4200 Rear screen replacement

[Matt82]

Whilst I was changing the heater matrix on the 4200 and had the carpets etc. out, I noticed that rear footwells and boot filled up with water after I’d cleaned the car. Upon investigation, and removal of the rear seats and parcel shelf, it became obvious that the rear screen bonding was the culprit. The rubber seal was also very perished.

I managed to find a second hand rear screen with a serviceable rubber seal and took it to the local National Windscreens workshop for them to swap the screens and bond the new one in.

Unfortunately, the previously applied bonding over lapped onto the rubber seal (on both existing and newly acquired screens), meaning that the bonding couldn’t be cleaned off without destroying the rubbers!

The very helpful fitter suggested that he thought they may have a universal seal that would fit the profile and would I like him to give it a go.
Pictures below of the result, I’m happy, screen rebonded so no leaks and I think the rubber looks decent, only slight compromise is that the rubber lip onto the glass is a bit smaller, so it doesn’t cover some imperfections that the original did. But if I didn’t know this I probably wouldn’t notice.

£108 all in

 

[CatmanV2]

Sounds like a damned good deal!

C

 

[Matt82]

Sounds like a damned good deal!

C

Yes, I think it’s a decent result!

 

[dgmx5]

@Matt82 where was this?

Mine is looking past its best and I can't get hold of the SwissVax stuff that I think @2b1ask1 recommended that may help bring the rubber back.

A replacement may be necessary in the foreseeable future. Good to know that there is a possible fix.

 

[Zep]

That looks excellent. There is hope for all those crispy screen seals.

 

[Oneball]

@Matt82 where was this?

Mine is looking past its best and I can't get hold of the SwissVax stuff that I think @2b1ask1 recommended that may help bring the rubber back.

A replacement may be necessary in the foreseeable future. Good to know that there is a possible fix.

have you tried gummi pflege?

 

[Eightpot]

Nice job! Looks fairly close to the original seal to me too.

 

[Matt82]

@Matt82 where was this?

Mine is looking past its best and I can't get hold of the SwissVax stuff that I think @2b1ask1 recommended that may help bring the rubber back.

A replacement may be necessary in the foreseeable future. Good to know that there is a possible fix.

It was the Plymouth branch of National Windscreens, might be a long way for some of you! Although he was more than happy when I suggested he may get an influx of Masers.
He also said the universal rubber he used is readily available in most branches

Plymouth Windscreen Replacement & Windscreen Repair | Kingsbridge, Torpoint, Plympton, Saltash & Devon Fitting Centre Coverage

National Windscreens Plymouth fitting centre carries out windscreen replacements and windscreen repairs throughout all of Devon providing cover for vehicles of all types. Contact us directly for more information.

www.nationalwindscreens.co.uk

 

[2b1ask1]

Looks great and a handy get out of jail fix!

DGMX; it was zymól 'Seal' the product I was recommending, one bottle will last a lifetime.

 

[Masera]

Wish I was over the pond! I have some paint bubbling where the rear screen meets the rear quarter panel. The correct fix is to remove the rear screen, do the body work, and reinstall the screen. No one here in the US wants to touch it. First they cannot guarantee removal with the possibility of breaking the screen, and if they do manage to remove it, they do not know how to properly reseal it because it looks like the seal is fused to the screen.

 

[CatmanV2]

It is, indeed, fused I understand

C

 

[TimR]

It's not that uncommon a failure as I understand...Result.
Too much sealant was an issue when I had mine resprayed last year. Not necessarily from Modena. The side glass seemed inseparable from the roof/door line trim. It wasnt designed to work like that- got there in the end !

 

[dgmx5]

So if the seal is fused to the screen, how did @Matt82's fitter sort it out?

I got the impression that this was a fix, and that the inability to remove, re-seal and re-bond a screen were a myth. Or have I got that wrong?

 

[CatmanV2]

So if the seal is fused to the screen, how did @Matt82's fitter sort it out?

I got the impression that this was a fix, and that the inability to remove, re-seal and re-bond a screen were a myth. Or have I got that wrong?

Mostly the seals get destroyed on removal, is my understanding. And you can't buy a seal separately as they are bonded to the screen.....

C

 

[Scaf]

I love reading about people who go the extra mile and invest a little time and effort to solve a problem.

 

[Masera]

This is my situation...

 

[CatmanV2]

This is my situation...
View attachment 83416

Classic symptoms sadly

C

 

[safrane]

has it had a screen change before?... must screen rust is a result of scratches caused by poor removal of the old one and the sealants

 

[Scaf]

Sadly we all know that won’t get any better on its own and the screen will have to come out

 

[Matt82]

From what the fitters have done and looking at the spare screen I now have, it looks to me like it is a ‘standard’ rubber seal, in that the glass sits in the groove of the rubber.

The issue seems to be where the bonding compound has to be spread to seal the glass to the body, this has to cover some of the inner lip of the rubber seal, therefore ‘bonding’ the rubber to both the glass and the body.

This then means that to clean the old bonding off, you will inevitably tear/damage the rubber.

It doesn’t look like rubber came bonded to the glass, rather that it ended up bonded to the glass once fitted?