Windscreen cowl replacement - Pics

[voodoomelon]

Well I replaced my windscreen cowl today, the rubber strip that travels along the base of the windscreen. I didn't see any info on replacement on E38.org so I thought i'd do a quick writeup.

If you want to do this on the cheap, then all you need is the cowl itself, part no. is 51718125477 . RealOEM has the price at $87.05, the UK price is ₤39.97 and the euro price is approx €55.00. Otherwise you can buy all the clips too, but there is no need as you can re-use them no problem.

As you can see, my cowl was in very bad shape, the rubber was completely corroded and I could actually stick my finger up underneath the windscreen:







First thing you have to do it remove the left side wiper (as you look out of the car), as it protrudes through the cowl itself. Stop the wipers mid cycle so that they are in the vertical position. Simply wiggle the plastic cap off the bottom of the wiper (you can pull it right off) and you will reveal a 13mm hex bolt. Take your wrench to it and it will unscrew easily.





To get the wiper off, you may end up tearing your hair out like I did, it should come straight off but its probably rusted and seized to the motor stem. Just keep at it, wriggling and pulling it and it will eventually come off. You can be quite rough with it but don't over do it. WD-40 may well free it up a bit more if left to soak.

Next you'll be faced with a set of 10 plastic clips that hold the cowl in place. Each clip is made up of two parts. You have to pry the top part out before you can get the bottom part out. Its very easily done.



You may find it easier to get at the end clips with pliers.



Once you have the top part of the clips out, you can pry the lower part of the clips out the same way.
Once thats done, you can move onto removing the internal rubber seals under the bonnet as shown below. They simply pull off, you can leave them lying forward.



To get the cowl off, simply lift it up and pull it up over the windscreen, under the middle wiper. Be careful not to bang it against the windscreen or the body work.
This is what you are left with. Nasty!







Time to clean all that dirt off! I used WD-40 and kitchen towel. Perfect!



I also cleaned all the clips that I removed with silicon oil.



Here's the old cowl next to the new one, some difference.







Time to get the new one on. Simply slide it down the windscreen and under the middle wiper, essentially the opposite to the way you took it off.
Line it up properly in the corners and make sure the left windscreen motor stem sticks up through the hole in the cowl neatly.

Then we can start putting the clips back in. I started with all the lower half of the clips, pushing them in very firmly.



Then I followed with the top section of the clips.



It's important to push them in very firmly, because if you push down on the cowl, you'll see that some of the clips aren't actually fully in at all.
I banged some in with the handle of a screw driver.

Once they're all in, you're done!
Here's the finished job:









A quick and easy 30 minute job that won't break the bank.

[spazzboy]

Nicely executed and the explanation was well done too.

[Aindriu]

Wow that look great! I'm gonna order the part today!

[cazal740i]

great job,.,.....Man ur old 1 was brittle

[voodoomelon]

Sure was, really added age to the car on closer inspection. Cleaned it up nicely. Next job, diff oil change and transmission fluid & filter change.

[Edwin NL]

Great job buddy!

[dafi740]

done mine last month and the top windscreen rubber too..great detailed explanation though....

[Route 66]

Looks great!

[Aindriu]

Yeah does anyone else have the rubber around the windscreen starting to chip off in little squares? I don't suppose there is any fix for that without removing the windscreen, is there?

[Route 66]

From what I see the answer is no.

[GAZ6666]

Old thread I know, but does anyone know where I can purchase this part 51718125477 cheaply within the UK? Would BMW still stock the part? Thanks.

[age109]

Old thread I know, but does anyone know where I can purchase this part 51718125477 cheaply within the UK? Would BMW still stock the part? Thanks.

http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/3324...r-51718125477/

Int shipping is 45 so that will put you a little over 100.

Dealers should still be able to get it for you.

[das borgen]

how how do you replace the one rubber seal/strip along the top of the windshield?

good info......I did this job on my E36s and it made them both look instantly 5 years younger

[age109]

how how do you replace the one rubber seal/strip along the top of the windshield?

good info......I did this job on my E36s and it made them both look instantly 5 years younger

From a recent post...

I replaced mine due to wind noise, but mainly because it was crumbling and looked like crap. I followed the write-up in the link below and it was very easy. Took about 45 minutes because I wanted to be thorough in cleaning the old residue out of the gap.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/481753

[voodoomelon]

Just a note on this, just 3.5 years on from writing this tutorial, the cowl is rotted away again.

And this started happening a year ago. So 2.5 years from an OEM part, pretty poor performance.

[texase34]

does this help at all with wind noise?

[wastedincome]

Just a note on this, just 3.5 years on from writing this tutorial, the cowl is rotted away again.

And this started happening a year ago. So 2.5 years from an OEM part, pretty poor performance.

That wicked sucks!!!!!! Great write up btw

[victoriabmw27]

Just a note on this, just 3.5 years on from writing this tutorial, the cowl is rotted away again.

And this started happening a year ago. So 2.5 years from an OEM part, pretty poor performance.

Ya, that sounds about right haha. Gotta love the quality.

[shenofjo]

whats the worst that can happen to a bad cowl? I see mine are cracked too

[dville]

whats the worst that can happen to a bad cowl? I see mine are cracked too

My 99 had a wiper motor that slowed to a crawl and eventually stopped.
I think too much water got to it and it got corroded inside.

[shenofjo]

Not a lot of rain here in California... but maybe ill replace it one of these days or the good ole tape will do too. hah

[cazal740i]

Only part that cracks is the rubber trim. U can replace it at Home Depot. The plastic cowl doesn't go bad.

[Staszek]

Just a note on this, just 3.5 years on from writing this tutorial, the cowl is rotted away again.

And this started happening a year ago. So 2.5 years from an OEM part, pretty poor performance.

I know this is an old post but is your car outside all the time? I just found this write up, I am replacing my cowl next week because its all corroded.

[Ruskii]

Cazal mentioned Home Depot -- has anyone fixed the rotted rubber part using some sort of a rubber strip? I am not sold on 2.5-3.5 year performance of the OE replacement.

[franco90]

good stuff I am ordering mine soon