Windshield seal issues

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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bkbimmer
Posts: 5873
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Windshield seal issues

Post by bkbimmer »

Hello everyone, I have been working on a e28 m5 for a while, I'm trying to wrap up the project so it can go back to its home... The customer ordered a new windshield seal, lock strip and lower aluminum trim all through BMW, after a valiant struggle I got the window installed and the lock strip in but for the life of me I can't get the lower trim to fit the seal. I've installed hundreds of windows and many of them in e28s, I have not had this issue before. The seal is made wrong and I'm not sure what to do at this point, restoring classic cars and trucks has become a nightmare with the quality of parts. Has anyone else had this issue with the new seals?

Thanks for listening to my rant,
Brent

 
Shawn D.
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Beamter
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Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by Shawn D. »

I note that you list all items as being new.  Are you sure it's the seal that's wrong and not the lower trim?  Many people here have complained about the shape of the latter being incorrect, so I suggest you compare it with the original.
austin8753
Posts: 1492
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by austin8753 »

Shawn D." wrote: Jan 06, 2025 6:28 AM I note that you list all items as being new.  Are you sure it's the seal that's wrong and not the lower trim?  Many people here have complained about the shape of the latter being incorrect, so I suggest you compare it with the original.
 
 
 
 
he's tried the original trim piece and the new one - both with the same result.  :/ 
bkbimmer
Posts: 5873
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Location: Portland, Or.

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by bkbimmer »

austin8753 wrote: Jan 06, 2025 11:20 AM
Shawn D." wrote: Jan 06, 2025 6:28 AM I note that you list all items as being new.  Are you sure it's the seal that's wrong and not the lower trim?  Many people here have complained about the shape of the latter being incorrect, so I suggest you compare it with the original.
 
 
he's tried the original trim piece and the new one - both with the same result.  :/ 
the town gossip is correct.
dsw99a
Posts: 410
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Location: Hawaii

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by dsw99a »

Just a guess, but i think the lower trim could go in first? With the lockstrip going in last.
I always remember having to wrestle to get the lockstrip in last, without mangling the seperate trim end pieces.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5873
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by bkbimmer »

dsw99a wrote: Jan 07, 2025 12:53 AM Just a guess, but i think the lower trim could go in first? With the lockstrip going in last.
I always remember having to wrestle to get the lockstrip in last, without mangling the seperate trim end pieces.
The issue is the seal does not properly accept the lower trim, the trim will not seat.
stuartinmn
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by stuartinmn »

This may or may not have relevance to your situation but I had a new factory windshield installed several years ago, and the shop that did the work said it was difficult - the curvature of the glass didn't seem to match the body very well so they really had to push hard to get it to go in.  I don't recall if they said anything about the trim strips but I would imagine that it could have also affected the gap the trim fits into (now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure they had difficulty with the little L-shaped trim bits at the lower corners.)
Mike W.
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Location: California Whine Country

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by Mike W. »

Any chance you still have the old one so you could compare the old and the new seal?

Past that there have been many complaints about new lower trim not fitting right.  How are you putting it in?  I use waterless hand cleaner as a lube, it's slick as snot and water soluble.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5873
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by bkbimmer »

Mike W." wrote: Jan 08, 2025 1:47 AM Any chance you still have the old one so you could compare the old and the new seal?

Past that there have been many complaints about new lower trim not fitting right.  How are you putting it in?  I use waterless hand cleaner as a lube, it's slick as snot and water soluble.
 

Im getting a used seal from a friend.

I use soapy water in a bottle.
 
Mike W.
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: California Whine Country

Re: Windshield seal issues

Post by Mike W. »

BTW, good to see you, I can't remember the last time I saw you post.
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