rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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Feb 10, 2012 18:42:20 GMT
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I stupidly cracked the rear screen in my E32 735i putting a wheelbarrow in the boot and it touched the glass. There are loads of large cracks running from the middle of the bottom of the screen reaching across 3/4 of the total screen. The screens totally had it but E32 screens are bonded in and I don't have a spare. I need to keep using the car for the time being until I can source a screen (or a donor car  ), so I'm looking for ideas of reinforcing the screen. It's lasted a week so far in the freezing weather, I thought it would have smashed through driving stresses or water ingress and freezing conditions by now... Could tint or some sort of window laminate be used for this? I could use duck tape I'd hope not to revert to that... |
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E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i
ETC
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Feb 10, 2012 18:50:28 GMT
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You can get window tint megacheap off ebay (£4 for enough to do both sides) and I'm sure that would hold it in one piece for the time being
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Feb 10, 2012 18:58:36 GMT
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Why not "bite the bullet" and pay the insurance excess seeing it's going to probably be a professional job to fit even a secondhand item ? Doesn't affect NCB.
Paul h
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BiAS
Club Retro Rides Member
Insert witty comment here
Posts: 2,231
Club RR Member Number: 147
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Feb 10, 2012 19:04:56 GMT
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You won't stop it getting worse unfortunately Rob, if it's cracked not crystalised that would suggest that it's a laminate not toughened. Has it cracked the inside or the outside layer or both? If it's laminate the plastic layer in the middle will stop it leaking/falling in/exploding next to bus stops full of nuns carrying kittehs.
Mates screen on his escort van cracked right across the bottom after a stone got kicked up by a lorry on the way back from the MOT, he only changed it for the MOT the following year because he had to. We used to draw a mark at the end of each of the cracks radiating out from the impact with a sharpie whilst sat in traffic on the way home from work, just to see how it was progressing. All the cracks stayed in the bottom 3" of screen so visibility was never impaired.
Tint or laminate would hold it together if it did decide to let go but to put the stuff on you'd need to press on the inside of a concave window, which in theory is its weakness. Even on the outside I'd be scared I was going to make it worse. I've cracked a couple of Ford 'screens in the past just putting the stupid stick on interior mirrors back on.
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(car+wheels)-rideheight=WIN
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rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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Feb 10, 2012 20:10:08 GMT
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Cobblers - I think if I do anything, this is the route I'll take. It will make the 7 look even more "drug dealer"  Paul - I don't think my insurance would cover it since I'm TPFT. Apart from previous screen claims I've found comprehensive insurance isn't worth the hassle, I just end up fixing my cars anyway! Ian - I hope you're right, I know nothing about the screens so if the screen it's laminate in the middle and isn't likely to instantly collapse then I'm happy to leave it for a long time. Since it's the rear screen I couldn't care less! |
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E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i
ETC
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john61
Part of things
just give in to it
Posts: 32
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Feb 10, 2012 21:40:13 GMT
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clear sticky back plastic  ?? temp repair for now |
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Porsche 911 SC
VW T25 SYNCRO
BSA C 15
HONDA CBR 1000
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Feb 11, 2012 16:33:15 GMT
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screen flat? - silicone a sheet of perspex to it, or even a piece of plywood...
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omega
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,060
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Feb 12, 2012 15:38:27 GMT
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if you want to stop a crack spreading there is only one way
you need to drill a small hole at the end of the crack as a crack cant jump a hole.
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omega
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,060
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Feb 12, 2012 16:33:46 GMT
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if you want to stop a crack spreading there is only one way
you need to drill a small hole at the end of the crack as a crack cant jump a hole.
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), so I'm looking for ideas of reinforcing the screen. It's lasted a week so far in the freezing weather, I thought it would have smashed through driving stresses or water ingress and freezing conditions by now...
?? temp repair for now 
