rear lower windshield seal / weatherstrip help!

[s0ldats]

so in my quest to replace all the disintegrating rubber trim pieces, i decided to start with this piece: the lower rear windshield seal. It has been sagging in the middle section, attracting dust and pine needles so i wanted to address that asap before any further issue arose.

the new piece arrived promptly from FCP and pulling off the old piece was straight forward but i was surprised to see how much black silicon adhesive was coming off with it.

please correct me if i'm wrong, but to my understanding this piece is installed with no adhesive as it is meant to fit and 'click' into the channel. this means the factory installed the windshield with a ton of extra adhesive.

Anyway, i proceeded on to prepping the area and removing the excess adhesive for the new piece.

Upon install, everything went smoothly and it pressed into place without any drama. 5 min later, i notice that the drivers side corner is pushing itself out of the channel and come to find there is still a ton of adhesive crammed into the channel!

do y'all have any pro tips on techniques, chemicals or tools i should use to clean out the channel to have a drama free lower seal re-install?

[Denny347]

I used liquid adhesive in the corner to hold it in place for mine. I used a razor blade to try to cut out as much of the factory adhesive and I couldn't get enough to let the corner sit flush.

[s0ldats]

Originally Posted by Denny347

I used liquid adhesive in the corner to hold it in place for mine. I used a razor blade to try to cut out as much of the factory adhesive and I couldn't get enough to let the corner sit flush.

thanks for that tip!

looks like i'm having a similar experience to you. what type model/brand of adhesive did you go with?

[TomHudson]

Originally Posted by s0ldats

thanks for that tip!

looks like i'm having a similar experience to you. what type model/brand of adhesive did you go with?

I had BMW replace mine 3 times.
It seems to be a chronic issue with these cars.

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by s0ldats

thanks for that tip!

looks like i'm having a similar experience to you. what type model/brand of adhesive did you go with?

Clear liquid nails. Just a little on each end. Then used painters tape to hold the molding in place while the adhesive set up.

[davedNconfused]

I tried more casual approaches but the ends always bowed. I ended up cleaning out the pre-filled schmoo from the channel of the new seal and whatever it left on the car from attempting to install.

Once clean and dry I applied Gorilla Glue to the channel of the seal. I folded up smaller sized pieces of cardboard in a back and forth in a zig-zag fashion to build it up. I used a towel and crammed it into the trunk's folding arms with a couple/several pieces of the built-up cardboard pushing up against the seal for added pressure.

The scissor style arms of the trunk allowed me to adjust the amount of pressure by how far I had it closed. Left it like that for 24+ hours doing one side at a time.

[nyc_dude]

BMW M3 Rear Window Seals

Recommend NOT replacing the lower rear window seal, since it is glued in place and rarely wears. You can use black silicone as the adhesive for the lower trim. Large trim piece is just pushed into place without any adhesive. Use a lubricating liquid/soap to make it easier to press in with a trim tool.

Use Goo Gone to clean the lower trim slot. The side seal pieces overlap with the lower piece ends to keep them in place

BMW M3 Front Windshield

NOTE: E92/93 vs E90 M3 front windshield seals are different.


Cheers

[Cyberdemon]

Ugh tried doing this today, my upper seal was totally deteriorated in the corners, watched two youtube videos that seemed pretty easy (though one says to use silicone, one says not to and I decided to rush and try to force it on dry).

My old seal on the bottom kept falling off completely and was full of dust. For everyone talking about gluing it on though, it looks like the part comes preloaded with a thin bead of black silicone. I forced it on but I think I just didn't get all of the old silicone off even after rag after rag of goo gone, plastic scrapers, etc. Either that, or there was a thin enough film of goo gone left that now the left side of the bottom edge didn't stick (Tried painters tape to hold it into place while it set, but it seemed futile).

Bought them from FCP Euro so I may just try to buy another set and return these. Interesting to hear people were using beads of glue in the corner, seems like nobody on Youtube did that and maybe thats why they all fail after time.

[cheesefries]

can anyone link the part number or link for this piece?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by cheesefries

can anyone link the part number or link for this piece?

51317138664 is the E90 part number. I don't actually think the lower seal exists on the E92? Check RealOEM if you need part numbers in general.

[cheesefries]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

51317138664 is the E90 part number. I don't actually think the lower seal exists on the E92? Check RealOEM if you need part numbers in general.

[s0ldats]

mine held on for about a year and started to pop off again. i'm gonna wait for a hot day to try to scrape all the dust caked goo out and try putting another one on... what a drag

[s0ldats]

update, came off again lol.

[InnerBlueSkies]

I had the dealer do mine, trust me I tried.

[trojane92]

interesting... my e92 does not have the bottom strip

[EMKOOP]

Has anyone found a better way to install the bottom seal yet?

[s0ldats]

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

Has anyone found a better way to install the bottom seal yet?

so even though it includes adhesive in the channel i've found that it needs extra help

i would put evenly spaced dabs of rtv or some other silicone adhesive maybe 10 inches apart from end to end before pressing in to install.

on my last replacement i used 3 dabs, one in middle and 2 on both ends and it is holding better than before but still pulling away.

for my next attempt i'll do more dabs!!

[EMKOOP]

Originally Posted by s0ldats

so even though it includes adhesive in the channel i've found that it needs extra help

i would put evenly spaced dabs of rtv or some other silicone adhesive maybe 10 inches apart from end to end before pressing in to install.

on my last replacement i used 3 dabs, one in middle and 2 on both ends and it is holding better than before but still pulling away.

for my next attempt i'll do more dabs!!

5-8 dabs spaced out evenly plus painters tape holding the piece in place overnight?

[s0ldats]

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

5-8 dabs spaced out evenly plus painters tape holding the piece in place overnight?

i think that's the ticket, also doing it in warm weather will make a huge difference too

[North.E92]

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

I had the dealer do mine, trust me I tried.

how much are dealers charging for this usually? mine is starting to deteriorate also thinking about getting it done soon.

[EMKOOP]

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

5-8 dabs spaced out evenly plus painters tape holding the piece in place overnight?

Fingers crossed it stays on nicely after the tape comes off 🤞🏻

[Thumbie]

Ugh! I just did my rear. Top was easy peasy (although I did this once before on my e36). Key is lining up the corners before pressing it all in so you don't get a bulge on one side.

The rear I could NOT get to stay. Wish I read through these threads first...The center third is fine, but the two ends won't stay in (one side will go in all the way but slowly comes out, the other wont even go all the way in). They are on enough to just cover the edge of the glass so that'll be "good enough" until I get a new trim and try again.

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

5-8 dabs spaced out evenly plus painters tape holding the piece in place overnight?

This is what I will try. Lots of painters tape as seen in above photo.