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This is to update to my previous Post #112 "BUMMER!".
Bottom Line: It's been a few weeks of top down and top up and ... so far, so good! The back window is still holding. It's hard to tell that it has been re-glued, unless you look very closely.
I sold the leftover 3M adhesive products I previously used and didn't want to buy them again because they didn't work the first time. I did some research and, based on user reviews on Amazon, decided to try Rhino Glue.
Rhino Glue cost under $18 delivered, less than half the cost of the 3M adhesive and primer.
I tried to remove the old, dried 3M adhesive, but it was rock hard. So I carefully used a small file to rough it up. As I did the first time, I masked the glass and the fabric and used the Suck-n-Clamps - but this time I also used wood paint stirrer sticks under the clamps to evenly distribute the pressure. Because Rhino Glue dries quickly, there's not a lot of time to set each clamp so I did one stirrer stick length at a time with 3 clamps. The long pointed applicator tip made it easy to squirt the Rhino Glue into the gap. I left the clamps in place for 3 days.
I did not open the top to relieve the tension on the back window as others have suggested. Only the outside bottom edge of my top was separated from the glass, and I thought it would be better to glue it when fully closed and under tension. I was concerned that if I glued it when partially open, the tension while closing would pull it apart again.
Rhino Glue is much less messy and easier to work with than the black 3M adhesive. I should have used Rhino Glue the first time instead of the 3M products.
It was in St. Petersburg , a small shop on Haines Road. I dont have the name offhand but can get it if you would like it
Jerry
Hi, how does the GAHH top look? I need one. St Pete guy has GAHH, Tampa place has a $1500 one and a $1995 w German canvas supposed to be just like Jag. I haven't laid eyes on any. Would like to be sure. Any advice?
Had the rear window glued back to the convertible top by a local shop. He told me he couldn't guarantee it would hold. So after he glued it and put the top down, it failed right away. I gave him $50 for the effort.
I found a top online for $795 and had a local shop in LA, Batz Auto Upholstery do the install. It was about $500 in labor. So all in all, had the job done for about $1,300, not horrible.
I realize the top probably failed because my car is exposed to the southern California sun on a constant basis. The Jaguar is not garage-kept. I imagine that would have allowed the top to last at least 5 to 10 more years I would imagine.
Can you tell the name of the top you bought? Is it a GAHH or an EZ online? Did you get the German canvas? How does it look? Thinking of buying one then having it put on, if I can find a shop to do it. The shops are quoting $1800 if I buy from them.
I went with EZ top which has a lifetime warranty on the window as well. The price was $1,600 plus a $100 surcharge for the same German fabrick as the original equipment. The top looks great, window is obviously better installed than the original equipment. Only problems so far are the internal bows need to have replacement stretch chords to hold them in place when raising. Also, some problem getting the headliner to Velcro properly back around the window. Installer will complete these things next week free of charge. All in all I am happy. No one would be able to tell it is not original.
Unrelated, last year I installed the remote module from the Jag Wrangler. It is the coolest thing to have on the car. You can drop with the key from about 30 feet away. Also, provides one touch raise and lowering with the inside switch and you can drop the back windows with the top up. 5 hours of hard work but worth it. Biggest problem was installing with the top and windows up. Very tight space for a 67 year old!
Hi, does the EZ have the plastic piece that covers the edges of the canvas to window to keep water off? Looks ok? Deciding EZ or GAHH
So I had complete seperation on the top of the Window and tried to find someone to repair it. The only responses were a new top for $2,000.
I tried the 3M product mentioned in this thread and bought 6 suction cups to hold it in place on Amazon. I used a razor blade to cut off excess. I think it came out looking great but WILL IT Last. We can only hope. THANKS all for the posts.
Jim
Looks very good. Hope I never have to deal with it, but nice to know there is an alternative besides changing the top.
My BMW with the plastic sewn-in window there was no alternative. Although OEM was zippered in, but typically the window cost as much as a new top, plus the top was usually worn out also, so a new top was the best solution.
Jim,
I hope the 3M products work better for you than they did for me. If not, try the Rhino Glue that I recommended in my post #121, above. It's still working for me.
Stuart
Jim,
I hope the 3M products work better for you than they did for me. If not, try the Rhino Glue that I recommended in my post #121, above. It's still working for me.
Stuart
jimi I live in Naples, FL and of course I have the same problem. My window is totally separate from the top and I was told by a Upholstery Installer that they could order a new roof as well for $3,500.00. Do you have the name of the person that sewed and glued your window to the roof? I would like to bring my car in to see what they say. Thanks.
The rear window is not sewn onto the roof, just glued.
Your Public Profile shows that you have a 2007 XK. If the fabric of your top is still in good condition, you can save over $3,400 by reattaching the glass rear window yourself. It's not hard to do if you use the Suck N Clamps and Rhino Glue. See my Posts ##105, 108 and 121, above. Since your rear window has totally separated, with enough clamps you can hold the glass in place while gluing one section at a time.
The repair I did on October 1, 2017 using Rhino Glue has held up well and has not separated again. So far, so good!
Another thought - Google "Naples FL Auto trim shop" and you'll find several places that appear to be qualified to repair your top. Visit them with your XK and hard copies of my posts ##105 and 121 and get quotes to repair using Rhino Glue. Let us know what they say. Good luck!
Thanks Jerry. I did google auto trim shops on Stuart's recommendations and I did find a trim shop that looked my top and gave me a very reasonable price to replace it for $2400.000 This guy has great reviews and he was very honest. Will post my findings when it is done. He said unfortunately it was too separated for it to be glued. He really gave it some thought but he said he couldn't guarantee it would last very long. I kinda agreed with him as well and said replacing roof was best thing to do. Will let you know how I make out. Thanks for everyone's input.
Yep, it's much better the second time around using Rhino Glue. Still holding up, no problems and I'm driving the XKR almost every day and putting the top up and down multiple times now that the weather has been so nice!
I tried the repair myself with the 3M products. Messy and still leaked. Went with the GAHH top in the German canvas. Looks just like the original Jag top. $1,700 for the top, $600 installation - as opposed to $7,300 quoted by the dealer.
I tried the repair myself with the 3M products. Messy and still leaked. Went with the GAHH top in the German canvas. Looks just like the original Jag top. $1,700 for the top, $600 installation - as opposed to $7,300 quoted by the dealer.
So I had complete seperation on the top of the Window and tried to find someone to repair it. The only responses were a new top for $2,000.
I tried the 3M product mentioned in this thread and bought 6 suction cups to hold it in place on Amazon. I used a razor blade to cut off excess. I think it came out looking great but WILL IT Last. We can only hope. THANKS all for the posts.
Jim
After 7 months the top of the window glue failed. It got the most stress so I cleaned removed the old and with my new Rino glue redid it. LETS HOPE for better Renault’s, the top is like new but for the separation.
10-01-2017, 09:30 PM
UPDATE: FIXED AGAIN! (I hope)
Window Separation
