Windshields

[stuartinmn]

I read that as well. Always remember that wikipedia articles are just written by "some dude" that had the spare time and may not be 100% accurate.

That's why I said I found other references that said the same thing.

[tsmall07]

I read that as well. Always remember that wikipedia articles are just written by "some dude" that had the spare time and may not be 100% accurate.

That's why I said I found other references that said the same thing.

You just added that sentence in with an edit.

[Discomatt]

I think it is all bullshit and there is some old dude lounging around laughing his ass off with a windshield install kit containing a tiger tooth and a bottle of humming bird piss that has all the answers.

Just like window tint, soapy water and a small rubber wedge (squeegee) make the job a cinch. I drove it around with a softball size impact crater and watched the fissures weave a web and it still never failed, leaked or earned a fix-it ticket. Still I did learn from many pros that the job is a labor of love, done methodically and unhurried with a velvet touch, soft music and perhaps even candles for sealing wax. All the answers are already here, from the observed thickening at the rump of mature stained glass in cathedrals from any freshman science text to the sources of who now owns the original forms.

Absent are the pair of gaskets, multiple trim strips and proprietary gap filling tube of adhesive to seal this deal. Best I can do is toss in a comically over sized shoe horn and wish a lucky buyer good luck.

This board is awesome, and nearly as much fun as driving an E28...

[Coldswede]

The best BMW parts man in the world, just informed me today there are no more factory E28 windshields available.

Anyone have a line on any NOS windshields squirreled away someplace?

Or how about this? Has anyone tried approaching the OE Sigla or Sekurit glass makers directly?

Old age sucks.

[rmiddendorf]

Old age sucks.

I know. I'm beginning to get the feeling that these cars are really going to kick us in the butt in parts cost increases and NLA over the next few years...

[stuartinmn]

The best BMW parts man in the world, just informed me today there are no more factory E28 windshields available.

Did you try all the different part numbers? I posted several of them here: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=83190

[bkbimmer]

I install all of my own glass and have never had an issue with the windshield's, in fact on a e12/e28 I can have a new windshield installed in about 20-30 min, the rear is always the one that gives me trouble! I have had the rear glass out of my e12 10+ times and I'm still not happy with the fit, the new seals fit too tight and it is almost impossible to fit the lock strip

[wkohler]

Perhaps you can put a windshield in whatever car I bring to 5er West. They all need them.

[bkbimmer]

The best BMW parts man in the world, just informed me today there are no more factory E28 windshields available.

Anyone have a line on any NOS windshields squirreled away someplace?

Or how about this? Has anyone tried approaching the OE Sigla or Sekurit glass makers directly?

Old age sucks.

Try dealing with cars that are actually OLD, that you really have to search when you need parts!

[Alfonso Bedoya]

No one has touched on the fact that, maybe a minty used factory windshield may work better for fitment than new, for some reason I am curious as to the thickness of factory vs OE? Has anyone taken micrometer to both?

[rmiddendorf]

The best BMW parts man in the world, just informed me today there are no more factory E28 windshields available.

Anyone have a line on any NOS windshields squirreled away someplace?

Or how about this? Has anyone tried approaching the OE Sigla or Sekurit glass makers directly?

Old age sucks.

Try dealing with cars that are actually OLD, that you really have to search when you need parts!

I have a buddy resto-modding a 38 Plymouth and he gets most of his stuff easily online, from JEGS, or from car shows rather easily. He even orders stuff from all over online. And most of its inexpensive too boot!

Of course he's custom made a lot of parts too... actually custom made some pretty cool stuff. Custom made a plate to adapt a 6-Speed Camaro transmission to fit his Hemi, which is completely re-built also.

[MicahO]

Just an FYI - Coldswede's note that the windshields are not available made me jump. I popped a crack under a rock chip when I removed my windshield earlier this winter and had been planning on ordering a new one sooner or later. I decided today was 'later' enough.

I just ordered one through Orange County (NY) BMW. It's the 51 31 1 848 431 Euro Green Band windshield, the 820 978 windshield was only available if ordered from Germany. Lists at 309.79 - 10% CCA discount + tax = 303.14 out the door. It *should* arrive Thursday and I'm picking it up on Friday.

[Coldswede]

Try dealing with cars that are actually OLD, that you really have to search when you need parts!

LOL Brent! I'm trying, I'm trying

So upon more (re) search it appear that MicahO has the proper formula. The Green band windshield 51 31 1 848 431 IS still available, but only from Germany. I'm getting the impression many dealer just don't want to deal with glass shipments for 25 year old cars or maybe they have some kind of restrictive policy's for this kind of thing.

Also even if you find a dealer who will sell it to you, you'll have to pick it up, they don't ship. So you have to have a fairly local, cooperative dealer.


As far as custom parts go, I love custom parts and Brent makes some of the best. Windshields however are not really something you can weld up, grind smooth, then finish up on the English Wheel.

