E39 perished windscreen rubber

[Tazar]

Age has taken its toll on my e39 as it has on many of us. Bit by bit I’m replacing the tired bits and the front and rear screen rubbers have perished.
I can obviously try and source OE ones from BMW but they probably cost an arm and a leg and certainly fitting them will be. If I go to a windscreen replacement company will they be able to supply and fit at a reasonable cost?

Is it just a case of removing the rubber without removing the screens?

[LankyMcTally]

An OE replacement is really the only option that works. Cheap alternatives are available and if you ever have a windscreen replacement through insurance it is usually an aftermarket rubber that will come with it, but they do not fit properly. This almost always results in markedly increased wind noise. The BMW-supplied parts are simple to fit and just push into the aperture, the front as one piece and the rear as two separate pieces. A little soapy water helps you to seat the new rubbers properly. A few owners have put helpful videos on YouTube so I recommend that you have a quick look at those to see how straightforward the job is.

[d_a_n1979]

Tazar said:

Age has taken its toll on my e39 as it has on many of us. Bit by bit I’m replacing the tired bits and the front and rear screen rubbers have perished.
I can obviously try and source OE ones from BMW but they probably cost an arm and a leg and certainly fitting them will be. If I go to a windscreen replacement company will they be able to supply and fit at a reasonable cost?

Is it just a case of removing the rubber without removing the screens?

Stick with OEM BMW - not expensive at all and they work/fit properly

Speak to Cotswolds BMW for the prices

PNs here; front is one piece. Rear is 2 pieces (bottom part is a separate part)

Think I paid c£40 for the front one for my previous Jap import E39 540i Sport and a bit more than that for the rears

They simply pull out (corners first where the metal is inside); clean the channels thoroughly and then knock in the new ones with the palm of your hand; a bit of fairly liquid spray helps a lot

[Glassman]

The correct way is to remove the windscreen.

If you get one to fit in situ it's luck more than skill and even then, I'd question it is fiddly to get onto the glass edge when the windscreen is on a trestle.

[Pica-Pica]

I replaced an E36 rubber. This had a bonded in glass windscreen. On that there was absolutely no need to remove the glass. Search on line, there will be some examples of replacing rubber surrounds.

[Glassman]

Pica-Pica said:

I replaced an E36 rubber. This had a bonded in glass windscreen. On that there was absolutely no need to remove the glass. Search on line, there will be some examples of replacing rubber surrounds.

Again, luck more than by design or skill.

[d_a_n1979]

Glassman said:

The correct way is to remove the windscreen.

If you get one to fit in situ it's luck more than skill and even then, I'd question it is fiddly to get onto the glass edge when the windscreen is on a trestle.

Why is it when the rubber seal isn't part of the glass, and is a separate piece when installing; fitted after the screens been installed? Even TIS shows this

I can see you'll know hell of a lot more than most folk re car glazing; but the BMW manual does state that they're replaceable without removing the glass

[d_a_n1979]

Pica-Pica said:

I replaced an E36 rubber. This had a bonded in glass windscreen. On that there was absolutely no need to remove the glass. Search on line, there will be some examples of replacing rubber surrounds.

Same with the E39 - it's a totally separate piece and isn't part of the bonding

[Glassman]

d_a_n1979 said:

Why is it when the rubber seal isn't part of the glass, and is a separate piece when installing; fitted after the screens been installed? Even TIS shows this

I can see you'll know hell of a lot more than most folk re car glazing; but the BMW manual does state that they're replaceable without removing the glass

That's interesting. Can you show that part of the manual?

The trim is designed to fit on the glass edge before the glass goes in. There is also a notch in the middle of the trim which is to align with a witness mark on the inside of the glass.

[d_a_n1979]

Glassman said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Why is it when the rubber seal isn't part of the glass, and is a separate piece when installing; fitted after the screens been installed? Even TIS shows this

I can see you'll know hell of a lot more than most folk re car glazing; but the BMW manual does state that they're replaceable without removing the glass

That's interesting. Can you show that part of the manual?

The trim is designed to fit on the glass edge before the glass goes in. There is also a notch in the middle of the trim which is to align with a witness mark on the inside of the glass.

Ah fair enough; did wonder if that's the case

TIS isn't available any more (I haven't got access); BMW locked it down

But when doing my Jap import E39 touring (and later Jap import E39 540i saloon) I did refer to the page again to make sure

Both came out easy enough (they were nigh on non existent where they'd perished) & the new ones went in without a hitch

[lufbramatt]

Did the front and rear screen trims on my e39, were about £40-50 each from Cotswolds. Worth doing the rubber triangles around the bonnet hinges at the same time.

I had also read that they’re meant to go on the screen before fitting but I didn’t have any issue with fitting them with the screen in place. Do it on a warm day so the rubber is more pliable. Have to make sure it’s centralised and pushed down snug into the recess. Removing the old trim was the hardest part as it fell to bits and it has a metal core which all needs very carefully removing from the edge of the screen.

[d_a_n1979]

lufbramatt said:

Did the front and rear screen trims on my e39, were about £40-50 each from Cotswolds. Worth doing the rubber triangles around the bonnet hinges at the same time.

I had also read that they’re meant to go on the screen before fitting but I didn’t have any issue with fitting them with the screen in place. Do it on a warm day so the rubber is more pliable. Have to make sure it’s centralised and pushed down snug into the recess. Removing the old trim was the hardest part as it fell to bits and it has a metal core which all needs very carefully removing from the edge of the screen.

