Windshield help needed
 

I kind of think I know the answer to this question and I'm afraid it will be an expensive answer.

Check out the pics of the rubber trim at the top of my windshield. There is a thinner strip of rubber gasket that goes between the roof and the windshield and there is a thicker rubber trim that appears to be part of the windshield itself. I have noticed it deteriorating and tonight when washing the X5, a few strips of the thin black gasket came out. The thicker rubber trim on the windshield itself is cracking and the rubber is perished. It sort of flakes off and has a gummy texture. I believe that there is more wind noise too. (I don't drive the X5 very much and only drove it this weekend for the first time in months.)

So.... Does this require a new windshield or can both rubber parts be replaced? I could use a new windshield since the one on now is pretty sand blasted but I still want to know all of my options.

BTW, my X5 is an 03/02 production that went into service about two weeks after production. I live in a very hot and dry climate so the sun kills rubber and plastics so over four years of sun has taken its toll.

I am guessing here but would an auto window installer be able to remove the windshield and re-attach fresh rubber?

Or ... remove the perished rubber and replace with some dark grey/black silicon?

Kev- check this site and call Mike at the number listed there and ask him about it. You may even be able to direct him to your post here if he needs a good look. He won't be able to fix it long-distance of course, but he's a nice guy and hopefully can tell you what you're looking at.

Tell him Jason sent you- he should remember me from the X5World meet last May and from fixing a chip in my windshield.

JV

Thanks Jason. I might just do that. I'm thinking that this spells a new windshield though and given that my windshield is a little shotblasted, it might be worth it to just change it all out. :dunno:

naw all you need is a new rubber trim, there s no way that the glass it self is damage. that rubber trim looks like a bad scab that some one has been picking at. i was looking for oem trim replacement kit, but was not able to locate oem part number, but i did find, 51318402457 COVER, WINDSHIELD, that what is say, looks like some 3m tape that would go over that trim piece naw all you need is a new rubber trim, there s no way that the glass it self is damage. that rubber trim looks like a bad scab that some one has been picking at. i was looking for oem trim replacement kit, but was not able to locate oem part number, but i did find, 51318402457 COVER, WINDSHIELD, that what is say, looks like some 3m tape that would go over that trim piece RealOEM.COM BMW E53 X5 4.4i GLAZING SINGLE PARTS good luck
good luck

IMO, just get a new windshield. You are going to pay the same or more in labour costs to have the windshield professionally pulled and resealed (it has to be cleaned up prior to reinstallation) and since it is shotblasted anyway, what is the issue? If you got that many years out of it, it doesn't owe you anything.

Don't do it yourself, nothing worse than a leak or a patch job.