Are bonded windscreens DIY able?

Thanks for that, any idea what adhesive i´d need?

I´ve just forund someone on deebay that´s doing it for 200 Euros with a new screen, i still fancy having a go though!

I've cut them out with a bendy bread knife before, its the corners you have watch, they crack really easy, the straight bits are easy.

Yeah bonded screens are really easy to do the biggest problem is the seal round the screen.
some just prise out / some are clipped on (as with the BMW E34) / some are bonded with the screen and some are attached to the screen itself.
You will damage the seal if you try and do it with this attached.
I'd see if VW supply the seal seperatly and order one if they do (some seals act as a spacer as well as prevent wind noise)
If you get an actual screen fitting kit for the model you will find that it may come with the correct depth spacers / wire to cut out and the correct cut nozzle. BMW do a very good kit and was about £60 but aint done one in a while.
Firstly remove the seal and inner a post trims (might need to pull headlining down) then using mole grips or pliers force the wire (mig wire will do or serated wire) through the gap into the cab area be prepared for it to snap a few times.
Also have a piece of metal (4"x4" should do) and cover with tape - use this to protect the dash area. Get a helper one on inside and one on outside attach the mole grips to each end of the wire and go back and forth in a cutting action. Work you way round the screen (watching the corners cause there can be a lot of bonding their) it's hard to explain but the person inside needs to move the wire parrall to the screen itself and on the outside at 90 degress angle to screen.
Try not to lever the screen anywhere - it will crack especially if any minor stone chips in the glass.
When removed clean excess glue from the aperture - touch up any damaged paint.
Some bonding glues (Sikaflex is the best) need heat to work so read the instructions - i've placed em in an oven for 10 minutes first before use - helps them cure and easier to use. On a big screen like that you will probably need 2 tubes.
If you can get hold of some dent suckers attach these to the outside of the screen (to help fit glass in aperture) cut a 'V' in the nozzle (at least 1/2" deep - some will be more you will have to check the thickness of the glue) work round the screen with a caulking gun (the glue is really hard to push out so an air caulking gun would be ideal) Make sure no high spots / gaps etc (you can play a bit with the bead before you attach. But you have to work quick.

When ready with a helper lift the screen into the aperature - fitting to the roof and then let it drop onto the scuttle. attach tape to the top of the screen to roof (stops it sliding down) and make sure the screen fits nice and flush to the adjacent panels - you can use a ratchet strap to gentle push screen down (not too much though just enough to hold it ..

Any problems let me know

I know a bloke who fits them for autoglass, and if he can do it, you can DEFINITELY do it!

the screen you want to remove has a separate trim from the screen, best place to start is remove the wipers and then look for the join in the trim which should be at the bottom in the middle, use a small pick to pull the trim out from the join be very careful not to prise against the edge of the glass, if you can get it started then pull the trim towards you and away from the glass all the way round untill removed,
do not use a 90 degree blade type windscreen removal tool as you will more than likely break the glass as they are for removing broken windscreens, you can use a long blade type knife from inside the cab with plenty of soapy water so the knife does not stick the the rubber, or you can use the wire removal system, you will need windscreen glue, windscreen glue primers and activators, some very good glass cleaner and lint free cloths, the glue can be bought from a certain auction web site, the glue or bond can be used in a normal sealer gun but will be very hard to get out as it should be used in a high ratio gun, best tip is just before you want to fit the screen put the bond in a hot bucket of water as this will make it come out of the gun much easier, you will need to trim back the old bond from the screen and body, activate the old bond and pime up any areas on the body that have bare metal, repace the trim on to the glass, you may need to stick it in place with some masking tape, have a good look at where the old bond was on the vehicle, as thats where you want to put the new bond as on the transporters there is not a lot of appeture and it will either leak or look awfull, cut a V in the nozzel and carefully put the bond on the body, two suckers on the windscreen and someone else to help you and place the glass back in to the hole, easy
oh put some rubber gloves on.

How can you tell if a screen is bonded or not?

Ta da...!



Took a while (!!!) but it came out intact, as did the other side.



_{The windscreen however didn't come out so easily... or in one peice...}