16 replies to this topic

[shavn]

hi im going to be putting my windscreen back in today and was looking for some tips.
when i took it out i didnt realise the silver strip round the edge had to come out first, woops!
so i had to et a new 1. but i now worry that it wil break wen i put it back

[wassupcrew]

put the seal on to the body first and then the glass in the seal. start in one bottom corner squeezing the glass in to the seal and then using a plastic or wooden spatula edge the seal over the glass all round. to get the finishing strip in is a pain. get the proper tool to do it

[mike.]

Firstly get the proper tool to put the fillet strip back in - It'll make your life a lot easier as its diamond shaped, it spreads the rubber apart and helps guide the strip in as you slide it around the seal. You can buy them from any mini place really minispares/sport etc etc for about a fiver. I've heard of people using the end of a 10mm ring spanner before, but the proper tool is the way to go if its your first time doing it.

If your putting some windscreen sealant round the lip of the bodywork put it on first and then you want to fit the seal to the car, not the seal to the windscreen. Its a good idea to use some sealant, especially if the lip of the bodywork is a bit uneven/crusty. Then place the screen in at the bottom and I use a plastic spatula to help lever the seal over the screen without damaging it and work your way round to the top. It can be hard work getting the top of the screen into the rubber, but i've always found a bit of brute force doesn't do any harm - Last time I did it I had me and my dad pushing against the screen to get the screen into the rubber.

Then you can put the fillet strip in with the tool. The key to making this easy is to lube it up well - I use silicone rubber spray lubricant, comes in an aerosol tin from halfords. It comes with one of those little red tubes and I used this to spray the lube into the fillet strip hole as I went along - If you do it right the tool will just slide along with ease and put the strip in for you basically. On the corners you might need to give the tool a bit of a wiggle to keep it moving.

Also - Don't use the silicone spray if your car has just been freshly painted. Silicone can react with the paint if it hasn't fully cured yet - Its safe to use though if its been a month or so after the paint was applied. Finally don't be tempted to use fairy liquid soap or anything like that to lube up the seal - It contains a lot of salt and its the last thing you want getting trapped under the seal against the metal.

[bmcecosse]

If it's a laminated screen - chances are you will crack it. I would never attempt to fit a lammy screen - the earlier toughened screens are simple. Also easier to do it on a nice warm day with the sun on the seal to warm it and make it more pliable. Getting the silver strip in requires the tool - it can be made with stiff wire and a file handle.

Edited by bmcecosse, 29 January 2011 - 02:36 PM.

[minimissions]

Hi i just put one back in myself i used a screwdriver with black tape round the end of it to ease the screen in place. then get some washing up liquid and put it round the inside of the seam where the chrome or black locking seam goes. Then get the correct tool and run it round the the seam and the locking strip will just slot into place alot easier. It worked well for me and its the second time i have done this.

Hope this helps and good luck

[AVV IT]

I've never yet fitted a windscreen back into my mini, I've never had to simply because I always manage to crack the old one when taking it out! Therefore every time the screen goes back in, it's always put in buy the professional supplying a new replacement one!!

[bmcecosse]

Washing up liquid is loaded with salt - don't put it anywhere near your car..........

[custard]

i use a little vasaline when done mine in the past, as for the propper tool, clothes hanger bent to shape and taped to a socket extension

[mikey72]

ky jelly.

[shavn]

ky jelly.

lol

got the screen in today didnt get the strip in the didnt realise there was a tool for this. jus thought it was a tough cookie so left it for today, and put other bits an bobs bak together

[bmcecosse]

Well done getting it in - you are much braver than me !

[shavn]

Well done getting it in - you are much braver than me !

thanks it was a laminated screen aswel


what does that tool look like for the edge strip, or can soe1 put a link to 1 please

[jay whiting]

You dont need to buy one, it is something that can be made with a metal coat hanger bent to shape and use an old file handle. Cut a peice of the hanger to about 8 inch long, at the centre point use a pair of long nose pliers and bend it almost double on its self. Next bend each of the legs out a little and back in to form a diamond shame. Twist the remaining of the legs together and insert into a file handle or something simillar.

How to use:

start at the bottom centre of the screen, place the tool so that the front part is set into the rubber, now feed the sealing strip into the diamond shape hole and push the tool foward, the two bent out legs will open the rubber, so just feed the strip into the opened gap and keep moving on. Some lubricant of sorts will help the tool slide easy through the rubber. JOB DONE.

[mike.]

Here what one looks like. I've done 4 windscreens with this now and its worked pretty well every time: Link

Its not a hard to make one, but it'd be getting the wire part of it to be strong enough - Quite alot of strain gets put on it.

[shavn]

You dont need to buy one, it is something that can be made with a metal coat hanger bent to shape and use an old file handle. Cut a peice of the hanger to about 8 inch long, at the centre point use a pair of long nose pliers and bend it almost double on its self. Next bend each of the legs out a little and back in to form a diamond shame. Twist the remaining of the legs together and insert into a file handle or something simillar.

How to use:

start at the bottom centre of the screen, place the tool so that the front part is set into the rubber, now feed the sealing strip into the diamond shape hole and push the tool foward, the two bent out legs will open the rubber, so just feed the strip into the opened gap and keep moving on. Some lubricant of sorts will help the tool slide easy through the rubber. JOB DONE.

will be making 1 of these today

thankyou