Repairing rear quarter window rubber (is this trim or gutter?) - '06 Coupe

[tomjonesrocks]

I'm having a tough time understanding what's considered "trim" and what's considered "gutter" on the rear quarter window.

I see a "Vent window seal":
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES96049/

...and a "Matte Shadowline Trim"
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES96018/

From the photo I obviously need to replace the outer rubber around the window - suggestions appreciated.

26407

Thanks!

[slater]

i just bought new ones for my estoril coupe. it's part # 51368252621 (the first one you linked to). that should be all you need.

[fw_fw]

Neither.......

The first one that you linked that Peter also mentions is on the inside of the rear opening, it holds the headliner in place and B/C pillars interior pieces in place. The parts you need are on the outside of the opening exposed to the sun and weather.

The parts you are looking for are:

51717030845 $498.36 ECS Price Driver's Side Around the window shadowline trim with rubber gasket
51367891911 $106.43 ECS Price Gasket rail shadowline with rubber gasket (Bottom piece)

That's just for the driver's side......search realoem.com for the parts number for the passenger side

The upper piece can be refurbished using a $30 generic window gasket. Did this myself a couple of months ago on one side of my coupe. There are several DIYs on here, e46fanatics, m3forum, and youtube that show how it's done. Search for "E46 Coupe quarter window gasket". Here is the best overall DIY for the upper piece:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=373831

The upper piece can be replaced without removing the quarter window. The lower piece it is MUCH easier to do with the quarter window removed.

Check out this thread as well, it has great links and info on DIY'ing both upper and lower pieces.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?12120-Replacing-Cracked-Rear-Window-Trim

[tomjonesrocks]

Thanks for all the great information!

The ZHP usually use the "gloss" vs the "matte" then?
51367891911 $106.43 ECS Price Gasket rail shadowline with rubber gasket (Bottom piece)

[slater]

Neither.......

The first one that you linked that Peter also mentions is on the inside of the rear opening, it holds the headliner in place and B/C pillars interior pieces in place. The parts you need are on the outside of the opening exposed to the sun and weather.

The parts you are looking for are:

51717030845 $498.36 ECS Price Driver's Side Around the window shadowline trim with rubber gasket

The upper piece can be refurbished using a $30 generic window gasket. Did this myself a couple of months ago on one side of my coupe. There are several DIYs on here, e46fanatics, m3forum, and youtube that show how it's done. Search for "E46 Coupe quarter window gasket". Here is the best overall DIY for the upper piece:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=373831]

oh crappity crapperson... you're right! i clearly misread the diagrams on realoem.com. poop! well, i need to now return both of those new pieces to fcpeuro....

THANKS for the link to the DIY for the $30 generic gasket - i'm going to do that, it's much cheaper than $1000 for both sides. :cheers

[fw_fw]

Thanks for all the great information!

The ZHP usually use the "gloss" vs the "matte" then?
51367891911 $106.43 ECS Price Gasket rail shadowline with rubber gasket (Bottom piece)

Correct, the gloss is Shadowline. Most of the time the gloss has turned dull, but it looks to be powdercoated on there and will buff out to a shine with a DA buffer.

[fw_fw]

oh crappity crapperson... you're right! i clearly misread the diagrams on realoem.com. poop! well, i need to now return both of those new pieces to fcpeuro....

THANKS for the link to the DIY for the $30 generic gasket - i'm going to do that, it's much cheaper than $1000 for both sides. :cheers


Sure thing, I did that exact process on my passenger side. The generic gasket looks TOTALLY different then the factory gasket BMW puts in place, but if you sit down and look at it, and watch the youtube videos out there on it with the above linked DIY it all comes together and makes sense.

[BMWCurves]

Interesting. Mine aren't cracking but I'm definitely holding onto this for future reference.

[BMWCurves]

Resurrecting this...is there a cheaper option to replace dried out rear window coupe gaskets?

[Will]

Resurrecting this...is there a cheaper option to replace dried out rear window coupe gaskets?

Here's a link to a DIY from the old m3forum (https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/551-cheap-rear-quarter-panel-window-stripping-replacement-repost-pdf).

When m3f disappeared I posted onto the replacement forum a PDF I made of the original DIY. So much info gone when m3f vanished....

Here's a newer DIY - same deal, maybe it has updated part numbers for the window stripping material (link (https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/183-side-finisher-rubber-replacement-and-rear-side-window-trim-replacement))

[BMWCurves]

Here's a link to a DIY from the old m3forum (https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/551-cheap-rear-quarter-panel-window-stripping-replacement-repost-pdf).

When m3f disappeared I posted onto the replacement forum a PDF I made of the original DIY. So much info gone when m3f vanished....

Here's a newer DIY - same deal, maybe it has updated part numbers for the window stripping material (link (https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/183-side-finisher-rubber-replacement-and-rear-side-window-trim-replacement))

https://i.imgur.com/p4Ytohh.gif

Saving for later, my gaskets are starting to crack.

[Turd Ferguson]

Outstanding. Thanks for posting an alternative to the M3F link.

[Dave1027]

Outstanding. Thanks for posting an alternative to the M3F link.

+1. Awesome info.