I may have found a windshield for my orphaned VW. Given that it is used, I am most likely going to have to install it myself. How much of a nightmare will this be? I would really like to not have to do it more than once.
In the past, I always just called up Triumph or one of the other glass people, they came out and installed a new windshield in our parking lot, and I handed over cash. Any time very important bits are held in with spit and luck, I don't mind paying someone else to do it for me. This time, however, if they even show my car in their catalog, the inventory is zero with no expected date for more.
What kind of VW is it that they don't sell windshields for any more?
If you can find the actual windshield, I expect you can make a deal with a good small shop, or one of its techs, to do the install the right way with the right tools and the right Magic Goop. Be prepared not to get an invoice (if you know what I mean) or a guarantee or a warranty or even any acknowledgment that they ever heard of you.
Look into new rubber for it too. If you walk into any shop with a brand new seal and a piece of glass they should have few qualms about installing it for you.
I'd rather do it myself than take it to a shop. We really don't like installing customer's own parts and I wouldn't want to ask somebody to do something that I wouldn't do.
Car is a Quantum. VW has disavowed all knowledge of its existence. I've seen in one of the VW-specialist parts houses that they are not allowed to sell parts for that car! Something about it being too similar to Audi. (But nothing Audi will fit it, body-wise)
Rubber seals aren't available either. The windshield looks like it might be a magic-goop seal like my Golf was.
Most glass places will install your glass for $40-$50. I've done it lots of times. If the glass is unavailable and they want your business they don't have a choice do they?
BTW I assume you've called all the local glass places for your windshield. Just because VW doesn't have it doesn't mean the aftermarket doesn't. You would be surprised what a good glass company can find for you.
Is the glass held in with the rubber seal or is it glued in with the seal used just to fill the gap?
If it is bonded in, you may find that it costs you as much in primers (glass and the metal flange MUST both be primed for adhesion with special primers) and windshield adhesive as it does to get it installed by a glass installer.
Have you tried Pilkington? I've heard that they are very resourceful with old glass, but have not used them:
http://www.pilkington.com/the+americas/usa/english/automotive/agr/pilkington+classics/default.htm
Bill, Ken, and I installed the Windshield on the CRX rallycrosser back in 05. Used 3M Window weld as the goop. You need to clean (and paint if you hit bare metal) the windshield frame, and obviously the glass. All the instruction we had was use a continuous bead, and we ended up with some leaks. I think we only used a half of the container. Later, I found out it probably would have been fine if we'd used the whole container. Leaks later got sealed with clear silicone caulk, although it sure wasn't pretty looking.
Also, I got lucky when it came to the trim material. Took a piece of the old windshield trim to a glass shop, and they gave me enough for free to do the windshield myself.
I had to find and install a new windshield in my 68' fairlane. I went through the same experience as you, no one had the glass and even once I found it (from a parts car) none of the shops in my area wanted to install it. The wanted nothing to do with a car over 20 years old.
From what I learned there are three types of attachment methods; rubber seal, ribbon seal, and bonded.
If you need a new rubber gasket/seal Im not sure where you could find one.
My car had a ribbon seal, about $20 @ NAPA. It was just a tacky rubber seal that I ran around the windshield. Make sure both sides are 100% clean and only set the seal on there once. I bought some suction cups from harbor freight to help with the install but only one wanted to function right when it came time to install. I have a few good links for this type of install if that is what you have.
Bonded would be the 3M Window Weld you can find in a caulk gun tube. Bonded windows are a more structural part of the car.
Make sure to use whatever system was originally used for installation.
isn't the original quantum just a first gen passat? I find it odd that VW wants to kill that car off.. or is it just VW of North America with their head stuck up their ass again?
Good topic. I can get the front windshield for my mercedes aftermarket but the rear heated glass is 1200$ from adsit. I'm going to have to find a good glass shop and have them install it. I'll have enough trouble procuring the glass that I will want nothing to do with the install.
Weird, I just looked a a picture of a quantum and I'll be damned if it doesn't look like an Audi. Your best bet will be to find a used on, I'm sure they are hitting the parts market.
If you have a used windsheild out of the donor, I would call up a glass company and have them install it. If you are dealing with a rare piece of glass, pay the $50 the pros will want.
If the windsheild is still in the donor car, you have a much more difficult road- its quite difficult to remove a glued in windsheild without damage unless you have the right technique and tools. Again, a professional might be the ticket there.
If it were an A2 Jetta, and you had a row of cars to practice on, go nuts with the piano wire and urethane.
If I had an A2 Jetta, I could get new glass installed for well under $200, and good glass at that - no funhouse mirror effects.
Quantums are something like 2 or 3 inches wider than a 4000. Plus the windshield rake is different. Most of the "used market" locally is cars less than five years old, because the "used parts specialists" deal with body shops and usually anything older than that gets totalled, so there's no sense in hanging on to old stuff like that. But I may have found something not very far away.
I'll shop around and see if I can't find someone to do it. I know I could get the body shop we deal with to do it, but they reinforce the body shop scheduling stereotype... I gave them a door to repaint and I didn't get it back for eight months. They do good work, though.
