100 times nicer than it did before. Once the channels were clear(ish), I gave everything a really good clean up, and it was genuinely a 10 minute job to install the new trim. The tea, however, was cold by then.
 
Absolutely! And that's what spurred me on to getting things as clean as I could. Honestly, I'd love to know that the old one was glued in with, as I'd buy a few tubes for when I absolutely don't want something to come unstuck. I'm willing to bet it was some kind of Sikaflex or similar. Anyway - well worth taking my time over, as the new trim is sitting flush and looking exactly as it should.
 
Exactly the same experience here a couple of weeks ago.
The one came out in brittle pieces and the channel needed cleaning out to get the replacement in. I could only assume that the previous one was fitted before the windscreen adhesive had fully cured.

On the one on my car a few months ago, we found the the windscreen was likely fitted 1 or 2 millimetres off centre as the gap down the left side was tighter than the right for getting the trim in to.
 
The new seals already have a bead of sealant inside the edge that touches the window. So it is probably that which you needed to clean out, though maybe fitters don’t know that and add extra as well.
 
I never saw any sealant when I fitted mine (oem)?

My windscreen was fitted in the wrong place as well so it was an absolute b!tch to fit the new rubber
 
pvr said:
I never saw any sealant when I fitted mine (oem)?
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I was surprised too. It seemed to be a thin bead set right down in the groove. I only noticed as I didn't quite get it lined up and eased it back, to see a thin line of fresh sealant stringing out from there. Yes, OEM.
 
It was the top as well that I had issues with as the windscreen was sticking out higher than should be. The stuff on the screen I can't be sure if that was sealant or me dribbling whilst trying to force it down enough :)
 
pvr said:
It was the top as well that I had issues with as the windscreen was sticking out higher than should be. The stuff on the screen I can't be sure if that was sealant or me dribbling whilst trying to force it down enough :)
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Dribble?
I chose a light misting of wd40 to aid it's insertion.
Whatever works for you.
 
Methophircally speaking :sneaky:

I resorted to using some dedicated glue that was recommended and used some very strong masking tape over it to keep it stuck down whilst it was drying.

It was trying to slip off at the top each time so had to try to keep it down.
 
Popped my new one in and used a dab of KY to help it on its way, it looked great, then a month later I got hit by a missile on the A386 so Autoglass came to the rescue and it pains me to say but their effort looks slightly better than mine. I don't think I'd ever bother doing DIY
 
I did mine a few days ago. 80% came away easily and 20% seemed to be stuck with Super Glue. I think where the gunk that sticks the windscreen to the car oozed out and touched the rubber it stuck the rubber good and proper. Done now though.
 
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