Fitting Rear Glass

2800csm5

2800csm5

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I have two fully restored coupes. The front and rear glass was remover before restoration and painting. After reinstalling the rear glass with new rubber gasket, I am having trouble getting the upper left and right corners to fit snugly. This is just where the window curves from the top and starts down the sides. Using my finger tips to pull the inside of the rubber over the flange dose not help, the gasket will not go all the way over the flange and on the outside, the edge of the gasket dose not sit flush on the body. The rest of the glass fits perfectly.

This problem happens on both coupes. I took the cars to the glass doctor and they could not get it to fit. Both front glass (windshield) fits OK. What am I missing?
 
Here is a picture of the problem. I hope it goes through.
 

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I have that phenomenon on several cars.
I look forward to any viable solutions to the issue.
Are your rear screens the original ones, or newly manufactured screens....?
Does a slightly too small rear screen cause the problem....?????
 
Did you use the BMW OEM gaskets? I know this an issue with aftermarket gaskets on 2002s. My coupe has only 1 inch or so where the gasket wants to curl under at the upper corner but still fits fairly well.
 
I'm relieved to here that I'm not the only one experiencing this problem The screens are all originals and is in perfect condition. The gaskets are genuine BMW OEM's.

One thing I noticed is that the edge of the gasket that hooks inside the frame lip, does not have any kind of grove to lock it in place, that seems strange.

I'm thinking, the only way to fix that area is to fill it with black silicon until it sits level with the body.
 
I have the same problem! Original glass,NOS gasket,professional installer.Did you leave the metal strip with "teeth" attached to the car?Have heard that causes problems.Mine has been back at the installers for 2 more weeks now.
 
What do some of the restoration guy's do???

I did use black rtv on my 928 rear quarters (to fill in some cracks) as there are no replacements available.

My e9 original seals are in excellent condition (garaged car) and I will consider removing and replacing window/seal intact when I do a refresh; I don't like what I am hearing about the new ones.

Jon
 
Fitting Windscreen

Several things guys;

Glass with mouldings are rare now, so the average installer probably hasn't a clue. I know there are good ones, experienced with older cars..... far and few.
BMW had window tools to help remove and install. The purpose of the tool was to move the gasket around and hook the grooves so the lip would cover. The hook has to be curved so you don't catch the edge of the glass.

Glass then was originaly worked, ground to fit the opening with a clearance all around so it floats in the gasket. So placement is important; if it touches, you hit a bump.... well we all know the rest. So if you've done major work, place the glass in the opening and make sure you have clearance. Rope- the purpose of the rope is to also aid in keeping the clearance and keep the glass from shifting so gaps/ gaskets are in the proper orientation.

The gasket- as Chris points out, they're not all the same. Compounds, dimensions, age, etc. can cause the gasket to be less than optimum. OEM. Lay them out in the sun, hot water, etc. Always save the old ones for comparison.

The manual says to start inserting the trim in the gasket at the corner. What happens is that area needs the most slack in the gasket to cover the curve. If done otherwise, the gasket has to stretch in the corner and becomes narrow which is less optimum. The trim in this area can pinch inwards and compound the issue.(Easy as you remove it)

In place and ready to start.... the glass/ rubber/ lip has to be coaxed into position... soap, glass cleaner, etc.... rope... not the wire... pulled in small increments , side to side while applying pressure and slaps with the palm of your hand to seat the glass and rubber lip ( the hidden ones, one with sealer.) If the lip is having a hard time... use the tool.. the gasket is slightly twisted and rolled in.( More than just the outside lip)

If both top corners are out.... start over... beginning at the top. The glass has probably slid downward. One side out... shift the glass towards the opening.

Over time.. all rubber shrinks. But the picture below shows that there are probably multiple things adding up to a bad situation for a new install.

One other thing... storage of glass- on edge. Compound curved glass can warp otherwise. In that case, you have to push out on the glass from the inside while coaxing the gasket to hold.

Two good links for review:
http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component...page,viewtopic/t,278563/highlight,windshield/

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component...iewtopic/t,342752/highlight,winshield+install

Hope this helps.
 
61Porsche
Thanks for your excellent write up, The procedure you described is exactly the way I installed both classes. (been doing this from the early 1970) however, these two defy logic.
 
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