Glass rubber cover, windshield & rear window (E39)

Post some pics of what you're facing...a pic is worth a 1000 words!

Originally Posted by Ågent99

Post some pics of what you're facing...a pic is worth a 1000 words!

so where do i begin? from the top corners?


or from the base of the windshield? the plastic overlapping the windshield cover, would that be the "plastic buffers" waveho mentioned in his earlier responses on this thread?

Don't try to remove those black plastic nodes on the upper corners--they are a separate part that should not need to be replaced and is not part of the replacement item. Pry out the rubber cover from beneath it. Also, the black "flaps" on the lower corners need not be removed either. You will need to separate it when you install the new cover but you can easily push it back down.

I think it's best by prying up the corner pieces and (carefully!) use needle-nose pliers, with ends taped with electrical tape to get to the metal runner that is deep below. Really once you can grab that you can pull it out all the way across and down the sides. It will create an ungodly mess with the amount of rotted rubber you'll see. --Watch your step too!! If you get some rubber on the bottom of your shoe and walk around, you will create near-nonerasable black marks on hardwood floors, etc. I found out the hard way

Noticed that the rubber moulding started cracking earlier this year in my 1999 528i. My dealer told me that the entire windshield would have to be replaced as the windshield and moulding are one piece. I found it hard to believe that the moulding would begin to crack and fall off after eight years. Having owned several BMW's 1972 2002; 1975 2002; 1984 318i and a 1999 528i. I still drive the 75 2002 and only had the windshield moulding replaced once in 32 years. There seems to be a manufacturing problem with the E39's.
Being in the Northeast, we do have our hot weather

I have not come across this problem in the BMW Car Club (BMWCCA) Roundel magazine but will send in an inquiry. In the meantime, I'll be visiting my local repair shop to get their view on the moulding.

You should read the whole thread. You'll see that all dealers believe they need to remove the windshield...that is what their book tells them. However, you'll see that it simply isn't true for 99.99% of the cases.

The problem is the manufacturer of the cover...different vendors using different materials. Some E39s are just fine while others show issues after only 4-5 years.

This is very DIY but any capable auto glass shop should be able to handle it.

Originally Posted by Ågent99

You should read the whole thread. You'll see that all dealers believe they need to remove the windshield...that is what their book tells them. However, you'll see that it simply isn't true for 99.99% of the cases.

The problem is the manufacturer of the cover...different vendors using different materials. Some E39s are just fine while others show issues after only 4-5 years.

This is very DIY but any capable auto glass shop should be able to handle it.

I got mine done today and heard the exact same nonsense about having to remove the windshield. While I was waiting for the auto glass company to show up at the dealership, one service advisor insisted the glass must be removed (as did every service advisor before him). The glass company came and the job was done in under 30 minutes. The glass specialist said he sees about 1-2 of these per week on E39's and he is only one of many glass companies around town. Suffice it to say, it seems quite common, if not too common.

BTW, BMWNA did pick up the tab for me thankfully.

The BMW tech I tried to convince that it was an easy repair told me that he had personally done "hundreds" of these himself...all of them requiring a new windshield and at a cost of several hundred bucks to the customer. Do the math--it's too lucrative a business for BMW to start doind these cheaply.

Originally Posted by Waveho

The BMW tech I tried to convince that it was an easy repair told me that he had personally done "hundreds" of these himself...all of them requiring a new windshield and at a cost of several hundred bucks to the customer. Do the math--it's too lucrative a business for BMW to start doind these cheaply.

Maybe it was my luck since the dealer I went to didn't do glass repairs themselves, even for new glass installation.

thanks for all the help here guys...finally looks clean! no more cracks and stripping!

Originally Posted by slvr666

Am I the only '03 here with this problem? I agree %100 this is unacceptable. Specially on a car with factory warranty! I hope that this is not considered normal wear and tear and is still covered under warranty. I'll be making my way to the dealer next week, also have dead pixels on the radio. Love the car but scares me a little seeing such common parts fail on cars with outstanding reliability.

Reliability? BMW's has horrible reliability, I'm already too tired to fix this car. I am thinking of selling it.

I've completed the rubber strip replacement on my rear window but for some reason it will not stay seated in the channel near the bottom of the passenger side... all else went in fine. I've made multiple attempts to reinstall it? Anything in particular I should try? I've even tried pressing it in there with a plastic trowel made for grout which worked for everywhere else.

Maybe cleaning it is the issue? Any cleaning techniques?

I had some trouble seating a corner until I realized that there was actually some remnants of the old stripping stuck in there. I removed it and cleaned again with goo-gone, and all was well.

If anyone needs this part shoot me an email. I had my windshield replaced via my insurance, however they ordered this piece also and now I have an extra.

i was one of the unlucky ones the privies owner of my car (a old laddie) replaced the windshield at some crap shop and what do u know he used silicon out of everything else he could of used it had to be silicon so one day i cracked my windshield insurance payed for a new one and the glass repair guy came. he told me to come outside and well well well RUST he said the privies dumb ass had used silicon and there was not much he can do other than put extra glue o well for know my molding is great and the old one was great too.

1995 BMW 530i

well,

add me to the list........just did mine last night. not terribly bad. hardest part was getting the old one out without damaging anything.

I installed the cover at Sunday. I started the installation from the passage side corner. After finished, I found that the passage side corner is not flat, how to deal with it? Thanks!

Originally Posted by truelies

I installed the cover at Sunday. I started the installation from the passage side corner. After finished, I found that the passage side corner is not flat, how to deal with it? Thanks!

It may be that you didn't get all the pieces of the old cover out completely. When I installed mine, I was having a btch of a time getting one corner to lay flat, and when I pulled it back off and looked some more, I found some old materials obstructing the new fit. Cleaned it out some more and all was well....

Very helpfull I will try this

I like your wheels what are they and what year are they from

I installed it but not fit very well. Looks like I need to reinstall one of the black plastic nodes on the upper corner, any idea or picture on how to do this?

Make doubly-sure you've clean out ALL of the former cover...any bit left will not allow a good fit.

Originally Posted by Ågent99

Make doubly-sure you've clean out ALL of the former cover...any bit left will not allow a good fit.

How are you guys cleaning the edges under the window? I've taken goo-gone on a towel wrapped around a plastic paint trowel and tried to rub the gunk out but the thing still doesn't sit correctly. It was significantly improved in certain sections but it's still unacceptable. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by tdawg183

How are you guys cleaning the edges under the window? I've taken goo-gone on a towel wrapped around a plastic paint trowel and tried to rub the gunk out but the thing still doesn't sit correctly. It was significantly improved in certain sections but it's still unacceptable. Any suggestions?

I cleaned the corner, but still can't fit perfectly in left corner. I think if can remove the black plastic nodes will be helpful.

How are you guys getting in the creases with the goo gone? I tried once with a plastic spreading dowel and a towel wrapped around it with some goo gone and it helped seat the rubber a little better in spots but the damn thing wants to keep sliding out. My main problem is at the very top of the rear window in the dead center. Do you all just pour the goo gone in and rub it through with something? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Goo Gone with a micro fibre rag is all I used--but I think that the other important tool in this process is the shop vac. You'll need the strong sucking power of the shop vac--and not a regular vacuum cleaner or mini-vac--to help get all the crap out of the crease. Also I realize that some cars may have more broken-up pieces of the old covering embedded throughout than others, who may have been luckier in getting to this DIY sooner, before it really started crumbling....