BavarIAN
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2016
- Points
- 35
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
A couple of weeks ago I bought a replacement rear window from Art-design Munster off Ebay for around £85 including postage ( change in the euro rate seems to have had an impact).
Today I summoned up the courage to have a go at fitting it.
Removing the old window was pretty easy after removing the metal clasp that holds the zip together, I used the plastic tool provided to unzip the old one. After cleaning off any residue of the old double sided tape used to secure the headlining under the beading and was ready to go.
I dragged my son from hit pit and enlisted his help keeping the headlining out of the way while I wrestled with the zip. Having tried initially to get the zip started from the inside I concluded that it was better to start from the outside. Back in the car I zipped away, first along the bottom and then around the first corner (where being a contortionist would be helpful) up the side (so far so good) and round the top corner. Then my enthusiasm must have got the better of me and as i zipped the top the inevitable misalignment of the teeth happened ...in 3 places. Fortunately it being a bank holiday weekend the neighbours and their young kid had gone away and so the expletives that came out as I tried to unzip and re-zip it 5 times until it went in unhindered didn't matter.
Short break and a cold drink later, I was in and out of the car like a person possessed as I stitched the zip together to prevent it separating. This was preferable to trying to re-clip it using the metal clasp which had become a lethal weapon since removing it.
All that was left to do was to use the thin double sided tape supplied and feed the headlining under the beading and ensure that it was all stuck down.
All in all, a pretty straightforward job and I suppose it took me around 1.5 hours end to end.
Looks much better than the previous clouded one and as I'm not using the car for the next couple of days I'll leave the hood up so that it all settles. Once I get it back out of the garage i'll take a couple of pics.
Next task - some recolouring of the black and blue sport seats where some areas have become discoloured ........any advice on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ian
Today I summoned up the courage to have a go at fitting it.
Removing the old window was pretty easy after removing the metal clasp that holds the zip together, I used the plastic tool provided to unzip the old one. After cleaning off any residue of the old double sided tape used to secure the headlining under the beading and was ready to go.
I dragged my son from hit pit and enlisted his help keeping the headlining out of the way while I wrestled with the zip. Having tried initially to get the zip started from the inside I concluded that it was better to start from the outside. Back in the car I zipped away, first along the bottom and then around the first corner (where being a contortionist would be helpful) up the side (so far so good) and round the top corner. Then my enthusiasm must have got the better of me and as i zipped the top the inevitable misalignment of the teeth happened ...in 3 places. Fortunately it being a bank holiday weekend the neighbours and their young kid had gone away and so the expletives that came out as I tried to unzip and re-zip it 5 times until it went in unhindered didn't matter.
Short break and a cold drink later, I was in and out of the car like a person possessed as I stitched the zip together to prevent it separating. This was preferable to trying to re-clip it using the metal clasp which had become a lethal weapon since removing it.
All that was left to do was to use the thin double sided tape supplied and feed the headlining under the beading and ensure that it was all stuck down.
All in all, a pretty straightforward job and I suppose it took me around 1.5 hours end to end.
Looks much better than the previous clouded one and as I'm not using the car for the next couple of days I'll leave the hood up so that it all settles. Once I get it back out of the garage i'll take a couple of pics.
Next task - some recolouring of the black and blue sport seats where some areas have become discoloured ........any advice on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ian
(military head on)
