E30 Zone

Hi guys,

Just wondering if you silicone seal the gaps in the corner as the bottom strip isn't long enough to fully seal corner to corner?

Cheerz,

Jon

It should be over-sized when bought new and then cut to fit, and then watch it shrink until it's about 3cm short at either end. I've had a new one sitting outside on the balcony for nearly 2 years now. The plan is to cut it to size after it's shrunk

The art is to compress the seal as you fit it, although they will still shrink in from the ends a bit after twenty years.
It's not a seal as such, just a trim piece. Water won't leak into the car through the gaps at the ends, although water in there will promote rust.
I've used sealant to fill in the gap, I've used short bits of spare seal to fill in the gap, and I've seen it suggested that the whole strip is replaced by carefully smoothed off sealant.

Ok, thanks for the input.

As long as it cannot leak in via that point then not a problem but as mentioned, might as well seal to stop water sitting there and promoting rust.

A polyurethene sealant is the answer to replace the rubber 'trim'.Using the standard rubber item just lets water in to fill the channel,the water's only way of escape is to rust it's way out!

I have a new one of these on the C2, it was actually supplied to short by BMW, really not happy. It looks to be a fairly standard rubber extrusion so i'm in the process of speaking to some of our suppliers at work to come up with alternatives.

Brianmoooore wrote:The art is to compress the seal as you fit it, although they will still shrink in from the ends a bit after twenty years.

Twenty years? I'm on about the third replacement after 13 years.

Cloggy Saint wrote:

Brianmoooore wrote:The art is to compress the seal as you fit it, although they will still shrink in from the ends a bit after twenty years.

Twenty years? I'm on about the third replacement after 13 years.

Not much point in compressing the bloody thing if it's too short in the first place!

Indeed, I have just had the tailgate fixed/repainted and new seals put in and mine was too short from new, hence wondering if it was ok to silicone the gaps.

I was just suprised that BMW would make a mistake like that so wasn't sure if they were designed like this for any drainage purposes etc. but apparently not according to you guys. So a little bit of black silicone it is..

JM2012 wrote: So a little bit of black silicone it is..

Please!

Polyurothene.

Touring was designed in a hurry,so really it's no suprise that the tailgate and things like fuel pump access were compromised.

Why do you suggest the use of a urethane sealant over a silicone sealant?


Cheerz,

Jon

Silicone sealant should never be let anywhere near steel or other corrodible metals. It produces acetic acid as it cures, which you will seal in contact with the steel for ever.

There we go, thank you for the info.

Cheerz,

Jon