Ok, my windshield is one of the biggest things on my car that absolutely needs done. It is extremely "sand blasted" "pitted" and is an overall safety hazard. I've contacted every glass place with in 100 miles of me and only one place will tackle it AND they can only source a pilkington classic Triplex screen from England AND want way too much to do it AND I've seen their work on my friends customers XJS rear screen (horrible job) and they also botched my XJ6 series III screen when they did it. So they are out and it's up to me. I've sourced a screen at a very reasonable price with the blue tint top (bonus since pilkington can't supply one like that) now my question is all the research I've done is that this is a very difficult job BUT it looks from inside and out like an old Volkswagon style install with the double grab rubber gasket. If I do it myself I get to save HALF and get the top tint screen and don't have the frustration of dealing with a company I know will botch it the first time BUT at least I have recourse and the screen is replaced by them if they break it during install. If it breaks while I install it I screw myself. Anyone out there replace there own? Pitfalls? Advise? Lessons learned? Thanks!

 

Ok, does anyone at least know how dificult the stainless trim is to remove? Install? What holds it on besides the rivets in the upper door jambs?

 

I've been watching this thread, and hoping to see someone answer it as well. Living in Mississippi, as I do, means that any car you actually drive will likely end up with a cracked windshield. I don't know why it's that way here, maybe the roads have more stray gravel on them or something, but, it's just a fact of life living here. As a result both my XJS coupes have cracked windshields. I have an '89 convertible parts car with a perfect windshield, which I want to put into one of the coupes, but, I can't find a glass shop that is willing to tackle the job. I'm sorely tempted to do it myself, but, the fact that even the pros shy away from doing it has me spooked.

 

Stainless trim is straightforward. It all has to come off. Undo the fixings on the A pillar beneath the door seal. Ease off the trim,carefully releasing it from where it is under the edges of the rubber windscreen seal.

Once this is done, you can access the self tapper each end of the top trim that runs across the roof front, and ease that off. The trim along the bottom of the screen has a screw each end, now also visible, and also willl require you to remove the wiper grill/motor unit, as there are inaccessible fixings there too.

You will need a new screen rubber, and it is best to cut out the old one or risk fracturing the old screen.

I have done the above, but NOT replaced the screen. A set of windcreen rubber tools is a good idea to have. I am TOLD, not sure, that putting the rubber round the metal first with a goodly line of sealant in the rubber 'valley' that goes onto the metal is the first step. Then, with a friend, insert the top of the new screen first, and work downwards and along the front middle from each side.

Good idea to place a piece of cloth or plastic over the dash before doing this stage!

Last of all, insert the rubber locking strip to tighten the grip of the rubber on the glass. You may want to squirt some sealer into the glass/rubber valley BEFORE inserting the locking strip. Myself, I am waiting for my old glass to break, then this is what i am going to try myself.

Greg

 

I had my front and rear screens installed a couple of months ago. The guys did a very poor job and I ended up removing the rear and re-installing it myself. The front was not too bad but needed more sealer in the bottom corners.

Mish on this forum did it himself. If you do decide to go this route I would do a test fit first to make sure everything fit as it should. The guys used Mastic on the front and I went over the edges with Sikaflex windscreen sealant so there were no areas that water could pool in, especially the bottom corners, or you will have rust in a few years.

If you do it yourself using masking tape around the edges on the body makes cleaning up easier.

 

Just a thought but have you tried taking a D/A polisher to the windshield? You will surprised at the improvement. I would wash then clay the windshield first.

Cheers,

Allan

 

Allen it's way to far gone for that, the pits are deep and numerous and way beyond polishing. It's to the point of replacement.

 

Ordered the screen, seal and lock strip yesterday. Does anyone know if the rubber between the stainless trim and glass is seperate or part of the main seal.

 

Coming in late...

FWIW, I had my XJS windshield removed and reinstalled because it was leaking. The installer (who never worked on any Jag before) said the job was "a piece of cake, just like an old Volkswagen".

I had already removed all the metal trim which, I might add, is very easily distorted....so be gentle on removal. I very slightly twisted a couple sections and had a devil of a time reinstalling them properly. In fact, they never did fit quite right.

I believe the rubber you're asking about is a separate piece called a "locking strip insert"or something like that, as Greg mentioned.

There's also a separate finishing strip....sorta like a beading type of thing....that fits between the the body and the bottom section of the stainless trim. Is that what you mean?

Cheers
DD


Cheers
DD

 

I guess I'll see when I remove the trim. I know my Series III XJ6 had a seperate dressing trim between the stainless and screen but that windscreen is bonded in. My XJS has a similar looking pice of rubber between the stainless and screen that overlaps the stainless. I'll be careful with it in case it is seperate and I have to re-use it.