The corner sections are the hardest; but careful with needle nose pliers and it comes out - agree, a warm day is best, that's if there's enough rubber left over

[Glassman]

I've many E36 and E39 windscreens, front and rear. When removing the old trim, they're usually easy to pull out. However, if they're sat on top of the PUR it'll be harder but in any case, you'll not get a new trim in without trimming something or ultimately, removing the windscreen.

[d_a_n1979]

Glassman said:

I've many E36 and E39 windscreens, front and rear. When removing the old trim, they're usually easy to pull out. However, if they're sat on top of the PUR it'll be harder but in any case, you'll not get a new trim in without trimming something or ultimately, removing the windscreen.

What's the PUR sorry?

[Pica-Pica]

Glassman said:

I've many E36 and E39 windscreens, front and rear. When removing the old trim, they're usually easy to pull out. However, if they're sat on top of the PUR it'll be harder but in any case, you'll not get a new trim in without trimming something or ultimately, removing the windscreen.

I managed perfectly fine.
PUR = polyurethane relative adhesive.
I am not sure about BMW, but in production, most screens have robot applied adhesive, line-side, picked up by another robot with vacuum suckers, located to front aperture (laser guided) and positioned. Then suckers are de-activated. Any trim is added later.

[TX1]

On my e92 noticed some bits cracked and some bits missing, found this on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183888013374?_ul=GB
Might have a go myself.

[Olivergt]

Glassman,

I think this is the trim that is being replaced?

Is it really necessary to remove the glass for this?

https://youtu.be/sxPlV_hM2m8?si=-RjtBZlM-rZqk0Mp

I'm sure M539 on YT has done the same as well without issue and he would be quite fastidious as well.

I'll definitely bow to your superior windscreen knowledge, but it doesn't seem like the glass needs to come out for tus trim to be fitted?

[Glassman]

Olivergt said:

Glassman,

I think this is the trim that is being replaced?

Is it really necessary to remove the glass for this?

https://youtu.be/sxPlV_hM2m8?si=-RjtBZlM-rZqk0Mp

I'm sure M539 on YT has done the same as well without issue and he would be quite fastidious as well.

I'll definitely bow to your superior windscreen knowledge, but it doesn't seem like the glass needs to come out for tus trim to be fitted?

To be fitted properly, yes.

The guy (and others) manages to swap in with the glass in place although he does use a soap solution to ease the trim in. Inside the trim is butyl which helps grip the trim onto the glass. Butyl and soap don't mix.

It's clearly possible and many have managed to do it successfully. However, the design of the fitment is press it onto the glass edge before installing the windscreen. No washing up liquid is needed but a warmer trim does respond better to a cold one.

In three decades of fitting windscreens, the only application(s) where you would fit the trim after the glass going in is on a 'christmas tree' push-in fit on a Nissan or Toyota because they're designed that way (for the PUR to also adhere to the trim). I have never thought to do that on any BMW because it's a very different design and the butyl is doing the job the PUR does on the Japanese cars.

Good luck if you are thinking of trying it. Looks a long process and I'm quietly confident of not only doing it quicker by removing the glass, but overall, a better finish with no knife marks in the trim or car.

[d_a_n1979]

Glassman said:

Olivergt said:

Glassman,

I think this is the trim that is being replaced?

Is it really necessary to remove the glass for this?

https://youtu.be/sxPlV_hM2m8?si=-RjtBZlM-rZqk0Mp

I'm sure M539 on YT has done the same as well without issue and he would be quite fastidious as well.

I'll definitely bow to your superior windscreen knowledge, but it doesn't seem like the glass needs to come out for tus trim to be fitted?

To be fitted properly, yes.

The guy (and others) manages to swap in with the glass in place although he does use a soap solution to ease the trim in. Inside the trim is butyl which helps grip the trim onto the glass. Butyl and soap don't mix.

It's clearly possible and many have managed to do it successfully. However, the design of the fitment is press it onto the glass edge before installing the windscreen. No washing up liquid is needed but a warmer trim does respond better to a cold one.

In three decades of fitting windscreens, the only application(s) where you would fit the trim after the glass going in is on a 'christmas tree' push-in fit on a Nissan or Toyota because they're designed that way (for the PUR to also adhere to the trim). I have never thought to do that on any BMW because it's a very different design and the butyl is doing the job the PUR does on the Japanese cars.

Good luck if you are thinking of trying it. Looks a long process and I'm quietly confident of not only doing it quicker by removing the glass, but overall, a better finish with no knife marks in the trim or car.

There's no need to use any knives or any cutting tools. The top corners have metal in them, they just need to be pulled out carefully and then the channels cleaned of any debris and then the new trims pushed back in...

Did it on all 4 BMW E39s I had; the 2 Jap imports being the worst as the trims had died horrible with the additional heat in Japan etc; touring was just the front; Jap import 540i saloon was front and rear. Took all of 30mins to do both with zero issues

I do absolutely get what you're saying re glass out etc - but it is a well known DIY fix to be able to do them with glass in... It's all about being careful and not using any tools that aren't needed; but also sticking with the OEM BMW trim as aftermarket ones tend to not fit well or don't have the longevity

A quick spray of silicone spray etc soon has them in situ with no issues

[Glassman]

d_a_n1979 said:

The top corners have metal in them

Not on the E39 trims.