Window seals

vulcan1208

Member
Messages
168
I have my 3200 going in for a re paint soon and the painter has said that removing glass from an 18 year old car is always a risk and even if the glass does not crack there is a good chance some the seals will need replacing, the problem is that new ones don't seem to be available. They have said that they can respray with the glass in situ and use some "special" masking tape that will slightly lift the rubbers and allow them to paint slightly under the rubbers. Firstly does anyone know of any specialist seal manufacturers that may be able to produce new seals / rubbers and secondly what are people thoughts on leaving the glass in situ ?
 

MRichards

Member
Messages
278
My year 2000 model has been repainted using the special masking tape. No problems. I think your painter is getting a bit enthusiastic. Check your seals to see whether they are degraded by weather.
 

Rex B

Member
Messages
657
I don't know of any seal manufacturers.

A friend of mine had his 3200 resprayed and both screens taken out but the windscreen cracked when being refitted , It is a problem with old cars. He was lucky windscreen are available at around a grand but I don't think rear screens are. If it were me I would leave the rear screen in and then depending on the condition of the front screen I would if it is really good leave it in , if it is stone chipped I would remove it and buy a new screen and then clean up the existing seal.
The two rear quarter windows I would have remove as the seals on these look more difficult to pull out of the way for spraying. They are however bonded in and so you will incur labour to remove and clean all the old seals up for refiiting, unless you can buy new ones.

Best if luck, she will be one great looking AC when its finished. If you don'r mind me asking what sort of cost is a full respray.

Rex B
 

vulcan1208

Member
Messages
168
The quote is £3500 - 4000, there is a tiny bit of rust at the top of the front screen and some bubbles on one of the rear arches and until he takes it back to bare metal in these places he can't be exactly sure of the work involved.
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
I have my 3200 going in for a re paint soon and the painter has said that removing glass from an 18 year old car is always a risk and even if the glass does not crack there is a good chance some the seals will need replacing, the problem is that new ones don't seem to be available. They have said that they can respray with the glass in situ and use some "special" masking tape that will slightly lift the rubbers and allow them to paint slightly under the rubbers. Firstly does anyone know of any specialist seal manufacturers that may be able to produce new seals / rubbers and secondly what are people thoughts on leaving the glass in situ ?
My thoughts, leave it in situ, unless you have a cheap replacement and seals lined up.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
I’d say if you use the same color, the paint/ metal work is in good enough condition in the seal areas, the glass is iffy and/or seals are unavailable, you should leave the front & rear glass in situ. It’ll look perfect.

......there is a tiny bit of rust at the top of the front screen ....
You may find this issue forces your hand. :(

The trim along the side of the car needs to be removed for paint. As that’s a given, removing the 1/4 and door glass is obvious.
 

vulcan1208

Member
Messages
168
I don't know of any seal manufacturers.

A friend of mine had his 3200 resprayed and both screens taken out but the windscreen cracked when being refitted , It is a problem with old cars. He was lucky windscreen are available at around a grand but I don't think rear screens are. If it were me I would leave the rear screen in and then depending on the condition of the front screen I would if it is really good leave it in , if it is stone chipped I would remove it and buy a new screen and then clean up the existing seal.
The two rear quarter windows I would have remove as the seals on these look more difficult to pull out of the way for spraying. They are however bonded in and so you will incur labour to remove and clean all the old seals up for refiiting, unless you can buy new ones.

Best if luck, she will be one great looking AC when its finished. If you don'r mind me asking what sort of cost is a full respray.

Rex B


The respray was £3500, In the end I opted for the door glass to be removed but the other glass left in ( following the sprayers advice ), he said if it was a £100k + car then yes maybe remove everything but given lots of things are no longer available or very, very expensive for this car its best to do a very good job with the glass in situ and he seems to have done just that :)79423794247942579426
 

vulcan1208

Member
Messages
168
I forgot to mention that he was concerned about the rust at the top of the screen but one the metal was exposed the rust had not extended down past the widow seal, I have had the car nearly 18 years and never kept it covered and the paint fared pretty well, as it will be stored a lot of the time now and rarely used I anticipate the paint will last quite some time.