Sun roof seal

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike James
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike James

1988 740 GLE

Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle, or
is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
Regards.
Mike.
 
Mike James said:
1988 740 GLE

Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle, or
is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
Click to expand...

It is too late for you, but for others, sun roofs, and leather seats are
nothing but money sinks in old cars. They contribute little and take a
fair amount of care. If they have been kept up in the past it is
costly. Personally I won't buy a car that has either. I did once and
learned. The sun roof and leather seats actually detracted from the
car's value.
 
1988 740 GLE

Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle, or
is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
Click to expand...

That's on my list of things to do, as well. But if the problem is that
water is leaking in through the sunroof when it is closed, then it is
likely that the internal sunroof gutters or drain tubes are blocked.
I've never needed to address this, so can't give you the details -
hopefully it doesn't require the headlining to be removed. I don't
think the strip was ever a water seal.

For a new strip I would suggest looking in the Yellow Pages for a car
trimmer, or vehicle refitter. In fact I think my local independent
auto parts shop might have something to do the job.
--

Stewart Hargrave


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
 
This is usually caused by fine dust settling in the "pile" of the seal. I found
that very careful scraping with a blunt instrument similar to a thumb nail will
restore the pile to virtually as new and remove the hardened dust, making the
seal once more effective.


If it has gone brittle then try carefully removing it then using a toothbrush
with a little detergent to bring back it's condition.

If it is the rubber backing that has gone brittle then replacement is the bet
answer.

Cheers, Peter.

: 1988 740 GLE
:
: Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle, or
: is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
: Regards.
: Mike.
:
:
 
Try some Go Jo..it'll remove the crud and helps soften the rubber..not
a whole lot, but some..

This is usually caused by fine dust settling in the "pile" of the seal. I found
that very careful scraping with a blunt instrument similar to a thumb nail will
restore the pile to virtually as new and remove the hardened dust, making the
seal once more effective.


If it has gone brittle then try carefully removing it then using a toothbrush
with a little detergent to bring back it's condition.

If it is the rubber backing that has gone brittle then replacement is the bet
answer.

Cheers, Peter.

: 1988 740 GLE
:
: Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle, or
: is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
: Regards.
: Mike.
:
:
Click to expand...

Ron/Champ 6

1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6)
1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang)
1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk)
1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley)
 
Stephen M. Henning said:
It is too late for you, but for others, sun roofs, and leather seats are
nothing but money sinks in old cars. They contribute little and take a
fair amount of care. If they have been kept up in the past it is
costly. Personally I won't buy a car that has either. I did once and
learned. The sun roof and leather seats actually detracted from the
car's value.
Click to expand...

I love having a sunroof and have had relatively few problems with mine.
Leather seats though I would agree with, they're comfy when new but so is
good cloth and they're virtually always dried and cracked when old.
 
: This is usually caused by fine dust settling in the "pile" of the seal. I
found
: that very careful scraping with a blunt instrument similar to a thumb nail
will
: restore the pile to virtually as new and remove the hardened dust, making
the
: seal once more effective.
:
:
: If it has gone brittle then try carefully removing it then using a
toothbrush
: with a little detergent to bring back it's condition.
:
: If it is the rubber backing that has gone brittle then replacement is the
bet
: answer.
:
: Cheers, Peter.
................................................

Many thanks Peter I'll give it a go.
When Is said 'brittle', I was just assuming it had gone like that with age
and not dirt. Worth another look now I suppose.
Regards.
Mike.
 
: Try some Go Jo..it'll remove the crud and helps soften the rubber..not
: a whole lot, but some..
:
.........................................
Thanks Ron, but what the heck is 'Go Jo' ? I've never heard of it :-(
Regards.
Mike.
 
waterless Hand cleaner. It has a bit of lanolin in it.


: Try some Go Jo..it'll remove the crud and helps soften the rubber..not
: a whole lot, but some..
:
........................................
Thanks Ron, but what the heck is 'Go Jo' ? I've never heard of it :-(
Regards.
Mike.
Click to expand...

Ron/Champ 6

1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6)
1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang)
1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk)
1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley)
 
: waterless Hand cleaner. It has a bit of lanolin in it.
:
.....................................
Thanks again Ron, I'll give it a go.
Mike.
 
: On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 16:51:11 +0000 (UTC), "Mike James"
:
: >1988 740 GLE
: >
: >Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle,
or
: >is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
:
: That's on my list of things to do, as well. But if the problem is that
: water is leaking in through the sunroof when it is closed, then it is
: likely that the internal sunroof gutters or drain tubes are blocked.
: I've never needed to address this, so can't give you the details -
: hopefully it doesn't require the headlining to be removed. I don't
: think the strip was ever a water seal.
:
: For a new strip I would suggest looking in the Yellow Pages for a car
: trimmer, or vehicle refitter. In fact I think my local independent
: auto parts shop might have something to do the job.
: --
:
: Stewart Hargrave
:
.............................................
Thanks for that Stewart, it looks like a good poke around the drain tubes
might be a good Idea first although I have priced up a new seal from a large
Volvo agent and I was surprised at the cost, it was only £28 +vat, (not bad
I thought for a Volvo).
Regards.
Mike.
 
Mike James said:
: On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 16:51:11 +0000 (UTC), "Mike James"
:
: >1988 740 GLE
: >
: >Anyone know a good way to soften this seal as it's gone a little brittle,
or
: >is the only cure a new one, and at what cost in the UK ?
:
: That's on my list of things to do, as well. But if the problem is that
: water is leaking in through the sunroof when it is closed, then it is
: likely that the internal sunroof gutters or drain tubes are blocked.
: I've never needed to address this, so can't give you the details -
: hopefully it doesn't require the headlining to be removed. I don't
: think the strip was ever a water seal.
:
: For a new strip I would suggest looking in the Yellow Pages for a car
: trimmer, or vehicle refitter. In fact I think my local independent
: auto parts shop might have something to do the job.
: --
:
: Stewart Hargrave
:
............................................
Thanks for that Stewart, it looks like a good poke around the drain tubes
might be a good Idea first although I have priced up a new seal from a large
Volvo agent and I was surprised at the cost, it was only £28 +vat, (not bad
I thought for a Volvo).
Regards.
Mike.
Click to expand...

If the sun roof is the same as the 940, ie glass and the seal pushes
horizontally on, its likely the seal is leaky.

My 940 leaked occassionally and after heavy rain, soaking the 4 corners of
the roof under the sunroof mechanism, most annoying round the front sunvisor
that would drip on my leg occassionally. After checking the rain gutters
and drains I eventually realised that the water was dripping into slide
channel and not the gutter. This was caused by the join between the the
seal and the glass roof being leaky bunged with dirt etc. A wipe with
silicon sealant sorted it.
 
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