7 replies to this topic

[electricfurnace]

1998 Cooper, want to reseal the front windscreen as I have a very small leak on the corner, driver side.

Have some arbomast sealant, is there anyway of sealing without taking out the chrome strip in the middle of the seal and without removing the seal?

Rather not have to do that if I can help it as I'm not great with that kind of thing! Any help would be appreciated!

Autoglass said they would charge £105!!

Cheers!
Alex

[taffy1967]

I believe the strip will have to come out if you want it done properly.

Why not try a good local body repair specialists instead of Autoglass?

[crazycoleman118]

as above try a body shop, or possibly a small backstreet garage or something, they might be able to do it, or get you the price cheaper then going to a mainstream place

[dklawson]

If you want a DIY solution w/o removing the lock strip or removing the rubber there is a product which can help. However, I don't know if it is available in the U.K.

There are several brands of a product called "Flowable Silicone Sealant". See one pictured in the link below:
http://ace.imageg.ne...2-1188639dt.jpg
This is a VERY soft, runny, silicone sealant. I have used it on a couple of (non-Mini) cars with problems where I didn't want to remove the glass.

For best results use a plastic putty knife or spatula to open a small gap between the rubber and glass (or rubber and body if that's where you want to apply sealant) and inset the tip of the applicator nozzle and squirt the silicone in. Work around both sides of the area, not just a tiny spot where you think the leak is coming from. As you move the plastic spatula or remove it the excess silicone will squirt out and you should wipe it off with paper towels or tissue.

This is NOT the same type of silicone rubber that you are used to. It is very soft, runny, and remains pliable for years. It is also much easier to remove which will make subsequent windshield replacements much easier.

[electricfurnace]

How about this stuff, same stuff?

http://www.marinesce...ping-crack-cure

[dklawson]

I doubt that is the same stuff. They describe the product in your link as working by capillary action. That implies to me that it is a thinner acrylic material, not silicone.

The link I provided was for a Permatex product. Permatex is owned by Loctite, Loctite is owned by Henkel. So... there should be a similar product in Europe. A quick Google did not point me to an obvious source but it did reveal something interesting. Apparently there is some use for flowable silicone that is desirable for people who play with... YoYos. You can buy a flowable silicone sealant made by Versachem from the YoYo site linked below:
http://www.euro-yo.c...le_Silicon.html
I personally think they have overpriced the stuff on the YoYo site but it gives you at least one source.

Here's a link to Henkel:
http://www.henkel.co...s.xsl/index.htm

[edi57]

If you're local to me I'd happily replace your windscreen seal for a lot less than £105!

I'm in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Ed

[electricfurnace]

If you're local to me I'd happily replace your windscreen seal for a lot less than £105!

I'm in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Ed

Thanks Ed, but I'm in South Wales - bit of a treck! Appreciate the offer though!