Rear light gaskets

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xavier
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Sat Mar 21, 2020 11:38 am

I thought I might make up some new tail light gaskets using an old dodgy on as a template. Any idea what BMW used to make them? I thought neoprene would be good.
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martauto
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Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:27 pm

xavier wrote:
Sat Mar 21, 2020 11:38 am
I thought I might make up some new tail light gaskets using an old dodgy on as a template. Any idea what BMW used to make them? I thought neoprene would be good.
Neoprene is good stuff but good luck as many have failed.
Let`s know how you go on with this please , if this works then you could have a nice side line :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Pic`s as well please winkeye winkeye

Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
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Lemon98
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Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:43 pm

I think they're just rubber. I got some recently from the cotsowld BMW people
1990 4-door 320i SE
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xavier
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Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:47 am

Yep made one up in neoprene. I pinned an old one down onto card to make a template. The actual design of the original is not great though. Although all around the lens is sealed there seems to be a space above the light lens where water can be pulled by capillary action. The lens has evidence of a number of attempts to use silicon. Some clear and some black.
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boiliebasher
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Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:03 am

My original ones seem to be some sort of foam like gasket material iirc
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xavier
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Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:51 am

The original material looks like foamed neoprene. This is neoprene with nitrogen bubbles in it. It’s what they use in wet suits. Now that you mention it, cutting a gasket out of an old wet suit might work. I might visit the second hand clothes Op shop.
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boiliebasher
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Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:42 am

Or chest waders. I used to have a set of neoprene chest waders for fishing which we used in the colder weather. Might be worth looking into them too?
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boiliebasher
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Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:43 am

I think you might even be able to buy patch repair kits for them too so might be worth a look too
NaV08
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Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:22 pm

Just my 5 cents.
Just after I got the car, at the first heavy rain had the trunk flooded. Found out a gasket was missing. They were 30€ on eBay but needed a fast solution.
Bought a D-shaped neoprene gasket for a couple €. No more leaks. Not a drop of water.
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