Window advice

[bootie3367]

Right, since successfully film tinting my two side plastic hi top windows I now want to move on a tint the rest.

These would be factory fit and as far as I can tell, all the seals look to be in good condition, so......

Do I go ahead and remove each window in turn hoping that I can retain the seals intact and in good useable condition or do I fit the tint in situ, (makes a bit of a mess doesn't it) It's also difficult getting in the right position to do the job comfortably especially the tailgate window.
I realise that the rear window on the driver side will have to come out unless I take out the rear westy furniture pod!!!

Been reading as much as I can on the subject and I'm at that 50/50 point.
I am a novice at this so with advice from experts on here do I go ahead and take a window out, the most difficult one first?
I also have sliders that I would need to remove and take apart to get a good job on the film, is there a how to for dismantling the slider windows?

I'm at work at the moment and don't get back home until the 4th April so there's plenty of time for you guys and gals to formulate answers that will help me decide one way or the other.

Cheers and looking forward to your replies.

Jon

89 Westfalia Joker hitop

[kevtherev]

Buy new seals and remove the windows

[bootie3367]

Is that due to not being able to remove the old seals without damaging them or is that more of a belt and braces just in case sort of thing?

My problem is shipping, if I were to order all the seals I need and they were all correct and good...... If I didn't use them is there a known supplier that would take back any unused ones for a credit?

As I have been trawling through as many window threads as I can find I have seen that in some cases, the quality/FIT of some seals is not as good as it could be and this could prove an extra expense for me getting them back to the supplier (If I could indeed do that!).

It's very difficult sourcing stuff like that over here (my spanish is cr4p to start with) and on top of that my own experience of sourcing spare parts for any vehicle is that the cost is always more, sometimes up to 4 times the price of UK!!!

As I am still at work I am trying to gather as much info before diving into the task.

Cheers for the input so far.

Jon

[gtavalanche]

As you're on the continent. I'd order your seals from gunzl (http://www.vwbusshop.de" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) they're mostly oem seals and usually a good fit. They speak English and they're postage is reasonable.

They're is a video on YouTube of how to dismantle the sliding windows without removing the rivets.
The reason most people opt for new seals is the fact that it's easy to break the glass which due to the fact that no one will courier it, is harder to get hold off than the seals. Therefore they tend to sacrifice them for peace of mind.

It might be worth pricing the seals up, if that's acceptable to you then go that route. Alternatively pay a window fitter to remove/refit them.

[bootie3367]

Hmmm.

I would like to do this myself rather than pay someone.
Point taken about Gunzle, have used his shop for other stuff, funnily enough, they charge more to ship to Spain than they do to the UK!! (bigger market I would say). What I normally do is order from the UK then pick up and take back home with me on my regular trips to visit family (perks of working month on month off) a full set of seals would fit in a case wouldn't they? which is then only 25 quid on the cost of the budget flight, cheaper than shipping in most cases just takes a bit longer is all. Who does the best OEM seals?

If I could I would watch all the youtube stuff I could, problem is the LAN filter does not allow any of that stuff to be viewed! Is there any way that a more learned member than myself would be able to, either, take screen shots of the process, or, convert to a format watchable with media player so that it could be emailed??

I'll price up and see how much it will all cost from Gunzle.

I have removed glass successfully before, but that was bonded front windscreen. I have also removed side glass from a Mk 1 polo, same sort of vintage as our vans and been able to re-use the seals to put the glass back in. I have never removed any sliding windows previously though.

Jon

[Plasticman]

24 year old rubber ! i would never contemplate reusing, bin it and fit new supple seals, you running factory side windows or is it a panal conversion
mm

[bootie3367]

Hi mm.

As far as I know it is factory.

Even though I have had the van just over a year, for me it's really only 6 months as I work away a month at a time.
I'm still on steep learning curve with this one. I don't have pictures of said windows in any detail but will be taking some as soon as I get back home.

