Anyone care to share their experiences on windscreen seals for a HE coupe - I need one and there seem to be a few options available (BDC7178) - not all are Jaguar for sure - are they false economy ?

I've fitted and removed screens before so the job does not intimidate but poor materials can really make a difference to the results. From initial perusals the Jaguar item is 50% higher than the price of the others I've seen, I'll likely go Jaguar but no sense spending money unnecessarily.

 

OEM is the only way to go, Ben.

 

agree, OEM , worth the extra to ensure a good fit

also , dont know if you know, fit the seal to the car first, then drop the glass into the lower lip of the seal and gradually work the glass into the seal all the way round using a plastic windscreen wedge tool, pig of a job , i then used non-setting windscreen sealant between seal and body , and glass and seal and then inserted the locking strip , removed the excess , never had a leak in 10 years of ownership,

got there in the end , a suction cup or two will help a lot

BB

 

Ordinarily I'd have done things the complete opposite - good to know -

Typically I'd have set the seal on the glass, installed my cord in the seal with the pulls at the top, a good measure of soapy water on the rubber and inside the 'frame' then set in place and pull from inside whilst somebody pushes from outside, done a couple on my own but I don't recommend it. Don't think I've ever used a sealant - you think these seals will leak without or was that just a belt and braces ?.

 

Sealant required! Particularly at the sides and bottom corners.

 

I got, I think, a URO gasket. Most of the reviews said it was too big, and I did need to cut about an inch out of it. But it does the job.

 

Gareth clinches it - OEM it will be - going to use 3M 08509 when I do this - won't be for a while but I'll get the seal and sealant in - this can be one of those jobs for when it is on its wheels again.

 

good decision

front screen method, push the seal around the body , drop in the glass to the lower seal and work in with plastic screen tools, then use non setting proper windscreen sealant between seal and body and seal and glass , and run in using the correct tool the locking strip , add chrome after

if doing the rear screen , you need to put seal on glass, put stainless trims onto the seal, hold in place on the seal with tape, add para-cord to string it in and install in one go , you will find it very hard to get the trims on with the glass and seal in place , protect the inside of the buttresses as they can scrape against them,

those are the basics to be aware of at least,

good luck

BB

 

All good to know. I'm going to do both but will delay doing so until I can get paint on some spots - I know 1 buttress needs paint, around the fuel filler does, there are spots where the self tappers mount the stainless so because the paint job I plan includes window removal I'll get the rubber ready. I have got to prioritise this car being driveable this year, that means it may look a bit of a patchwork quilt but it will be a body colour patchwork not primer - I'll do my best to keep it pretty .....

 

Ben
I have never been brave enough to remove the rear window. All I do is seal it with bitumastic sealer, all the way round, between the paint and the seal, there being a convenient valley for this provided by Jaguar. I am not saying do not change the glass seal, but I am saying you will almost certainly end up sealing the new one with bitumastic sealer! Water gets in and is not seen and the rear body under the glass, inside and out, rots out.

 

Thanks Greg, I shall consider - it is actually not showing any traces of leaking at all so although it is probably best not provoked when this car gets the paint sorted I want a windows out job done but that is at least a year probably two away. The front I must deal with because the seal is rotten and there are traces of rust from the self tapping screws that I need to deal with and there is only one way I can achieve satisfaction on that - screen out. I will do a 100% respray on the scuttle and up the a pillars before the wings are relocated. I don't have the facilities to do the standard of work I require (spray booth) - the clear coat I use cures slow (Kapci UHS) and a roof is perhaps one of the hardest places to paint - especially on the XJS because if you don't want to be blending you're painting the entire car - I fully intend for a high end paint shop to do those honours once I am 100% mechanically and electrically done. Then when the paint is done the interior is next.

Hidden rot and such is precisely what I am out to fix if present or prevent if not - that and to limit the scope of the 'final' paint solution to add zero's to the price.

It could be that taking out the interior and doing some decent paint in these hidden areas is warranted - my back seat is a mess anyhow so it has to come out eventually
.

 

i went down the windows out route myself , makes a huge difference to the finish in my opinion , if your in need i have a genuine NOS rear screen seal , and a length of front seal locking strip insert as well as a multitude of other trim parts for finishing the car ( like the door to window frame plastic covers )

 

That looks sweet - and that's exactly the plan / strategy for paint. I am so looking forward to the day I get that far ...