e36 Rear Window Trim/Seal replacement DIY

[Spyke]

Since I recently fixed my rear defroster (LINK HERE) I figured I would get that nasty rear window trim/seal redone to finish it up. Boy am I glad I did, such a simple little thing makes the car look so much better!

Here's all that's needed:
-Needle nose pliers
-Windex (or anything that will lubricate the glass, but evaporate quickly)
-Trim removal tool (or anything plastic that won't scratch/damage your paint or glass)

This is literally a 15-20 minute job.

If yours was anything like my donor car, that rear trim/seal is somewhere between 15-20 years old. Yikes. The corners were completely eroded and non existant. Since that's out of the way, go ahead and grab the edge of the top strip with your needle nose, twist up and out to get it started. (That's twisting slightly up above, and to the rear of the car clockwise if you're starting from the driver side.)


DIY Rear Window Seal Removal 1 by greggdrake, on Flickr

Continue pulling with the pliers or your hands until the top strip is completely removed. (The sides come out in the same fashion.)


DIY Rear Window Seal Removal 2 by greggdrake, on Flickr

Now the bottom strip. Twist backwards and counter clockwise, again, I started from the driver side.


DIY Rear Window Seal Removal 3 by greggdrake, on Flickr

Now that all the trim is out, I went ahead and blew all the dirt out, and cleaned out the grooves with a rag on all sides.

Spray the groove and edge of the glass with Windex or whatever you're using for lubrication. I started at the top edge, driver side. Set it in the groove, make sure to get the bottom lip of the trim set under the glass. I did this across the whole top edge. Then using my non-marring trim removal tool, I pressed the trim into place. Press straight down into the channel, and inwards toward the glass.


DIY Rear Window Seal Replacement 1 by greggdrake, on Flickr

Once the top edge was finished, I did the bottom, then went back to the sides. The bottom strip simply slips into place, and does not need to be pressed in. (If you choose to do the top, then sides, then bottom, you're still okay. You can still do the bottom "underlap" with the sides already in place.)

Looks good! Over the next month or so heat should shrink it in to fit the glass a little better.


DIY Rear Window Seal Replacement 2 by greggdrake, on Flickr

[BRISTOW VA]

Good job! Where did you buy the trim and for how much? Do you have part number?
Thanx!

[Spyke]

Thank you. I sourced part numbers from RealOEM.com and parts from PelicanParts.com. They can be found under Vehicle Trim > Glazing.

For my 325i Sedan, part numbers were as follows:

Top/Sides: 51311977277
Bottom: 51318119281

325i Coupe should be:

Top/Sides: 51311977608
Bottom: 51318119281

*Please confirm fitment on your own just in case!!!

*Added photos as attachments in case links expire.

[Bianca98]

First class, Sir. Well done.

[Spyke]

First class, Sir. Well done.

I didn't see a writeup that had all the details or photos. I like to help out and fill in the blanks.

[blueberry]

Thanks for the info. I just replaced mine. Looks sooo much better with a new seal. Simple to replace.

[6banger17]

Mine keeps braking as i try to pull it out. Anyone have another idea on how to take it out?

[cabdolla]

Nice write up. Did a short write up myself on my project thread. Your's has more pics and detail!

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...21&postcount=8

[Spyke]

Mine keeps braking as i try to pull it out. Anyone have another idea on how to take it out?

Thanks guys.

Yours is most likely extremely brittle. I would try warming it up (since it's winter) with a hair dryer. You can use a heat gun as well, but it's much more powerful and you will have to be pretty careful. Other than that, you'll just have to go piece-by-piece.

[DTreats]

Wow nice job! Iv wanted to do this for a longgggg time but always heard it was super difficult

New weekend project, thanks!

[Spyke]

Lies!!! It's super easy, glad we can bust a myth or two. The stealership thinks you're a wizard if you can do this "all by yourself!?". lol

[Islandman242]

Do you have a link to your rear window defroster fix? Just curious as to what you did. Thanks!

[Spyke]

Do you have a link to your rear window defroster fix? Just curious as to what you did. Thanks!

Here you are:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1730591

[wbarfels]

What about the side window trim on a coupe? That's the only part of my car that has some paint worn away.....and in a few place the start of surface rust. Is it replaceable (In a DIY sense) or is it a PITA?

[Spyke]

Never worked on a coupe (yet) strangely enough. For sure it's fixable, I just am not certain on what the procedure is.

[cabdolla]

Its very easy. Did it on my friends sedan. It just peals off and you peal a new one on.

[Bjkearns]

It is super easy
When I got my parts from the dealership the box was a fricken MONSTER and theres only that tiny little part in there lol

[jereisluke]

Mine is slowly disintegrating, where did you get the non-marring trim removal tool? Pelican Parts too?

[Spyke]

Mine is slowly disintegrating, where did you get the non-marring trim removal tool? Pelican Parts too?

I got my set of trim removal tools from ECS Tuning, but almost any vendor should carry them, or something very similar. They're great for all sorts of jobs.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Trim_Tool/ES517779/

[fahdyehia628]

Thanks very much

[wbarfels]

Does anyone know where to get the side window trim for a 323is?

[6banger17]

so am i the only one that cant get the new one on????
the sides snap in place but the top doesn't. wtf!

[blueberry]

Top goes in just like the sides. Just make sure you lubed up the edge of the glass with some glass cleaner. It will slide right on

[Kody]

Awesome! Mine are horribly in need of replacement, I've been scared it was gonna be tough to get them out, may try now that I see how easy it is.

[blueberry]

Yea it really easy. I think it took me like 15-20 mins to do the whole window