Bodged windscreen fitting

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

Hi all. I'm very happy with my ls400 but it's not perfect. One of the main issues is that it's had a new screen at some point and it was fitting by an ape. It's got a bodged top seal and is missing the chrome strip. It's also got some sort of sealant at the corners where the rubber seal is missing! It doesn't leak at the moment but it looks rubbish and makes a lot of wind noise at motor way speeds. I feel it rather let's the car down. I'm not sure what they are supposed to have and am struggling to find pictures online.

Any advice on where to get genuine seals and what's missing would be good. I had a quote of £185 to refit the screen plus parts.

Thanks in advance. Matt

Malc · March 27, 2017

that looks awful ............. I know the side strips cost a fortune from lexus and if the guy is quoting £185 incl the strips then that's a good deal. I think lexus quoted that sort of price for just the side strips

Malc

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

10 minutes ago, Malc said:

that looks awful ............. I know the side strips cost a fortune from lexus and if the guy is quoting £185 incl the strips then that's a good deal. I think lexus quoted that sort of price for just the side strips

Malc

Hi malc. Yes it looks dreadful! No that was just the price to remove and refit. Excluding any seals needed. Are the side strips rubber that goes in the channels at the side or the metal channels themselves?

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

14 minutes ago, Malc said:

that looks awful ............. I know the side strips cost a fortune from lexus and if the guy is quoting £185 incl the strips then that's a good deal. I think lexus quoted that sort of price for just the side strips

Malc

Are these supposed to be empty?

lockeyboy · March 27, 2017

Matt

I'm knocking around this afternoon in my last week at work, do you want me to bring over my mark 4 and compare?

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

That would be great mate. I'm out at the moment but I'll be home by 3.

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

Or I can meet u somewhere if you prefer

Bluesman · March 27, 2017

I had mine fitted by AA Windscreens who used to be one of the big firms the AA took over and 10 months later I had to call them back as I had a leak in the top of the screen, during that time they had been taken over again and didn't want to know the bodges of the previous lot but after gently talking to them and letting them know I wasn't going to give up she eventually admitted they had to do the work, two guys came out to fix it. They said they were snowed under with recall work from the old company. Job done no leaks happy owner.

ambermarine · March 27, 2017

Matthew

If your side mouldings are required the following costs apply

Moulding; windshield outer upper part no 75531 $55.76 which should include the corner seals that are at the moment a glob of gunge on your car.

Moulding outside right ;Part no 75533 $137.90

Moulding outside left :Part no 75534 $137.90

These are prices quoted by Rockauto in the States you will need to add afurther 20% to these costs for import,tax and shipping.

You may get the bits from a Breaker but the seals are usually ripped out and damaged and you are unlikely to be able to get them in a reasonable condition.

If you go to Lexus they will identify the parts and have them fitted but I fear you will be in the same ball park cost as getting them from the States and even then you will need them fitting.

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

48 minutes ago, ambermarine said:

Matthew

If your side mouldings are required the following costs apply

Moulding; windshield outer upper part no 75531 $55.76 which should include the corner seals that are at the moment a glob of gunge on your car.

Moulding outside right ;Part no 75533 $137.90

Moulding outside left :Part no 75534 $137.90

These are prices quoted by Rockauto in the States you will need to add afurther 20% to these costs for import,tax and shipping.

You may get the bits from a Breaker but the seals are usually ripped out and damaged and you are unlikely to be able to get them in a reasonable condition.

If you go to Lexus they will identify the parts and have them fitted but I fear you will be in the same ball park cost as getting them from the States and even then you will need them fitting.

Thanks ambermarine that's really great info. Not a cheap job then!

So a trip to lexis may be on the table then.

Matt1986 · March 27, 2017

OK. So thanks to a helpful and pleasent meeting with lockeyboy I know I only need the top seal replacement and chrome strip as the sides are fine.

Great to meet a fellow enthusiastic owner of these fantastic cars!

