Sunroof Seal

[simkin911]

Any recommendations for cheapest place to pick up a new seal ('92). Looking like £70 plus p+p for one on Ebay.

Will phone Porsche on Monday to see what they say re price.
Thanks.

 

[Chrishazle]

Had mine done at OPC Tonbridge in April 2000 - seal cost £84.55, fitting £60 - both plus the dreaded VAT!.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

See the list of suppliers in the faqs, Bert Gear used to be cheapest for the proper seal.

 

[944 LIL]

Another vote for Bert Gear - he was the cheapest but more importantly added some sound advice - the new seal appears way too long for the roof and the temptation is to cut it. His advice was to do not cut the seal. Work the new seal, "squashing it shorter" until the whole thing fits. Makes the roof a little tight - I spent a number of months pushing one of the corners down with the palm of my hand to get it back in and snug - worth it cos the roof is now waterproof.

 

[wolfie308]

Had mine fitted as part of a roof, bonnet and front respray Sept last year. Got seal from Exeter OPC - £73 inc discount, VAT and free post. Reckon the roof was in worse nick than the seal, but it's all shiney and red again now.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Yes, similar issue with door seals. When you first fit them the seal seems to big and fat but over time it will shrink down to just right.

 

[JamesBall]

ORIGINAL: simkin911 Any recommendations for cheapest place to pick up a new seal ('92). Looking like £70 plus p+p for one on Ebay. Will phone Porsche on Monday to see what they say re price. Thanks.

Has your current suroof seal definitely died? My sunroof started to whistle annoyingly at about 70mph and I was going to replace it but tried rejunivating it first with glycerine. Lo and behold, the whistle is now gone. Total cost - £3.

 

[simkin911]

Not really. The car is having paint work and the bodyshop has suggested I consider changing a couple of seals at the same time including the sunroof seal. Current seal isn't a great fit but isn't leaking. To be honest, I don't think the previous one has been well fitted.

 

[ashley]

Steve, that is a new seal on the car, agree it didn't sit quite right but was advised not to cut it as it would shrink with time.

 

[simkin911]

Yes, I know the seal was no more than a couple of years old but it had developed a slight twist in the rear corners (presumably when dropping the roof down again) and looked unlikely to settle satisfactorily. Tried straightening the existing one but it simply wouldn't "lie" properly.

 

[Super_Marv]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey Yes, similar issue with door seals. When you first fit them the seal seems to big and fat but over time it will shrink down to just right.

Rear hatch seal seemed overly large when I replaced it too - rather intelligent, these Porsche engineers []

 

[Frenchy]

But how did they fit them from factory ready to get them out of the door to dealers ?

 

[colin944]

A good way to restore seals is to rub neat washing up liquid unto them. It takes a bit of time but they come up like new.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: colin944 A good way to restore seals is to rub neat washing up liquid unto them. It takes a bit of time but they come up like new.

They may, but the rubber will perish soon afterwards and the bodywork around them will rust. This is not a good idea. Glycerine is a much better bet. As are other products. Washing up liquid shouldn't be allowed near car bodywork for any reason - it's nasty stuff. Oli.

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: colin944 A good way to  restore seals is to rub neat washing up liquid unto them. It takes a bit of time but they come up like new.

They may, but the rubber will perish soon afterwards and the bodywork around them will rust. This is not a good idea. Glycerine is a much better bet. As are other products. Washing up liquid shouldn't be allowed near car bodywork for any reason - it's nasty stuff. Oli.

Yes indeed - You also see folk suggesting using vaseline, again not a good idea as it will perish the rubber.

 

[zcacogp]

Indeed. As my A-level chemistry teacher once told us, "Vaseline rots rubber". Oli.

 

[colin944]

Sorry for the duff info. Back in my younger days I bilt alot of flying models and was always told to soften and lubricate your elastic band with neat washing up liquid.Since then I have always used it to sort rubbers but not any more. Thanks guys

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: colin944 .Since then I have always used it to sort rubbers

[][][] Perhaps this treatment of rubber could explain Colins 17 children [] Sorry - couldn't resist [&o]