Replacing Glass Yourself?

[roldan]

I was moving a minifridge today and stupidly didn't secure it in the back seat. First corner I rounded, it rolled over and smashed the passenger side rear window.

I assume it's possible to replace myself, but I don't see any instructions in the Bentley manual for replacing the fixed rear windows. Has anybody done this?

Also, does anybody know a good place to buy glass near Boston? I'm guessing it's probably best to buy local.

[Febi Guibo]

euro depot in NH will have the glass ...it's an all BMW junkyard, basically E30 heaven in more ways than one.

[bmwman91]

Sounds like a college student moving type scenario?

If you do it, please post how-to details. I want to convert to pop-out windows, but am not sure how much work is involved.

[asubimmer]

lexan ftw ;) you know you want to do it

[roldan]

Yeah, it was a quintessential college student moving moment, complete with a friend in the car to laugh about it. :o

The best thing I've been able to find so far online is this tutorial (http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/autos_boats/article/0,2021,DIY_13708_2272109,00.html) on replacing a windshield -- I figure the procedure for replacing fixed glass should be similar.

I'm going to see if the Euro Depot has any advice tomorrow and price out having it professionally done.. I'll post about how it goes if I end up doing it myself.

Maybe I will do Lexan if I can... McMaster has a 24"x24"x1/4" sheet for $33 and I could probably use the waterjet cutter at school. Could end up being cheaper depending on how much the OEM glass costs.

[asubimmer]

lowes and home depot have it pretty cheap and no waiting on shipping

idk if its the same thought

[D. Clay]

Get a glass form a salvage yard. No reason to hillbilly it up with lexan. The glass is easy to remove and replace. To take it out, start at the upper rear corner. It's more than a 90 degree angle. Pull the rubber gasket down and out. working toward the front and lower rear. The old one is good learning exercise - you don't have to worry about breaking it. There are two 8 mm nuts on the pillar trim that are accessible by removing the coat hook and something else.
The glass goes in and out with all of the trim attached. Star putting it back in at the rear corner where the sharpest bend is. You need someone to hold it from the outside while it's loose.
Actually if you get the glass, it shouldn't cost that much to have a pro install it. When I had my car painted, I got the windshield, quarters, and back glass removed and reinstalled for $200.

[M42boy]

Sounds like a college student moving type scenario?

If you do it, please post how-to details. I want to convert to pop-out windows, but am not sure how much work is involved.
Getting out the old one is easy... Just put a mini-fridge in your backseat and don't secure it! :D

Installing pop-out rear glass is EASY!!!

I'm thinking about this down the road as well.

[roldan]

A pic of my current super-ghetto fix until the glass gets here:

http://students.olin.edu/2008/aroldan/broken_window.jpg

Complete with plexiglas for partial visibility!

[roldan]

Does anybody know if there's any kind of internal mechanism needed for pop-out windows? The fixed glass is pretty hard to locate -- I guess it was specific to the 318is and M3. Do any 318s have the pop-out glass? Could someone post pics of the inside mechanism, if any?

I'd rather have pop-out windows and the guy at the Euro Depot said he could send the pair for the price he quoted me for the fixed glass on one side alone (which it turned out they didn't have in stock!).

I'll be sure to post a writeup on whatever replacement I end up doing.