Windshield top molding coming off

ManoSpeed · 10-06-2010, 09:16 AM

This morning as I parked my car I noticed the molding between the roof and the front windshield is coming loose on the passenger's side. I'm a little surprised because the car is a 2007 with 25K miles on it. Has anyone else had this problem? The car is still under warranty. I assume my dealer can fix it.

inTgr8r · 10-06-2010, 09:18 AM

If it has come loose, it's definitely a warranty issue.
Do you have any pics?

ManoSpeed · 10-06-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

If it has come loose, it's definitely a warranty issue.
Do you have any pics?

No, I don't. I'll try to take some during my lunch break. Any suggestions on how to avoid this in the future? Sometimes I wash my car in those automated car washes instead of hand washed. Could that exacerbate the problem?

thenewkid · 10-06-2010, 09:50 AM

i've had my 3.0si since last nov and it didnt happen till early spring but since then its been replaced 3 times im getting the car back today actually, its done by another windsheild/glass company at the dealership i go to dont know about elsewhere, but then again this is the infamous autobahn bmw that wrecked a new m5 after a oilchange testdrive/joyride with sport mode on and full traction control off...supposedly over 30k in damages so dont expect my dealership experinces to happen at other places

esqu1re · 10-06-2010, 09:59 AM

It happened to me at <20,000 miles. The prev. owner lived in Texas. I'm assuming the sun baked the molding and it became brittle.

ManoSpeed · 10-06-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esqu1re

It happened to me at <20,000 miles. The prev. owner lived in Texas. I'm assuming the sun baked the molding and it became brittle.

In Greece where the sun is intense I know some car owners apply vaseline to the mouldings to try and keep them from going brittle. Do you think this would help?

inTgr8r · 10-06-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenewkid

i've had my 3.0si since last nov and it didnt happen till early spring but since then its been replaced 3 times im getting the car back today actually, its done by another windsheild/glass company at the dealership i go to dont know about elsewhere, but then again this is the infamous autobahn bmw that wrecked a new m5 after a oilchange testdrive/joyride with sport mode on and full traction control off...supposedly over 30k in damages so dont expect my dealership experinces to happen at other places

Is this posted somewhere?

esqu1re · 10-06-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManoSpeed

In Greece where the sun is intense I know some car owners apply vaseline to the mouldings to try and keep them from going brittle. Do you think this would help?

I don't know. There's a product called "Back to black" by Mothers, I think---I wonder if that stuff acts as a protectant on the rubber as well.

Luckily for me, my windshield developed a crack and the entire thing, including the molding, was replaced for free by the insurance company.

bosstones · 10-06-2010, 10:45 AM

I usually use 303 Aerospace Protectant on external molding and seals to try to prevent sun damage to them. However, I haven't been very good the last 1.5 years at keeping up with cosmetic maintenance on my coupe.

I have a '07 but haven't had this happen yet and everything seems to be sound on my car. I park facing East at work so most of the daytime sun doesn't hit my front windshield. When I had my ZHP, I did have the door gasket trim come loose. The whole door gasket had to be replaced since it's all one part. That was due to intense sun/heat unbonding the adhesive.

You shouldn't have any issue with the dealer fixing/replacing it. There should also be a 2 year warranty on the part so if it happens again within that time frame, the dealer should fix it at no cost.

SCHMOUPE · 10-06-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Is this posted somewhere?

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...est-drive.html

I am on page 12, please no spoilers

wzjra · 10-06-2010, 05:15 PM

Mine is beginning is crack as well. Does anyone know if it's covered by warranty? I will surely the product "Black Wow" to protect the plastics after it's been replaced.

thenewkid · 10-07-2010, 10:56 AM

yes its covered i've had mine done 3 times for (some reason...aka autobahn bmw) under warranty

r4gs · 10-07-2010, 11:56 AM

a friend's 2000 540i has extensive cracking and peeling of the rubber surrounds around his front and rear windshield, and his interior door panels are starting to become unstuck. it's definitely due to excessive exposure to the summer sun under extremely high daytime temperatures.

Gyrian · 10-08-2010, 12:33 PM

Everything rubber that faces that elements isn't looking too great in mine, this Texas sun.

I hope I might be able to replace at least some of this rubber under warranty. How complicated is this to service?

I'm going to have to go protectant crazy the next time around, I fear.

KLH · 10-09-2010, 07:05 PM

Mine came loose in the (top) middle. Dealership replaced it under warranty. It took them three times (three gaskets) before they got it right.

jcutrell · 10-09-2010, 10:37 PM

Has anyone done this as a DIY? My 03 is showing signs of cracking, etc. (it spent most of its life in Florida) but it is long out of warranty.

doozyj · 10-10-2010, 12:34 AM

OP, you should totally avoid automated washes. I am sure they can only help the problem, you know how those brushes spin and wack your moldings over and over again. Maybe if you can't wash your car yourself, at least can you find a good place that do hand washes.

bosstones · 10-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Hmmm...while cleaning the car yesterday, I noticed some cracking in the door seal underneath the passenger window on the B pillar. This side is exposed to the most sun while my car is parked at work since I always part facing East. I didn't notice anything around the rear windshield, though.