I know at least one window has been replaced recently (before I took ownership) but overall the rubbers don't 'look' that old. No visible cracking either side (in and out) and certainly no degredation when washing (black stuff staining the paint?) They all look smooth to me and my inexperienced eye.....

This is a nice to do and not a need to do if you know what I mean and they do not leak anywhere so no probs there.

Can you tell from pics if the seals are degraded or still good?

I'm fairly confident that I can do all the 'straight' glass, it's just the sliders that have me a bit worried.

While I'm on, the hitop front window, does that have the insert type seal? What tool can you recommend to get that insert out and put back in.
From my last inspection I would say I need a new seal for that as it has been plastered with clear silicone sealant previously which is now falling off.

When I did the side windows I used Dinitrol 501 and that has done a really good job. These had no seal around them and I thought this would be best for that type of fitment. Should I have used something else?

Cheers

Jon

PS, the strange answering times are due to me being 8 hours ahead of you guys so I may not see your replies until the (my) next day!

[Plasticman]

ah well if the seals are still supple and with fasctory ones this can often be the case whereas conversion ones do degrade much quicker,then reuse. .
as for the opening side windows , well same seal as factory fitted fixed window, except one is glkass to rubber and the other ally to rubber
top front window need a pick to determine the seal or which roof have you got,
month about.east asia? long commute,i thought 6hrs was a lot ,but good for the airmiles:rofl
mm

[bootie3367]

The roof is the standard Westy joker Hitop apart from the two extra side windows, I might have picky, well I do but thanks to photo bucket going 'beta' on me I can't put the link in.

Saying that, just what is 'standard'? I've seen so many variations, I dunno what's what!

ISTR it has the beading strip to secure it but it's hard to tell with the amount of silicon up there!

Yeah, the commute is a bit of a pain, but I get the route I want, so no overly long flights only 17 hours total flying but some of the stops make it a 24 hour journey

Jon

[bootie3367]

So, day one was recovering from the flights, day two was a bit of faffing with the snorkel and taking pics.....

Uploaded said pics of the windows with close ups of the seals.

Rather than linking each individual pic, here is the link to the album.

http://s11.photobucket.com/upload?locat ... r%20Hi-Top" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So, are these seals in good nick and worth not destroying or should I get all new seals for when I take the windows out?

Jon

[Plasticman]

that lkink is just to the upload page??
mm

[bootie3367]

Sorry bout that, I was a bit tired (well that's my excuse anyway)

Here's the right one
http://s11.photobucket.com/user/bootie3 ... Top?page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Plasticman]

ah factory all round then , from what i can see the sides and the rear dont look that bad, wether they are still supple or not i have no way of trelling , the front screen one looks a bit questionable, so replace that, and the hitop also looks a bit crusty,
and stop smoking when you take picks as you get camera shake
mm

[billy739]

on a nice sunny day , which probably for you is most days the rubbers should be ok.

I removed , tinted and refitted my factory fit windows using old rubbers( I did change from inserts to smooth tho) and have had no problems

tint the sliders by stripping the windows down- vw use sealer to rebuild them!

from personal choice I brushed wax over the recess's for extra protection

[bootie3367]

Well touch wood, the front screen doesn't leak so that will be left alone. Probably going to use capt Tolleys as a just in case for the time being.
from what I have read on here is the best way to remove rubbers is to start from the inside and just ease the rubber outwards and in the absence of a (working) partner, just tape the glass to the roof to prevent it from falling?
I guess I will have to remove the rear cupboard to get to that rear side screen then.....oh the joys!
I'm assuming that I have the non insert type on all but the hi top window, that will need to be replaced judging from the state of it!!!! Where can I get a good quality seal for that, Gunzle?
So, how easy is it to strip down the sliders once out and which VW sealer? Or can I use the Dinitrol 501 for that (I can buy that over here!)

Cheers for the advice guys.

Jon

PS, never knew smoking caused camera shake! LOL