Windshields

Post your E12 technical questions and comments here. Please, no off-topic posts.

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canada karl
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Windshields

Post by canada karl »

Anyone know if an E28 windshield will fit an E12?
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
HB528i
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Re: Windshields

Post by HB528i »

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Mike W.
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Re: Windshields

Post by Mike W. »

Yes it will. It's not close, it's the same. Same rubber and lockstrip too.

Many of my E28 friends have found replacement windshields to fit poorly and leak. IMO even if they do fit poorly they leak because of poor installation.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
canada karl
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: Windshields

Post by canada karl »

I know someone in British Columbia ,Canada that is looking for a windshield. Are they even still available and what price would they sell for? Is removal and replacement a DIY thing or is it better to get a professional installation. I've heard of people who are good at this type of thing still ending up with a cracked window!
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
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Mike W.
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Re: Windshields

Post by Mike W. »

Windshields are available, but not thru BMW. It's gotten to the point where the pros often are so used to the current type of glue in windshields they don't know how to do a floating type, at least and not have it leak. Plus they usually just cut it out, in doing so scratch the paint down to the steel which rusts eventually. While the first time is always a challenge, it's definitely a DIY category job.

I think Safelite and one other company whose name I can't recall still make them. Safelite is the common one but the one with the poor fit.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
garyinwestoz
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Re: Windshields

Post by garyinwestoz »

we have just replaced the windshield on our E28

cost $165 from Autoglass warehouse
https://www.autoglasswarehouse.com.au/b ... wagon-fron

instructions for DYI for e28 is different to E12 - we tried the e12 way but closeness of the dash to the glass just mean the rope pushed the glass out instead of enabling the rubber to peel over the metal lip. so we did it the E28 way (haynes manual) and it worked find - takes a while but worked out nicely.

I did some (very ordinary) glass removal videos here.

removal part 1
[YouTube][/YouTube]

removal part 2
[YouTube][/YouTube]

As we had rust in the window sill, we cut it out and welded in replacement metal, primed and painted , prior to installing the new glass.
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
garyinwestoz
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Re: Windshields

Post by garyinwestoz »

oh dear lots of rust
Image

make a pattern
Image

cut our metal and start shaping - do test fit
Image

cut to shape, gas welded in and cleanedup
Image

a littel bit of filler, sanded primed and painted

Image

ready for glass

Image

used bits of plastic to peel rubber over glass
Image

Image

all in ready for bottom trim and locking strips

we found fitting the bottom locking strip the hardest part of the whole job
Image
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
canada karl
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: Windshields

Post by canada karl »

Thanks for the info and pics. Nice bodywork fabrication repair. 8)
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
cory58
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Re: Windshields

Post by cory58 »

My E12 came with a replacement windshield from Walloth & Nesch. I'm waiting to install it until I get around to the rust repair. Not sure why the PO sourced it from across the pond instead of in the USA.

Cory
1977 530i
1988 320i Touring (euro)
1992 325i Cabrio
2000 M5
2015 328i (wife's daily)
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Mike W.
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Re: Windshields

Post by Mike W. »

cory58 wrote: Wed May 12, 2021 9:00 am My E12 came with a replacement windshield from Walloth & Nesch. I'm waiting to install it until I get around to the rust repair. Not sure why the PO sourced it from across the pond instead of in the USA.

Cory
It may have been to get a BMW windshield. For some time BMW windshields were euro only and they wouldn't sell them in the US. Eventually some of the guys on Mye28 got a waver for the euro only rule so they could be sold here. And promptly bought out the entire stock. They might get more, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
garyinwestoz
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Re: Windshields

Post by garyinwestoz »

Sticker on my replacement windscreen

Image

does the fit look okay ?

note: we used some tyre shire on the rubber gasket to make it bit more plyable, slippery and shinny.

our plastic strip is pretty rubbish - we got to replace it with some new stuff - when we can get it!

Image

Image

Image

Image
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
User avatar
Mike W.
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Re: Windshields

Post by Mike W. »

garyinwestoz wrote: Wed May 12, 2021 9:26 pm does the fit look okay ?
Looks good! It's at the top corners that there can be a gap between the rubber and the body, but you're looks tight.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
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