Big problem with OEM front window seal. anybody had that? any suggestions?

[ezl]

This is one of these enoying problems that keep coming back nomater what you do...

I had my windshield replaced, I had my seal replaced. twice. This time its an OEM one, promised to be as good as it gets.

When i installed it (by a specialist and with the original trim) my specialist worned me that it doesnt look too good. it didnt seat well on the body, and looked to him as though it doesnt hold well enough. He was right.

Since then my window popped out 4 times in the middle of driving, i always had it reinstalled, but it keeps popping out.

My car is a perfectly rust and accidents free car, so no problem with the body, also the windshield is new. as far as i can understand, it can only be a problem with the seal.

please let me know if people here had a similar problem, and if genuine porsche one solved it. I realy dont know what to think anymore, and i cant use the car like this...

Thanks
Eitan

[Nine17]

PO put a new windshield and (supposedly) factory seal in the day before delivering my car 19 months ago. It's never popped out, but it doesn't sit right and the upper corners of the seal often curl under the body. I think it's the shape of the replacement glass. My mechanic and my body and paint guy both tell me to just live with it...

[ezl]

The thing with the corners bending inside is the first thing i saw, popping came later...

The shape of the glass cousing this sims more unlikely to me then the seal. The thing is, my specialist told me that apart from the problem you experienced also, the inner part that hold the body and keeps it in place, doesnt look to him to be deep enough.

Do you know the make of the windshield and the make of seal?

[dtw]

1. Is the glass a good fit? There is aftermarket glass that won't fit right no matter what you do

2. If yes to 1, the problem is the trim. Even the most careful removal of the trim from the old glass/seal will cause the curves in the trim to relax/distort. The upper corners in the trim are a very complex curve - in 3 dimensions. The trim must curve upward into the corner, and also back (from front to rear, longitudinally), in order to properly seat the seal.

I carefully use a big soft rubber mallet to work the trim into the proper profile when re-installing. This is done after the install - not off the car. Also - during the install - make sure that the glass/seal/trim assembly is not allowed to 'sag' down too low in the aperture.

The things that I have seen professional installers do, to try to make the upper corners look right, are shocking.

[Mattcamp]

What glass guys call OEM and what really is OEM are 2 different things. Make sure the rubber is GERMAN only. I just went through this and after 2 "OEM" rubber seals coming in to the glass shop....both being made in Czech Rep........I ended up insisting they order the German OEM rubber from Pelican. Rubber fits perfect with no issue on the outside corners. FYI....The windshield I ended up getting was a Pilkington.

[mca]

Originally Posted by dtw

1. Is the glass a good fit? There is aftermarket glass that won't fit right no matter what you do.

The OEM glass costs something like $800.

I had my windshield and seal replaced by a very reputable company here in Charleston. Initially they attempted to use an aftermarket piece of glass and it was something like 1/16 of an inch off. They struggled for a full day trying to get it to work b/c it was "supposed" to have the same dimensions and shape as the OEM glass.

[kozmo]

ditto on the OEM glass. You have to spend the $$ to get the right fit. Get the german OEM rubber seals from our host and you'll have no issues.

[dtw]

Originally Posted by mca

The OEM glass costs something like $800.

I had my windshield and seal replaced by a very reputable company here in Charleston. Initially they attempted to use an aftermarket piece of glass and it was something like 1/16 of an inch off. They struggled for a full day trying to get it to work b/c it was "supposed" to have the same dimensions and shape as the OEM glass.

Some of the aftermarket glass works, some doesn't. I'm having good luck with PPG glass. On another car, I pulled out some no-name sheet that didn't even come close to fitting.

Have never heard of a repro windshield seal that worked.

The trim is the most-overlooked variable and can make an install using all the right parts leak like a sieve if not installed properly. BTDT.

I use quality parts and give the trim TLC, and I don't use any dope/putty. Never had a leak.

[mca]

Originally Posted by dtw

Some of the aftermarket glass works, some doesn't. I'm having good luck with PPG glass.

That is great info. Thanks for sharing.

In South Carolina our auto insurance covers glass without any affect on insurance rates. Glad I didn't have to pay $800. Is it the same in NC?

[dtw]

Originally Posted by mca

That is great info. Thanks for sharing.

In South Carolina our auto insurance covers glass without any affect on insurance rates. Glad I didn't have to pay $800. Is it the same in NC?

I think so, but I am with USAA and they don't offer separate glass coverage on their auto policies. Owners with other carriers often have low or no-deductible glass replacements. I pay my regular deductible, so am out of luck. Just paid a mint to get a windshield on my 530i.

[Ed Bighi]

Seems that on this issue, true Porsche rubber takes care of it. I had similar issues a couple of years ago on a supposed OEM back window seal. It would not curve right no matter what we tried. But I have seen quality control issues on even dealer parts lately. Some parts that were previously made in Austria have changed big time after being produced in Czech. The most glaringly bad part are the latest batch of manual window regulators. These are true OEM parts from the dealer. On every passenger side regulator, the arms are welded at a bad angle and results in the window not going down fully. A friend of mine ordered the same part with the same result. This isn't particular to Porsche either. OEM exhaust hangers for my eighties Benz are lasting a fraction of what they used to. The way I see it, be glad when you can pay for quality because sometimes it isn't available at any price.

[JerryL]

On the corners, search here, there is a great thread on the install and a tool to make from a cabinet / door shim (the thin wooden tapered shims about 1.5" wide) you sand the thin end to a generous radius (about full to the width of shim) also thin it a touch and sand it smooth.
You place it under the rubber and parallel to the glass and use the rubber mallet to form your corners up into where they fit you shape the trim a bit.
I also shaped a chop stick to aid pulling small areas of the outer lip into place.

Was a job I dreaded but went very smooth.

That thread helped me do my 71 a couple months ago, came out great and was genuine Porsche seal,

Regards

[Jim Williams]

Here is one of the windshield replacement threads with lots of good info.
Gap between Rubber Windshield Seal & Body