Cab rear window.

[Rich2388]

Hi. Im going to look at a 320i cab this morning and may buy it depending on what its like. In the ad its says the rear windows seen better days so im guessing that might need replacing. I was wondering if any could tell me what replacing the rear window involves? Do you need to replace the whole roof or can the rear window be replaced seperatly? And does any know ruffly how much it costs to do? Cheers

[Rich2388]

??

[Brianmoooore]

Depends considerably on whether it's a stitched in window or the zipped in version.

[Topblag]

Trimmers will generally take about £250 to sew in a new window, plus the cost of the plastic.

Your can do it easily yourself but it's at least 15 hours of labour for two people and you'll get very sore fingers.

Generally it's cheaper and easier to buy a used roof, just be careful who you buy it from.

[Rich2388]

Hmmm. Dont know what to do now. Ill have to have a look at the car see how bad it is and decide from there i think. But either way im definately not going to be doing it myself, so ill be looking 300ish to get a new one in.

[Rich2388]

Carhood.com are in Chessington so check the price to have one fitted with them.

The screen may just be " milky"

Result. Chessington aint to far from me either. What do you mean when you say "milky"? Like just a dirty like a milky colour in need of a good clean?

[pac1982]

I'm going to be having a go at sewing in a rear window on Monday or Tuesday possibly both days if the labour time really is as bad as some suggest, but to be honest I can't see it taking 15 hours to stitch it in. I'll take some pics and let you know how I get on

Should be a really easy job I have the clear plastic which I got cheap from a company that makes awrnings for caravans and will be using a strong thread which is wax coated to help make it water tight, once stitched in I'll be going over the seam with some sort of sealent

To make life easier its wise to mark all the original stitch holes with a fabric pen on both sides which helps give you a factory finish and keep a neat line

[Topblag]

I'm going to be having a go at sewing in a rear window on Monday or Tuesday possibly both days if the labour time really is as bad as some suggest, but to be honest I can't see it taking 15 hours to stitch it in. I'll take some pics and let you know how I get on

Should be a really easy job I have the clear plastic which I got cheap from a company that makes awrnings for caravans and will be using a strong thread which is wax coated to help make it water tight, once stitched in I'll be going over the seam with some sort of sealent

To make life easier its wise to mark all the original stitch holes with a fabric pen on both sides which helps give you a factory finish and keep a neat line

Top tips. Make sure the window is cold when you cut it to fit. Also make sure the needle stays sharp and use something to push the needle through with, I used a leather belt wrapped round my palm. Finally, if you want tidy stitching and you re doing it alone, it'll take much longer. You need to do this when the roof is on the car. Bmw have a frame which you bolt the roof onto to make sure it is taught.

[pac1982]

I'm going to be having a go at sewing in a rear window on Monday or Tuesday possibly both days if the labour time really is as bad as some suggest, but to be honest I can't see it taking 15 hours to stitch it in. I'll take some pics and let you know how I get on

Should be a really easy job I have the clear plastic which I got cheap from a company that makes awrnings for caravans and will be using a strong thread which is wax coated to help make it water tight, once stitched in I'll be going over the seam with some sort of sealent

To make life easier its wise to mark all the original stitch holes with a fabric pen on both sides which helps give you a factory finish and keep a neat line

Top tips. Make sure the window is cold when you cut it to fit. Also make sure the needle stays sharp and use something to push the needle through with, I used a leather belt wrapped round my palm. Finally, if you want tidy stitching and you re doing it alone, it'll take much longer. You need to do this when the roof is on the car. Bmw have a frame which you bolt the roof onto to make sure it is taught.

Some nice advice there, when you say its harder with 1 person are we talking to make like easier one on the outside pushing the needle in and someone sitting on the inside to push it back out again, save you have to keep getting in and out of the car?

[Rtaylor2208]

Getting a needle through the fabric and the plastic requires a lot of pressure, I patched up an old roofs stiching and to be fair it looked shit.

You really need a hook shaped needle used for sewing sails on a boat to get through a bit easier.

[pac1982]

Getting a needle through the fabric and the plastic requires a lot of pressure, I patched up an old roofs stiching and to be fair it looked shit.

You really need a hook shaped needle used for sewing sails on a boat to get through a bit easier.

I'm going to be using these........

[Topblag]

I'm going to be having a go at sewing in a rear window on Monday or Tuesday possibly both days if the labour time really is as bad as some suggest, but to be honest I can't see it taking 15 hours to stitch it in. I'll take some pics and let you know how I get on

Should be a really easy job I have the clear plastic which I got cheap from a company that makes awrnings for caravans and will be using a strong thread which is wax coated to help make it water tight, once stitched in I'll be going over the seam with some sort of sealent

To make life easier its wise to mark all the original stitch holes with a fabric pen on both sides which helps give you a factory finish and keep a neat line

Top tips. Make sure the window is cold when you cut it to fit. Also make sure the needle stays sharp and use something to push the needle through with, I used a leather belt wrapped round my palm. Finally, if you want tidy stitching and you re doing it alone, it'll take much longer. You need to do this when the roof is on the car. Bmw have a frame which you bolt the roof onto to make sure it is taught.

Some nice advice there, when you say its harder with 1 person are we talking to make like easier one on the outside pushing the needle in and someone sitting on the inside to push it back out again, save you have to keep getting in and out of the car?

That's what I would recommend. Make sure it's a good friend or family as it's a tough job and they won't thank you for it !

Before putting the needle through the hole, I got a tiny screwdriver and sharpened the end into a point. Put that thrugh first and it opens the holes for the needle, we went through a few needles during the process, and they were big hardy buggers.

[senna]

Use this:

It's a hand held 0.0 guage surgical suture used for holding chest drains in place.

4 or 5 should be enough, I use them for steering wheel leather etc etc

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=mersil ... =98&ty=130

[pac1982]

I'm going to be having a go at sewing in a rear window on Monday or Tuesday possibly both days if the labour time really is as bad as some suggest, but to be honest I can't see it taking 15 hours to stitch it in. I'll take some pics and let you know how I get on

Should be a really easy job I have the clear plastic which I got cheap from a company that makes awrnings for caravans and will be using a strong thread which is wax coated to help make it water tight, once stitched in I'll be going over the seam with some sort of sealent

To make life easier its wise to mark all the original stitch holes with a fabric pen on both sides which helps give you a factory finish and keep a neat line

How did it go?

Didn't have time to do it yet, but I'll update once I have

[B7]

Not sure I'd even be attempting this.

It's aggro enough zipping in a new e36 screen without any sewing. To keep the stitching straight and tight and regular would be nigh on impossible.

Penny to a pound it'll look like David Blunketts done it.

[pac1982]

Not sure I'd even be attempting this.

It's aggro enough zipping in a new e36 screen without any sewing. To keep the stitching straight and tight and regular would be nigh on impossible.

Penny to a pound it'll look like David Blunketts done it.

I used to be a leather trimmer, and have fitted my fair share of roofs too, although this is my first time stitching in a new rear window.

It's only a temp fix anyway just so I can drop the roof, it currently has been replaced with a hard Perspex rear window which is stopping me from putting the roof down, eventually I want a whole new roof

[Gert_8]

Registering my interest. I'd like to see the end result. Good
Luck with it, I think you'll manage a good job.