10-06-2010, 09:16 AM	#1
ManoSpeed Private First Class 24 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Elk Grove Village, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [8.00]	Windshield top molding coming off This morning as I parked my car I noticed the molding between the roof and the front windshield is coming loose on the passenger's side. I'm a little surprised because the car is a 2007 with 25K miles on it. Has anyone else had this problem? The car is still under warranty. I assume my dealer can fix it.
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10-06-2010, 09:18 AM	#2
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	If it has come loose, it's definitely a warranty issue. Do you have any pics? __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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10-06-2010, 09:50 AM	#4
thenewkid Private 0 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 06' 3.0si Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: fort worth, texas iTrader: (1)	i've had my 3.0si since last nov and it didnt happen till early spring but since then its been replaced 3 times im getting the car back today actually, its done by another windsheild/glass company at the dealership i go to dont know about elsewhere, but then again this is the infamous autobahn bmw that wrecked a new m5 after a oilchange testdrive/joyride with sport mode on and full traction control off...supposedly over 30k in damages so dont expect my dealership experinces to happen at other places
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10-06-2010, 09:59 AM	#5
esqu1re Lieutenant Colonel 41 Rep 1,855 Posts Drives: M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	It happened to me at <20,000 miles. The prev. owner lived in Texas. I'm assuming the sun baked the molding and it became brittle. __________________ ///M Coupe: RPI Scoop, OE Strut, CDV, Volk RE30, SS Brake Lines, Stromung Exhaust
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10-06-2010, 10:45 AM	#9
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1154 Rep 1,543 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	I usually use 303 Aerospace Protectant on external molding and seals to try to prevent sun damage to them. However, I haven't been very good the last 1.5 years at keeping up with cosmetic maintenance on my coupe. I have a '07 but haven't had this happen yet and everything seems to be sound on my car. I park facing East at work so most of the daytime sun doesn't hit my front windshield. When I had my ZHP, I did have the door gasket trim come loose. The whole door gasket had to be replaced since it's all one part. That was due to intense sun/heat unbonding the adhesive. You shouldn't have any issue with the dealer fixing/replacing it. There should also be a 2 year warranty on the part so if it happens again within that time frame, the dealer should fix it at no cost. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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10-06-2010, 05:15 PM	#11
wzjra Private 1 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Mine is beginning is crack as well. Does anyone know if it's covered by warranty? I will surely the product "Black Wow" to protect the plastics after it's been replaced.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-07-2010, 10:56 AM	#12
thenewkid Private 0 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 06' 3.0si Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: fort worth, texas iTrader: (1)	yes its covered i've had mine done 3 times for (some reason...aka autobahn bmw) under warranty
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10-07-2010, 11:56 AM	#13
r4gs Viper Driver 36 Rep 1,311 Posts Drives: F-16 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Singapore iTrader: (2)	a friend's 2000 540i has extensive cracking and peeling of the rubber surrounds around his front and rear windshield, and his interior door panels are starting to become unstuck. it's definitely due to excessive exposure to the summer sun under extremely high daytime temperatures.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2010, 12:33 PM	#14
Gyrian 3.2 liter grin 6 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 2008 M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX iTrader: (0)	Everything rubber that faces that elements isn't looking too great in mine, this Texas sun. I hope I might be able to replace at least some of this rubber under warranty. How complicated is this to service? I'm going to have to go protectant crazy the next time around, I fear.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-09-2010, 07:05 PM	#15
KLH Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 2006 3.0si Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Plano, TX iTrader: (0)	Mine came loose in the (top) middle. Dealership replaced it under warranty. It took them three times (three gaskets) before they got it right.
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10-09-2010, 10:37 PM	#16
jcutrell New Member 0 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 2.5i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Georgetown, Ohio iTrader: (0)	Has anyone done this as a DIY? My 03 is showing signs of cracking, etc. (it spent most of its life in Florida) but it is long out of warranty.
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10-10-2010, 12:34 AM	#17
doozyj Lieutenant 14 Rep 514 Posts Drives: 2007 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (8)	OP, you should totally avoid automated washes. I am sure they can only help the problem, you know how those brushes spin and wack your moldings over and over again. Maybe if you can't wash your car yourself, at least can you find a good place that do hand washes. __________________ 2007 /// M Coupe Alpine White / Light Sepang Bronze 6MT 2003 /// M3 Alpine White / Imola Red SMG II (Sunroof Delete) SOLD
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10-11-2010, 02:58 PM	#18
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1154 Rep 1,543 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	Hmmm...while cleaning the car yesterday, I noticed some cracking in the door seal underneath the passenger window on the B pillar. This side is exposed to the most sun while my car is parked at work since I always part facing East. I didn't notice anything around the rear windshield, though. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
	Appreciate 0 Quote