Malc · March 27, 2017

the costs are absolutely criminal coz the strips are about twopenneth worth of metal !

Those prices look about right from what I was quoted. The new windscreen I had fortunately the strips could be re-used ok, the insurers were very unhappy should they have been called upon to pay for the trims too...... they actually told me to make sure the fitters took huge care to leave the existing in re-usable condition.

Matt1986 · March 28, 2017

Lexus stoke just called me back and quoted £90 for the part and fitting of the top seal. I'll takeep it in to be sure but that's a bargain if true!

runsgrateasanut · March 28, 2017

i think I'd have passed on buying that car with a bird turd to hold the windscreen in. Brave man

Matt1986 · March 28, 2017

Brave or stupid. Not sure. It's the only real issue with it and a saw lots with many more issue for more money. All the important stuff has been done

lockeyboy · March 28, 2017

41 minutes ago, runsgrateasanut said:

i think I'd have passed on buying that car with a bird turd to hold the windscreen in. Brave man

Its a really nice clean car Stuart. To be fair, it's just the seal, no rust at all.

add that to the power of the minds on the forum, almost anything is possible!

runsgrateasanut · March 28, 2017

Yes - you never can tell.

My own purchase looked spankingly brilliant but I've spent best part of £2,000 on it to get it to the state I want it. Would be more but my mehanic still hasn't billed me for work in 2014. Gave him £500 on account last year as felt so guilty, and chatting with him on Mothers day when buying a card he didn't mention another bill is on its way, but could be another £500 I owe him.

I'm forgetting what he did it was so long ago. Brake pipes certainly..

Chasdad · March 30, 2017

Is that dons old ls. If it is im suprised he lived with it like that. He loved it

Matt1986 · March 30, 2017

2 hours ago, Chasdad said:

Is that dons old ls. If it is im suprised he lived with it like that. He loved it

I've no idea. I bought it from a chap in Leeds. Rich

Newbie1 · March 30, 2017

There's always something. More than any other model of cars I bought over the years the LS400s I've looked all have had something reasonably significant wrong with them (usually multiple suspension issues.) I'm hunting around for a burgundy rear passenger door to replace the awful one on mine which is bothering me more and more; such a bad repair letting the car down. Fortunately, the mechanicals are great and no suspension issues. Guess I'll be paying for my panel man's Christmas.

Matt1986 · March 30, 2017

46 minutes ago, Newbie1 said:

There's always something. More than any other model of cars I bought over the years the LS400s I've looked all have had something reasonably significant wrong with them (usually multiple suspension issues.) I'm hunting around for a burgundy rear passenger door to replace the awful one on mine which is bothering me more and more; such a bad repair letting the car down. Fortunately, the mechanicals are great and no suspension issues. Guess I'll be paying for my panel man's Christmas.

I agree. I saw quite a few before I bought this one and most needed major body work or cambelt or suspension work. Mine was tidy bodywork and interior. No mechanical issues, cambelt done 10k miles ago and low miles. The screen doesn't leak so I thought it's something to sort but not a deal breaker for me.

At the end if the day its 19 years old so I'm not expecting perfection. I'm working on that though

gkkes · April 19, 2017

Be wary of an ill fitting screen!

There is a large multi-plug behind the centre console, and water can get in there. I suffered from strange intermittent faults a few years ago. I drove back from Scotland with the last 100 miles in bad rain. Imagine my surprise when I came down in the morning to see the wipers going, even though the keys were in my pocket.

Cost £700 to figure out the fault, plus a new screen. The local auto glass fitter was great (I watched him fit it). He pointed out 8" of missing sealant, and a huge shaving to the pillar covering material on the drivers side!

Matt1986 · May 31, 2017

So a happy ending to this tale. Bought a new seal with chrome strip off eBay for £27 and fitted it this morning. Very pleased with the result and makes such a difference to the look of the car! Hopefully this will reduce wind noise I have as well.