I should probably introduce myself first. I bought a Regent Grey
1986 XJ-S about 1.5 years ago and have been slowly restoring it. I
never really meant to restore it. I meant to replace the carpet and
repaint it. But one thing led to another and here I am. I’ll start
another thread about the entire project later.
My current problem involves replacing the front and rear glass. I
bought used glass off Ebay and both the front and back are
pristine. After several companies declined to install it either
because as they said ‘‘we don’t do Jaguars’’ or ‘‘we don’t install
glass we don’t provide’’ an installer was found who agreed to
install front and rear glass and charge per hour.
I ordered what appears to be the ONLY front/rear gaskets for the
windshield, front gasket number BDC7178 and rear gasket number
BD44393.
The installer swears that the front rubber aftermarket gasket does
not have a groove into which the chrome trim fits as with the
original Jaguar rubber gasket. One problem I have just realized is
that I did NOT order the second piece for the front glass�a
rubber ‘‘lockstrip’’ that is to be installed after the gasket�which I
have now ordered. Is this the problem? Does this lockstrip help to
secure the chrome trim in any way?
On the rear glass, the installer swears that the aftermarket rear
gasket rubber BD44393 is too large to fit, saying it is much
puffier than the original rear gasket it replaces. I found several
remarks online from XJ-S owners saying that glass installers
originally thought either the front or rear or BOTH gaskets were
too large at first, but later realized they would fit if installed
correctly.
It looks like the ONLY current supplier of the front and rear
windshield gaskets and lockstrip is APA/URO. Has anyone else had an
issue with installing the front/rear glass using their gaskets?
Thanks to any that respond. I need to get this done so that the car
can finally leave the shop after 1 year and go to paint. Believe
me, you will all want to see it when it’s done.
Seth–
spyhunter2k
St. Marys, GA, United States
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In reply to a message from spyhunter2k sent Wed 23 Nov 2011:
Oh man, now you have me dreading that task on my project
Jag! It has a chip in the front windshield.
Looking forward to seeing your project. I have a 1988 XJ-SC
that has been family owned since new and has about 74k miles
on it. It has sat for a few years following the death of my
cousin, the last owner, so I’m pretty much redoing
everything as well.
Maybe when we’re both done, we can take a drive and meet up
to compare. I’m in Georgia as well.
In reply to a message from spyhunter2k sent Wed 23 Nov 2011:
I must’ve called 15 different places (they all said ‘‘We
don’t do Jags’’) before someone finally recommended a
fellow that runs an auto glass installation shop out of
his garage. I was told that he does the jobs that ‘‘other
shops can’t do.’’ Cost to do the rear window was $225 in
labor–he said it was a 6+ hr. job. Your best bet is to
talk to people in a local classic car club, and see who
they recommend. You want someone old school who learned
the trade as an apprentice–most shops just do collision
work and would probably screw up the installation on your
XJS anyway.–
The original message included these comments:
because as they said ‘‘we don’t do Jaguars’’ or ''we don’t install
In reply to a message from jhealey1967 sent Wed 23 Nov 2011:
Thanks. It’s looking like I may need to just pay the first
guy for his work in taking the glass out and go find a more
experienced one to put it back in.
A poster on another forum mentioned ‘‘spacers’’ that go on
each side of the front glass under the chrome. Anyone know
anything about these?–
spyhunter2k
St. Marys, GA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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I had the glass guy where I used to work remove and replace the front
windshield on my XJS. He had never on any Jaguar before and was done in
about an hour, saying it was “A piece of cake. Pretty much like an old VW”.
Reinstalling the stainless trim, however, is another matter entirely. I had
removed it before hand, and reinstalled it myself. I spent umpteen hours and
was never really happy with the result.
I order the rubber parts from Coventry West. No problems with fit. Not sure
what brand they were but they were aftermarket, not OEM. Never have been
quite sure what the lockstrip is for. I think it just expands the the main
rubber gasket a bit.
Not sure about “spacers”, either. Maybe the plastic finish strips for the
lower stainless trim pieces…which fit below the forward edge of the
stainless, closing out the gap between the stainless and the body of the car
?
Sorry I can’t be of any actual help.
Cheers
Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1995 XJR
After several companies declined to install it either
because as they said ‘‘we don’t do Jaguars’’
Thanks. It’s looking like I may need to just pay the first
guy for his work in taking the glass out and go find a more
experienced one to put it back in.
I ordered what appears to be the ONLY front/rear gaskets for the
windshield, front gasket number BDC7178 and rear gasket number
BD44393.
The installer swears that the front rubber aftermarket gasket does
not have a groove into which the chrome trim fits as with the
original Jaguar rubber gasket. One problem I have just realized is
that I did NOT order the second piece for the front glass-a
rubber ‘‘lockstrip’’ that is to be installed after the gasket-which I
have now ordered. Is this the problem? Does this lockstrip help to
secure the chrome trim in any way?
You absolutely do need the lock strip. If you got the Jaguar part it will
fit. I just had one installed.
On the rear glass, the installer swears that the aftermarket rear
gasket rubber BD44393 is too large to fit, saying it is much
puffier than the original rear gasket it replaces. I found several
remarks online from XJ-S owners saying that glass installers
originally thought either the front or rear or BOTH gaskets were
too large at first, but later realized they would fit if installed
correctly.
It will fit. I had mine replaced about a year ago. However, it is a
challenge to get it properly sealed. The seal has a sealant groove, and the
standard procedure is to fill it with sealant and pop it in. However, I
believe the shape of the window & trim does not conform with the body as
well as it should, so the sealant doesn’t fill the gap properly. I had to go
back and make the installer fill between the gasket and body from the
outside. I have some photos at my website.
It looks like the ONLY current supplier of the front and rear
windshield gaskets and lockstrip is APA/URO. Has anyone else had an
issue with installing the front/rear glass using their gaskets?
What is APA/URO? I got mine from a trusted Jag parts supplier, Exotic Car
Parts in Upland CA.
In reply to a message from Ed Sowell sent Thu 24 Nov 2011:
Thanks very much for the replies. I looked at the parts in
the catalog and through exhaustive searching have pretty
much confirmed that at present all front and rear glass
gaskets are those made by the Uro Parts company, a
subsidiary of APA Industries. According to uroparts.com,
they are now selling some parts directly to Jaguar.
In the catalog the part numbers for the front and rear
gaskets are URO/APA part numbers for the aftermarket gaskets
they use. It looks like all Jag parts sellers sell these
same APA/URO gaskets.
Ed I actually printed out pages from your website to show
the installer, and am very grateful for them. I will in the
meantime be on the lookout for a more experienced installer.–
spyhunter2k
St. Marys, GA, United States
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