1984 BMW 325 Rear window rubber slips down in upper corner

Tiny
BMRMAN
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  • 1984 BMW 325
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 185,000 MILES
I have just put all new rubber (BMW spec) on my 1984 325e and the rear window just isn't sealed right-did my tech goof installing this? He just roped in the window with silicone and installed the locking strip with the wheel tool. The upper corners still don't cover the area well and I worry about water damage and rust. Plus, it just doesn't look good. Thanks, Sam
Sunday, February 28th, 2010 AT 7:15 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
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Did you experience leakage? Have you asked the glass guy if the glass was original BMW glass, does the decal bear it out?
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Sunday, February 28th, 2010 AT 11:56 PM
Tiny
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It is the original window, so that isn't the problem. In talking with another online source, we both think that once the gasket went on, he should have applied upward pressure with tape and/or suction cups before installing the lockstrip. Any thoughts?
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
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No, there hasn't been any leakage yet, but I am deliberately keeping it as dry as I can. You can plainly tell the strip exposes the body at the upper corners. I will forward a picture soon.
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
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Thank you, I will await the image.
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 10:17 AM
Tiny
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Here are a few pics. You can see that the whole window is low about 1/8 to 1/4 inch or so.
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
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Is anyone there? I sent off these pics several hours ago.
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
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I am not able to capture the images from this station, I will be able to from my home after work today, sorry for the delay.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 10:41 AM
Tiny
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Still unable to see the car, but I did have a similar car in the shop for repairs and it seemed to exhibit the same sagging at the top corners, perhaps not to the same degree, but the gap was about Ã...†Of an inch or so.
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
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Yes, it sounds like the same thing. What did you do to fix it? I toughtr the rubber was old, so I replaced it. Now it is doing the same thing. There must be something like taping it high during the locking strip installation to keep it from sagging. Any ideas?
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
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I recommend checking for water leakage.
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
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I can promise you it leaks; what I hopefully will learn from these online chats is a way to get it to where it should be again. I am getting close to figuring out for myself. Do you have a suggestion that should work? Lots of european cars from 1950-1988 had these rubber gaskets with lockstrips, so I can't imagine there isn't someone out there who knows the exact procedure so we can see if a step was missed by my tech.
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 11:15 AM
Tiny
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Maybe I am missing something here. The installation was performed with the "soap it and rope it" technique, the window lace was new and installed correctly, and your glass guy is standing behind the work. If this is correct, then the leak test would be exempted because it looks like it is going to leak, right?
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 11:31 AM
Tiny
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No, it was installed (original glass) by my BMW repairman, not a glass man. He did not rope it in, he prefers to spray silicone in the track and rubber. Then he uses a roller device that slips the lockstrip in place. When he did this about six months ago, it didn't show as badly, but it did show some. Of course, since I have a great relationship with him, I coould demand he redo it. But, if he didn't do it right to begin with, I hesitate to have him redo it.
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
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Regarding leaks- I don't care if it leaks or not at this point- I just know it looks wrong. Since I am putting a lot of money into this car, I just want it right. Plus, you can tell by looking that it will probably leak.
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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 12:35 PM
Tiny
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Hi, Thank you for using 2CarPros. Com. We appreciate your donation and look forward to helping you in the future.
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Friday, March 12th, 2010 AT 1:16 PM

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