B10 OEM windscreen replacement

[Alpina Jim]

The original windscreen on my B10 recently took a hit from a stone or similar and needs replacing.
The good news is that an OEM replacement windscreen is being provided , this has been ordered from BMW in Germany as there is not one available in the UK. It is being fitted by Autoglass in a few days time.
Autoglass ordered the new screen from BMW and it involved supplying both Alpina and BMW VIN's, even though I supplied the correct part number as provided to me by my local main dealer, better safe than sorry I guess. The supply only price quoted to me at the time by the dealer was approx £437, and at times like this it shows how good an insurance company is. Fortunately my B10 is insured on a modern classic policy via a company called Hagerty and they cover glass costs up to £1500 for a post 1990 car.
I have also taken the opportunity to buy a new OEM rubber windscreen surround for the fitter to use as the existing one is starting to crack in a couple of places.
Fingers crossed it all goes ok on the day.

[Bob]

That sounds like a bit of luck there Jim. Hope installation goes smoothly

[Alpina Jim]

That sounds like a bit of luck there Jim. Hope installation goes smoothly

Cheers Bob, I 've not had a screen changed since about 1992, boy does that make me feel older now.

[Bob]

Been a while since I had one too, but not that long ago. 2008 was my last I think

[BarryM]

That sounds like good news Jim but I think the fitting part is a bit of a lottery!

I used Autoglass this year and they were very impressive over the phone doing lots of checks to make sure they got the right screen but after it was fitted I had more wind noise so got them back a few weeks later, to be fair to them they came back without any hassle and re-fitted it. I also bought the genuine BMW rubber (so had to buy another for the second fitting). I'm still not convinced the screen is as quiet as it was and have a very slight gap at the 2 top corners where the rubber fits to the roof but tbh I keep debating if I'm being too fussy. I ordered new wiper arms too as mine had started to look their age and the quality of the items that arrived from BMW wasn't great but once fitted they are a huge improvement so worth the effort.

[Metrics]

Hi Jim, hope you are keeping well.
Good result!
As Barry says the main challenge is around fitment. BMW provide extensive instructions to dealers on how to fit the screens correctly and avoid the common problem of wind noise, trouble is most third party windscreen fitters feel they know best and don’t bother with the instructions.
The screen needs to be mounted as deep in the aperture as possible, this ensures the screen is lower than the roof. If the adhesive bead is too thick, the screen sits either in line with the roof (just about ok) or worse higher than the roof - and this will definitely cause wind noise.
BMW actually produce a fitment kit that includes some foam blocks that are taped to the screen and roof to push the screen down and create the correct lower than roof profile, but no one bothers buying them
I’ll see if I can dig out the BMW instructions, as it explains all this a lot better than I have!

[Metrics]

Here you go, a great thread that covers this is some detail, plus the BMW instructions for download:

https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/107287-w ... ind-noise/

[BarryM]

Here you go, a great thread that covers this is some detail, plus the BMW instructions for download:
https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/107287-w ... ind-noise/

I had all this to hand........first fitter I decided not to wind him up with the instructions but offered the rubber spacers and he refused to use them so I went with it on the basis he was the expert. Second time I politely explained the wind noise and offered the doc and spacers and the new fitter again refused to take any notice it's not easy getting an E39 screen fitted!

[Alpina Jim]

Thanks for the info gents, it has got me wishing my screen was being installed by BMW, which it turns out is an option with my insurance company.

The Autoglass fitter turned up yesterday and immediately told me he reckoned he had the wrong windscreen before he even looked at my car.
He was correct, it had the wrong rain sensor fitting and to top it all it was not an OEM screen which he knew I was expecting and had been authorised.
He was very helpful and apologetic, obviously it was not his fault. I told him I had bought an OEM rubber seal and the three small rubber spacers as recommended by the dealer. It had taken nearly three weeks to get to this stage but I was ok with it thinking I was waiting on a screen from Germany.
So now, in theory, I am waiting for an OEM screen to be delivered from Germany and unfortunately I have already paid them my £100 excess. I think I will make a call tomorrow to see if they have ordered the correct screen or not and find out whether I can cancel the order and get it done by BMW.

Thanks again.

[Alpina Jim]

Autoglass have confirmed that a genuine BMW OEM windscreen is on route for my B10 and I have an appointment to have it fitted next Tuesday.
Watch this space.

[Metrics]

Good luck Jim, I'm sure all will go well.

With main dealers, most use a local glass company to fit their glass too!

[Alpina Jim]

Good luck Jim, I'm sure all will go well.

With main dealers, most use a local glass company to fit their glass too!

Thanks Asim, I thought that it is likely to be the case as well.
I had a good read of the thread and associated documents you supplied so I will have a quick chat about the wind noise problem with the fitter when he arrives. I requested the same guy who turned up previously to do the job on Tuesday, he was forthcoming and could see how much I value my B10 so I am glad he has been allocated to do the job.

[Metrics]

That's good to hear Jim, a good fitter who takes care and is willing to listen is the best sort of fitter!

[Alpina Jim]

Unfortunately windscreen replacement attempt number two was a failure today.
The new windscreen was definitely an E39 OEM part with the correct tint colours, but the rain sensor fitting was slightly different to my existing one.
I looked up the BMW part number attached to it on RealOEM and it showed as correct for a January 1999 onwards model, mine is July 1998.
So, another windscreen is being ordered from BMW. The fitter has once again passed to his purchase dept both chassis numbers along with what I think is the correct part number, as provided to myself by BMW at the beginning of this process, and a photo of the rain sensor fitting etc.
Hey ho, life goes on as they say. As long as the job gets done correctly eventually then it will have been worth the wait.

[Bob]

Can’t believe what a saga this has turned into for you Jim. Fortunate this isn’t your main car (is it?).