Windshield Replacement

[Brent]

Hey guys,

How hard is it to replace the front windshield on the e30?

[BmW1819]

very easy in and out 10 min

[Ceeker]

Brent, it's really easy getting it out -tricky putting the lock strip back in. Remove the hold down clip near the bottom center. Then take a screwdriver and pry up the strip. It should just peel back and take it around the circumference of the window ti'll it's off. then from the inside gently start pushing up on the glass in different places ti'll you see it start flexing. Watch where it wants to come out easiest and push up from there and then repeat this until the glass is out. usually easier from the top down. Take out the glass, clean the gutter of the window seal. I'd take the seal out just to make sure no rust is there. replace the seal and lay the glass into the grove from the bottom. Then take a plastic trim knife or very small flat head screwdriver and work the seal over the glass. you may need to move the glass side to side to get the final area in.

now the fun part. Get some silcon spray and spray the inside edge of the seal where the lock strip goes in. Make sure you center the strip then you have to get one side of the strip in and use the screwdriver to work the opposite side in so it seats. Keep doing this as you work yourself around the glass. Should take about 1.0-1.5 hours. just as you get to the end placed the connection piece in by sliding on from where you started and then push it back on and you're done.

Goodluck!!!

[Brent]

That sounds easy, thanks guys...now to find a donor windshield...

[dble Trouble]

Don't waste your time with a used pitted windshield, Sprint Auto Glass in Scarborough installs brand new canadian made windshields for all cars between 180 and 190 cash tax in installed. The difference a new windshield makes is unbelievable especially if yours is all pitted like mine from hundreds of thousands of km of driving.

[Finn]

The reinstall job is infinitely easier with the proper tool to insert the lock strip. I tried with a screwdriver but it tends to mark up the strip and leave small dents/scratches. The tool opens the gasket to ease the lock strip in behind it.

[325isStephen]

Originally Posted by dble Trouble

Don't waste your time with a used pitted windshield, Sprint Auto Glass in Scarborough installs brand new canadian made windshields for all cars between 180 and 190 cash tax in installed. The difference a new windshield makes is unbelievable especially if yours is all pitted like mine from hundreds of thousands of km of driving.

gunna have to disagree John, I'd much rather have a good used OEM glass then an aftermarket one, from my experience they tend to be distorted and really don't hold up.

That said im rocking glass with well over 400k on it, its just a little pitted

[Ceeker]

Originally Posted by 325isStephen

gunna have to disagree John, I'd much rather have a good used OEM glass then an aftermarket one, from my experience they tend to be distorted and really don't hold up.

That said im rocking glass with well over 400k on it, its just a little pitted

I agree, aftermarket glass often comes cheap and as a result you have a nice fish bowl effect or fun house mirror look through it! :-) PPG or an equivalent is the way to go. I know bmw glass used to be made by PPG.

[craz azn]

+1 on original glass. Fitment, and quality is second to none. My friggin' windshield gutter started to rust because the aftermarket window I had in there previously was too small but I didn't know that it didn't push the seal out far enough. Luckily, I caught it before it got super rusty, and just Por-15ed over it.

[dble Trouble]

^^you guys and your oem business. Really. Sprint installs PPG and Pilkington glass. One is oem, the other Canadian made (which for those of you that don't know means top quality) I've had over 10 windshields over the last 15 years replaced by them on many different cars one of which was my last e30 and have never experienced a problem with distortion and mal fitment. For the price, quality, service etc, in my OPINION, it just makes more sense to get a new one than try and install a used pitted one yourself. My VW had a new windshield put in by them last fall and no issues. If you have any doubts and of you are welcome to see my car. If I had the cash I'd change my e30 windshield not because it is cracked or chipped but because of all of the pits on it. When driving into the sun it is really disturbing and dangerous. ^^

[Eurostyle]

The cheap aftermarket glass also tends to scratch a lot more, and you might see marks from the wipers after a year or so...

[Ceeker]

Originally Posted by dble Trouble

^^you guys and your oem business. Really. Sprint installs PPG and Pilkington glass. One is oem, the other Canadian made (which for those of you that don't know means top quality) I've had over 10 windshields over the last 15 years replaced by them on many different cars one of which was my last e30 and have never experienced a problem with distortion and mal fitment. For the price, quality, service etc, in my OPINION, it just makes more sense to get a new one than try and install a used pitted one yourself. My VW had a new windshield put in by them last fall and no issues. If you have any doubts and of you are welcome to see my car. If I had the cash I'd change my e30 windshield not because it is cracked or chipped but because of all of the pits on it. When driving into the sun it is really disturbing and dangerous. ^^

well if it's PPG then that's a whole different ball game. :-)

[BmW1819]

i have a Pilkington in my m3 and not problems yet