starting search for front windshield

shanon

shanon

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Gruppe,

I am beginning the slow search/sourcing a front windshield for my Euro '70 which I believe is a 'clear' unit. I understand that some E9's glass have a tint and not sure how to identify the tint (later years?)

Question: Wasn't there a fellow on here years ago who was discussing making a 'batch'?
Anyone have one in Northern CA there are not going to use? ;-)

Any leads/thoughts/experiences appreciated.

-shanon
 
The tint is almost imperceptible. Place a white piece of bond paper inside and look through from outside, should be able to tell. Go OEM.
 
I just replaced my E24 front windshield and OEM was not much higher cost than alternatives. Not sure about E9 glass though.
 
The clear one is 51319558351 but checking on Tomkinson it shows superseded by the green one 51311811131 at $375. Don't know what shipping would be.
 
I need one too... and a "few" other bits.

One needs to be careful with getting these, source them from a provider that warrants they will be good, uncracked upon delivery, and free of distortions, all of which seem to happen occasionally.

Then there's the never-ending debate about what the correct dimensions are supposed to be. IIRC someone taped off a glass or two and started a thread about it, which you should look up.

Carl Nelson (IIRC) suggests that a lot of the feeling that the recent glass is dimensionally inacurate is due more to distortion of the steel body once the previous/original glass is removed. I suppose this may mean you want the body supported beneath "A" and "C" pillars (yeah I know there's no B pillar) when the glass comes out.

Or you could cut and install Lexan but I am told it would be impractical for a street driven car as it would scratch up too soon. $395 sounds like a pretty good price to me, if it's OE or OEM glass. Shipping would kill, out here in the middle of the pond. As usual. (sigh)
 
if you are not near Tomkinson, it would probably be cheaper to buy from your local dealer and negotiate the best price possible (especially if they give a BMWCCA discount) ... as you won't be charged shipping (or shouldn't be)
 
Thx for the input guys.

Keep ya posted on how it all works out. Spoke with La Jolla and he suggested this a project to source locally, shipping is the killer.

Latest update on my research: I am glad I put a call into my insurance company...good to know those monthly dues are good for something.

-s
 
Update:

Anybody here have experience with a 'XYG' (Mfg) windshield?
It is a green tinted unit (only option in their system) offered by a local glass shop.

-s
 
Update:

Heard back from Tomkison: "We do not ship windshields because it will not arrive to you undamaged. Thank you"

This 'to-do' in turning into a small PITA.

Keep ya posted.
 
Any update on this? I just learned that the windshield is cracked on the E9 I am purchasing? Can someone throw out some numbers?

Regarding the Carl Nelson observation, I'm not at all opposed to welding support beams across the A-Pillars before removing the old glass. Perhaps this will help the new one go in.
 
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