Weatherstripping Advice??

"Ross Kraz" (ropstafer)
08/09/2016 at 11:31 • Filed to: weatherstrip

A couple pieces are torn/missing. The driver door is loud and sounds like an econobox when you close it. And there is an intermittent rattle that sounds like it is from the door seam right where one of the worst tears is.

Has anyone used universal weatherstripping before? Any tips on this?

Something like this:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The genuine parts from BMW and Bavauto would be upwards of $100 per door. That’s not happening. But I do want to fix it, so looking for advice.

DISCUSSION (23)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 11:33

field trip to the pick a parts yard

Ross Kraz > OPPOsaurus WRX
08/16/2016 at 11:35

Not a single BMW there. The junkyards might have some, but then I’m still replacing it with 15-ish year old rubber anyway...

crowmolly > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 11:37

You can give it a shot, just use good adhesive. I think 3M makes a good one.

Tripper > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 11:39

I’ve replaced most of the weather stripping on my E46. Bought it all from Tuner Motorsport, prices were reasonable.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 11:46

If it’s just torn you can get the adhesive, apply to both sides carefully and let them dry a bit, then join them. I did it to the hood fender seal on a car once, same rubber.

Ross Kraz > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/16/2016 at 11:53

In some spots it’s missing too much material to do that. And the piece on the driver sill is completely gone.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:02

This falls squarely under the “I’d rather pay for the proper part than have to pay for something cheap that doesn’t work and then have to pay more for the proper part” category for me.

This plan means cheap + eventually buying the expensive part = even more expensive.

Ross Kraz > Tripper
08/16/2016 at 12:06

Hard to find it but a p/n search worked... $97.95 each .

just-a-scratch > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:07

$100 for anything on a German car is cheap. Good seals are worth the money. Go buy ‘em.

If you don't like the prices at BMW and Bavauto, try Pelican Parts, AutohausAZ, and folks on Bimmerzone might have some good ideas.

Ross Kraz > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/16/2016 at 12:10

Then most likely it’s going to fall into the “It doesn’t affect how the car drives so it really doesn’t matter that much” category for me.

It would cost over $400 to do all four doors. That’s roughly 20% of what I paid for the whole car. For weatherstrip. CP all day.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:18

I have a Mercedes and I know OEM shit is expensive, there are generally other companies like Miele in Germany that have aftermarket repros. I can’t believe there isn’t an option under $50. I see mine for $45 or so.

Ross Kraz > just-a-scratch
08/16/2016 at 12:22

Well, $400 for weatherstrip is a little crazy when that’s 20% of what I paid for the car. .

Pelican has a non-genuine BMW version for half the price. Everything else is around the same. Thanks for the help.

Ross Kraz > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/16/2016 at 12:26

That’s more what I’m looking for. Do you have a link?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:29

Sometimes Ebay has that stuff, also you can try these kinds of places and they often have the OEM but also other options. I’ve never had a BMW but I can’t believe it would be any different than a Merc.

http://www.autohausaz.com/bmw-auto-parts…

Ross Kraz > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/16/2016 at 12:36

Autohauz was around $100, too. But thanks for the help.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:38

I don’t know the year/model but try Ebay, they often have that stuff. Taiwan knockoffs but whatever works.

Ross Kraz > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/16/2016 at 12:43

Yeah google found one made by Uro on ECS Tuning for $44. Still not cheap but I can justify doing the front two for that.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 12:44

They are never less than $38 for any of them, I’ve been doing the Z lately.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 13:04

Oh I get that. I saw someone in the comments said something about another aftermarket company that had reasonably priced weather stripping.

Maybe do 1 door at a time as needed?

Tripper > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 13:12

That seams reasonable to me but I’ve owned the car 10 years, so spending $100 here or there is not too bad.

Ross Kraz > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/16/2016 at 13:13

That’s probably going to be the plan. It might not be 100% perfect but it will be a lot better than doing it from scratch.

Ross Kraz > Tripper
08/16/2016 at 13:16

Just bought the whole car for $2100. Not looking to spend $400 on some rubber. But some other comments led me to find some aftermarket options for just under $50 so I can at least do the front two for pretty cheap.

 > Ross Kraz
08/16/2016 at 14:42

I had to redo weatherstripping on my 85' Grand Marquis last year because it was all dry rotted. Being a car that nobody really gives a shit about there was no aftermarket offerings for it. Have a look at Fairchild Industries. They carry quite a few universal products.