[MicahO]

So upon more (re) search it appear that MicahO has the proper formula. The Green band windshield 51 31 1 848 431 IS still available, but only from Germany.

Just to clarify - the 848 431 green band windshield is currently available Stateside, 2 days to the dealer (at least in the NY tri-state area). The 820 978 windshield is the one that is only available from Germany, no estimate on shipping time.

Also even if you find a dealer who will sell it to you, you'll have to pick it up, they don't ship. So you have to have a fairly local, cooperative dealer.

I have to agree with this. In fact, I think I hit a guy at the parts desk when he was still sleepy and hadn't yet had his coffee. It's not an easy part to deal with, and pick-up will be a requirement.

How long that green-band windshield will be in inventory, or which parts-desk-guys are going to be willing to order it for you are open questions......

[stuartinmn]

Just to clarify - the 848 431 green band windshield is currently available Stateside, 2 days to the dealer (at least in the NY tri-state area).

That's the one I got for my car last summer. It was in stock in the Chicago warehouse, took two days to get it to Minneapolis. I had to pick it up at the dealer, they weren't going to ship it (I had asked Brian at Chattanooga BMW about that previously, and he also said they won't ship glass which I guess is easy to understand.) It comes in a BIG box...I went to pick it up in my 325ix, and there was no way it was going to fit in the car. I pulled the windshield out, reclined the passenger seat and laid it down inside the car. That worked fine, but it probably wouldn't have been very fun if I'd been in a collision with that big chunk of glass flying around.

[MicahO]

It comes in a BIG box...I went to pick it up in my 325ix

In an e30! Glad you got it home safe!

I'm glad to hear it will be in a big box. I'm going to make this trip in the Tundra, though I had expected to bring a shitload of moving blankets and tiedowns to immobilize it. In a box is a piece of cake. I really didn't know what to expect....

[stuartinmn]

It was packed really well, so no worries. Just strap it down well enough so it won't fly out on the highway at 70mph.

[grigalid]

Ever seen windows in very old houses? The glass is wavy from it deforming over time. Looks like it "flows" with the pull of gravity.

I'm calling BS on that. I think that's the way it was made. Unless exposed to extreme temps or force, I don't think glass will ever change its shape. Curved glass deforming under stress, like in a car, would make sense but not a simple windowpane. My $.02.

Study the physics. Glass is not as "solid" as you might think.

"The use of the term "supercooled liquid" to describe glass still persists, but is considered by many to be an unfortunate misnomer that should be avoided. In any case, claims that glass panes in old windows have deformed due to glass flow have never been substantiated. Examples of Roman glassware and calculations based on measurements of glass visco-properties indicate that these claims cannot be true. The observed features are more easily explained as a result of the imperfect methods used to make glass window panes before the float glass process was invented."

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/G ... glass.html

If yall want to read more on it.

[Cupholder Zealot]

The cupholder is still alive!

And getting a new windshield today. I'm replacing both the E28, and my Tacoma. The mobile guy quoted me $150 for each car, out the door.

After reading these posts, I asked him if he was familiar with these cars. He was aware there was a lock strip, and no adhesive. He offered either PPG or Pilkington, so I opted for the PPG.

He showed up, got the old windshield out of the e28 in about 5 minutes, slid the new one in...it was about 4" too narrow. He picked up the wrong one. He arrived with an FW00464, and after checking, said that it was supposed to be the FW00385. Apparently, out of stock. So he said the warehouse had an "APT" windshield, and he is now trucking across town to get it.

Any experience with these? Boy I'll feel sorry if he gets back and the Tacoma windshield was also the wrong one! Lots of traffic around here.

The seal is pretty pliable, and looks like the install will be straightforward.

[stuartinmn]

I have an APT windshield in my '61 Pontiac. It seems to be okay but I don't drive it a lot. As a result I can't say much about how well it would hold up to road rash from grit and debris on a daily basis.

[Devinder]

i see youre in El Cerrito. If you have a problem with your installer and want it done right, go to Frank's Auto Glass in Berkeley. The one guy there who does old BMWs used to do them when they were new. He wants the car for three days (with new seal) to do it though.

They put a new Pilkington in my M5 and I havent had any problems.

[Mike W.]

3 days??? It ain't that complicated or that difficult.

[wkohler]

You're supposed to use a sealant.

[S38Mike]

Good to know, my M5 needs a windshield and I'm right across the bay.

[VW+bimmer=bliss]

You're supposed to use a sealant.

Yup.
Stated clearly in the factory service manual that shows two different seal types, both require sealant.

[wkohler]

Actually the other type of gasket doesn't but you can't get them anymore.

[Devinder]

3 days because they put the new seal on the glass and then leave it out in the sun for a day. Sometimes they leave it out for two days. I dont know if it helps but that's what they do