Pillar-less doors…

[Megaflow]

There is a special place in hell for whoever invented pillar-less doors!

I found an internal water feature inside Mrs Megaflow’s R58 JCW Mini Coupe last week. I had to remove the entire carpet to get it to dry and have just spent 2 hours getting the new door seal into the millimetre perfect position to make it seal.

[Lincsls1]

Yeah but they're sporty!
And sporty always equals better!

[donkmeister]

Just wait until the seal ages slightly and the leak reappears, that'll be fun

Have to say they've been a mixed bag for me. Best designs are "passive" rather than reliant on the window dropping slightly when the door opens. Just a large squishy rubber profile for the glass to squash against to seal.

The "active" approach can (and does) go out of calibration, plus leads to a real ball-ache on the frostiest days.

[98elise]

Never had an issue with any of mine.

We currently have a focus convertible so a folding roof, and pllarless doors. Never had any water in the cabin. We get a bit in the boot, but I've had that on a few standard cars.

[Megaflow]

donkmeister said:

Just wait until the seal ages slightly and the leak reappears, that'll be fun

Have to say they've been a mixed bag for me. Best designs are "passive" rather than reliant on the window dropping slightly when the door opens. Just a large squishy rubber profile for the glass to squash against to seal.

The "active" approach can (and does) go out of calibration, plus leads to a real ball-ache on the frostiest days.

Mrs Megaflow wanted to change both seals as a precaution, I said as the drivers side seals, do not touch it!

Yep, passive is much better, never had a leak on my Elise and but the Cayman I couldn't get into in the winter and the Mini leaks, or at less used to.

[sanguinary]

Most of my recent cars have been pillarless. Great, until they freeze up and the window doesn't come down when opening the door.

I use Gummi Pflege on the seals and that seems to keep them in good nick. More so on the older cars I have.

[Konan]

It always feels perilous tugging on them when they're frozen shut.

My main issue is, after having them for a long time, regular doors become a danger.

I always roll the drivers window down when I work on a car in the garage, for quick access as much as anything. I'm very used to it not being in the way.

More than once, I've been in the middle of a job and needed to swing the door open, clocking myself in the head with the pillar

[andburg]

sanguinary said:

...until they freeze up and the window doesn't come down when opening the door.

Pain in the ass, had ti get a lukewarm watering can out today to ensure i could open and close my door without risking smashing the window against the roof

[sanguinary]

Konan said:

More than once, I've been in the middle of a job and needed to swing the door open, clocking myself in the head with the pillar

I feel your pain. It’s usually a side swipe across my chest for me! If I’m lucky I miss a nipple.