New windshield is leaking bad; going to take it back to the

[Jeff in Louisiana]

After the repair, I was hoping I didn't have any issues with a leaking sunroof. It REALLY rained here today and I also noticed a wet floor after I washed the car this weekend. I removed the sunroof windscreen for good, and used a funnel to pour water into the front sunroof drains. The water went straight to the ground as it is supposed to. I removed the driver's side footwell speaker and had my daughter watch with a flashlight to see if any water showed up while pouring. None. I thought it could have been an issue because the body shop had to replace the smashed upper console and could have disconnected the drains.

Ok, all that to say this. I looked in both corners of my new windshield and it was VERY obvious that the glass man did a poor job in replacing the gasket and lockstrip. The body shop said the glass man could not make the new bottom lock strip fit, so he used the old one. There was water on the inside of both bottom corners of the windshield. It was a considerable amount and the gasket and lockstrip are loose.

I WILL get it fixed, just felt like ranting.

Jeff

[BMWCCA2]

Did you use a BMW-labeled windshield? I've had this running argument with my glass installer for nearly two decades now. I don't think the PPG, or others, fit the E28s correctly. My theory is that they are several millimeters too short. Every one I've seen installed seems to leave an ugly gap at the driver side top corner that wasn't there on the OE windshield it replaced. I've got two of them right now that I bought with PPG glass in them with this problem, one was just done a month ago. Anyone else notice this?

As I recall, the OE glass from BMW is cheap anyway, since it also fits the E12. Or does BMW NA source them from the U.S. now?

-Phil

[MarkD in NJ]

Jeff, did your installer install a new gasket and lockstrip when installing the new windshield?

I had my windshield replaced about a month ago - my PPG (which I agree did not fit quite right, but never leaked) replacement was smashed. The new replacement is a Pilkington (sp?) and seems to fit perfectly and does not leak. No ugly gaps, etc.

[Jeff in Louisiana]

The new windshield is a PPG and they replaced the gasket and the lockstrips. I had another PPG replacement about a year ago and did not have a leakage issue. However, this issue I believe is due to poor workmanship because the gasket appears loose at both bottom corners and the lower chrome cover strip and corners are loose. The glass guy told the body shop owner that he could not get the new piece to fit, so he had to use the old one.

I am dropping it off today to get it fixed.

Good thing is, this is the replacement from the mudflap incident and I can scream at the other insurance company until this is corrected.

Jeff

[MarkD in NJ]

This is a common issue - my glass installer commented that the hardest part of the install was getting the lockstrip around the tight corner bends without damaging the strip or the gasket. I'm pretty sure he used a heat gun to soften the strip and bend it to the correct angle. My gasket and lockstrips are tight - no play at all.

One more comment about the Pilkington windshield - it has a slightly different color tint than the rest of the glass in the car - kind of greenish. I really noticed it at first, but I don't anymore.

[Dan]

I had replacement glass put in that leaked, took it to a different shop and they were able to install it correctly, and stop the leaking.

[Azure]

Every one I've seen installed seems to leave an ugly gap at the driver side top corner that wasn't there on the OE windshield it replaced. I've got two of them right now that I bought with PPG glass in them with this problem, one was just done a month ago. Anyone else notice this?

~0 My 535is has that exact same gap! I think the windshield was replaced, cause there's a little black goop residue on the edge of the paint around the drivers side outer edge of the seal.

[Jeff in Louisiana]

I took it back to the shop today and the glass man removed the lower strip and put a bead of urethane all the way around the gasket on the outside and replaced the strip. It even looks better. My Brother-in-law works in that shop and says that once the urethane sets up, it becomes like a structural unit and it should never leak again.

We shall see