Gave up on installing the rear glass seal on the e90

[InnerBlueSkies]

Off to the dealership Tuesday to have them contract out the work. Interesting enough, they are warning me that the contractor let them know that more than likely the glass will need to be removed to do the job properly. Seems a bit excessive but what do I know, I tried to install it, unsuccessfully, 2x?

A case of you should of left good enough alone. Some very mild unnoticeable dry rotting, a process sped up by regular treatments of Gummi Plege rubber treatment. Yes, softening the rubber led to it slowly creeping up from the glass and gutter.

So a couple of youtube videos and 40 bucks later I took on the job having successfully completed projects which were much more difficult in the past. Despite numerous attempts I couldn't get it to seat correctly due to spots where the gasket for the seal under the glass swelled up.

I tried to trim and shave it but without the right tools (and smaller hands) I decided I couldn't safely do it without damaging the finish of the car or the glass. Plus, the seal is kind of a one and done item, once you install, trying to reinstall is messy, it loses it adhesiveness, etc.

[akkando]

Would safelight do it for you cheaper than the dealer?


Maybe I should stop using my rubber rejuvenation product...

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by akkando

Would safelight do it for you cheaper than the dealer?


Maybe I should stop using my rubber rejuvenation product...

I didn't shop around. I'll have a lot more leverage with the dealership if it is not completed to my satisfaction. I have a history with them and they are very responsive to complaints.

I'd continue to use your rubber treatment, just be careful, you are not going to undue dry rot. And that was just my personal theory, the rubber treatment soften up the seal which was stuck to the glass....and that was years of treatment. Perhaps it slowed down the dry rot process.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Some photos of before, was actually going to make a DIY for the forum on this one...LOL

[kscarrol]

Had mine done last year at Safelite with no issues and no need to remove the window...

[Scrippy]

I haven't done my rear yet but when I did my front, I installed the new rubber but did not pull the adhesive protector off for 2 days. I let the Cali sun heat it up so I could manipulate the rubber until it was perfect. Then while the car was in the sun I pulled the adhesive protectors out and made it permanent. Couldn't you do the same on the rear?

[Redd]

I replaced the rear glass seal on my E92 with no issues. The YouTube vids helped. I used WD40 so that I could easily slide the rubber seal into place.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

I haven't done my rear yet but when I did my front, I installed the new rubber but did not pull the adhesive protector off for 2 days. I let the Cali sun heat it up so I could manipulate the rubber until it was perfect. Then while the car was in the sun I pulled the adhesive protectors out and made it permanent. Couldn't you do the same on the rear?

The adhesive is in the grooves already, different design from the front which is subjected to heavy wind turbulence.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Had mine done last year at Safelite with no issues and no need to remove the window...

Originally Posted by Redd

I replaced the rear glass seal on my E92 with no issues. The YouTube vids helped. I used WD40 so that I could easily slide the rubber seal into place.

I'll admit I didn't use WD-40 which would of helped. I am sure safelite could do just as good if not a better job than the dealership. I chose the dealership because I am having some warrantied work done on the shadowline trim. Also, it eliminated a step of having to order the piece.

That said, I'll pulled a corner to illustrate what I was saying. I'm positive that rubber you are seeing is the window seal. I tried to pull it out with needle nose thinking it was just an old piece of the previous seal, definitely not. Something to consider is this has been a daily driven car subjected to 13 years of Central Texas heat.

As you can see with the way the rubber swelled, there is not way to correctly seat the new seal without do a significant amount of trimming, clean-up, and prep. I no longer have the eyes and hands for such small work in a a tiny space.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

The adhesive is in the grooves already, different design from the front which is subjected to heavy wind turbulence.

Really? Cause after you yank out the old the new has to bind somehow. I think the binding agent you are referring to is assigned to the glass. Most window rubber has its new adhesive on the rubber. I am not criticizing btw. I know these moldings are annoying.

[Cyberdemon]

I did mine last year and I got it done, the upper seal I should've used a lubricant but I got it on OK. Looking at similar E90s with dry rotted ones mine turned out much better, but it's a little bent in 1 corner that only I probably notice.

I got it from FCP so if I ever feel really bored I'll probably just buy a new one for free and do it again this time with a bit more prep work.

The lower seal is just inherently flawed in it's design IMO. Some folks mentioned using a tiny bit of liquid nails or other adhesive in the outer most corner to try to get it to fully bind with the window.

My lower seal is already starting to peel back off after less than 12 months. Any imperfections in the seal just lets dust and water in from car washes and everything else and so it just wants to pull out of place. It's mostly for cosmetics at the end of the day, so I'll deal with it when I deal with it or just leave it till it completely falls off like the old one.

I had good luck using a plastic trim tool to scrape and clean up a lot of the gunk from the old seal.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Update: $261 at the dealership for the upper, lower, and glass removal. If they did in fact remove the glass they did a superb job because I had a rear dash cam installed and from experience these headliners can be a PITA. Glass on both sides had been cleaned so I'll never know.

[brettcp]

Wow, that's an entirely different scenario than the front windshield seal - which was super easy (a 15 min job, no need to remove the glass). Glad you got it done and thanks for the info.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by brettcp

Wow, that's an entirely different scenario than the front windshield seal - which was super easy (a 15 min job, no need to remove the glass). Glad you got it done and thanks for the info.

I think my situation is unique. This should have been a 15 minute job. I just had bad luck. Don't let my experience discourage you. Here is a great video of someone who had zero issues.

[Cyberdemon]

Yeah would be interesting to know if they actually pulled the glass off. I guess Safelite does that stuff all the time.

Part of me thinks that with the right chemicals/sprays for installation and cleanup + 2 sets of hands to properly align both the left and right channel at the same time, it's not that bad of a job. My mistake was trying to do it myself and then realizing I was just a hair off but the adhesive was already tacked.

[Thumbie]

If you are talking about the rear window upper (and sides) seal, I have found the trick is to align the corners to center the top section FIRST, and then start pressing it in, starting at one of the corners. This is after you clean the channel really well.

If you start right away with one corner, you will have a bulge on one side.

[Fooksdaddy]

Plot twist, they called safelite to do a mobile install at the dealer!

[wyatth]

Interesting timing for a bump, I literally just ordered this part since I recently noticed a tear in my seal. Fingers crossed it's as easy as the video above which is what convinced me to give it a go!

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Interesting timing for a bump, I literally just ordered this part since I recently noticed a tear in my seal. Fingers crossed it's as easy as the video above which is what convinced me to give it a go!

ha same. except i was a genius and ordered the E92 one for my E90 and didn't realize it. sigh.

[kolosy]

just following up, with the correct part for the E90 + silicone spray it went on no problem.