[Maestro]

My 335I is now 5 yr old and out of warranty and the Rubber Molding above the windshield is all cracked and falling apart. I wish I took it in when I saw the first little crack before the warrant was up.

Today it is a complete mess and the only way to replace it, is to have the entire windshield remove and have a new molding put in.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what did you finally do.

[DASHOCKER]

does your car sleep outdoors w/o a car cover?

[954Stealth]

They sell the rubber molding on - I think - bavauto. It's one of the sites anyway and runs right around $30-35

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by DASHOCKER

does your car sleep outdoors w/o a car cover?

It spends about equal time outside as well as in the garage, so when it at work, it in direct sunlight (very little I can do about that).

It looks all dry rot, as you would see only older cars before the UV protected rubber, no other rubber on the car looks this way.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

They sell the rubber molding on - I think - bavauto. It's one of the sites anyway and runs right around $30-35

Actually here is the part and it is $20 part, my current understanding is the windshield has to be removed to replace it. But I do not want to rip out what is left only to find out the windshield also has to come out. Right now I am hoping a stone cracks it so I can get it replaced and put in a new molding at the same time.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...40&hg=51&fg=20

[El Cheapo Loco]

You don't need to replace windshield, it's an easy fix.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=reveal

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by elcheapoloco

You don't need to replace windshield, it's an easy fix.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=reveal

Thanks!!! I looked and did not find that one, typical BMW dealer, telling you something that is not true.

[edirtaynine]

Originally Posted by elcheapoloco

You don't need to replace windshield, it's an easy fix.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=reveal

nice! i gotta replace mine soon too

[blingman]

I had the same problem, while waiting for part to come in, I use black electric tape and ran it across over it to prevent it from further peeling and the width fits just about perfect. It kind of help when removing also, it stuck to all the small cracked pieces.

[Ferg]

Had mine replaced, did not have to remove the windshield.

[mariusz335i]

There is no way to replace the seal without replacing your windshield.The tech from Safelite who was replacing my windshield told ,that if you replace the seal only,it will not provide right drainage,otherwise speaking the water will be collecting underneath of the seal ,instead of draining how it suppose to do.I got aftermarket glass and it looks great,just make sure that they use OEM seal.OEM glass is very crappy-it does not last too long,mine looked like a colander.So I hope that the aftermarket one will do better job.

[Will@P]

Originally Posted by mariusz335i

There is no way to replace the seal without replacing your windshield.The tech from Safelite who was replacing my windshield told ,that if you replace the seal only,it will not provide right drainage,otherwise speaking the water will be collecting underneath of the seal ,instead of draining how it suppose to do.I got aftermarket glass and it looks great,just make sure that they use OEM seal.OEM glass is very crappy-it does not last too long,mine looked like a colander.So I hope that the aftermarket one will do better job.

Yes you can replace the upper windshield molding without removing the glass. I have lost count on how many I replaced. 15min job which includes the time to clean off the residue from the old molding.

[pracklam]

I reported this to the $tealer while still under warranty. They gave me some b.s. about it being risky to replace as the windshield may crack during installation. I decided to buy the part at the same dealer and replaced it myself in less than an hour. Dealer price was actually cheaper than I could get from mail order. I was also worried about the part getting all bent to hell during shipping. The only problem I had was getting one end to fit properly. I started at the passenger side end, snapped it in place over edge of glass and slid it over to align edge of strip with the corner where roof meets the front door pillar. I then pushed it in place working from passenger side to driver's. Once I got to driver's side end, I couldn't pop it into place all the way so the strip is not quite flush to the glass. It may work better if you get one end popped into place, then move to the other end, and last pop in the center part.

[BKV122]

I replaced this part on my moms car and need to do it to mine also very soon. The windshield does not need to be removed. It took me like 30-45 mins to do. I used the tutorial from above to follow