Windscreen woes

[TorqueHorse]

Love Dave's tip; will try that on my new one next month.

J, I guess that means the Lotus gods were really shining on you

[Saltire]

J, I guess that means the Lotus gods were really shining on you

There’s always a first time for everything, Matt

All I need to do now is strip the screen rail trim off so I can disconnect the interior lights and then I can remove the mirror assembly from the car (I have it duct taped up at present)

[Saltire]

Well, here we go: National Windscreens in Swindon have just called me to say the screen has been delivered, and we’re booked in for next Tuesday morning.

The only thing that’s worrying me slightly is that the current windscreen has a U-shaped trim channel on the sides and top edge. The screen fits into this and is the bonded to the car (see photo).

IMG_2233.jpeg

The new screen has come without any trims, just the glass, so we’re going to look at it on Tuesday and see what gives. If it looks horrid without, I’ll get a length of generic rubber strip and trim it to fit after the screen’s in.

More news after Tuesday . . .

[TorqueHorse]

Progress!

Here are the part numbers you need for those. I just ordered some for mine yesterday (but from Dave Bean in the US). I'm pretty sure they are easy to put hand to over there as well.

Sides (x2) A100B0728F
Top A100B0727F

You can maybe reuse your old ones as well. Just depends on how well they clean up after taking off.
Fingers crossed

[Saltire]

Thanks, TH. just spoken to the very excellent Mike Hopes at SouthWest Lotus (better start calling them SWLC Performance after their recent name change). He tells me that the top trims are still available, but the side ones are now NLA.

At his suggestion, he’s therefore going to send me three top trims, and I’ll cut two of them to length for the sides. Apparently they’re all the same profile; it’s just a difference in length between the two.

Isn’t it fun owning an Elan?

[Tuga2112]

Thanks, TH. just spoken to the very excellent Mike Hopes at SouthWest Lotus (better start calling them SWLC Performance after their recent name change). He tells me that the top trims are still available, but the side ones are now NLA.

At his suggestion, he’s therefore going to send me three top trims, and I’ll cut two of them to length for the sides. Apparently they’re all the same profile; it’s just a difference in length between the two.

Isn’t it fun owning an Elan?

im pretty sure the side ones are a few mm less than half the top one. if i recall correctly. i just ordered 2 top ones from SJ back in 2016 when i replaceed the screen on the blue car.

[Saltire]

Then I’ll have one top trim piece for sale shortly . . .

[Saltire]

Good news! The car went in at 10:00 this morning, and came out with a sparkly new windscreen at 11:45. Now I just have to replace all the things I took off last week

IMG_2239.jpeg

Some points to note for those who may need to do the job in the future:

- when I spoke to them beforehand, the fitters assured me the new screen would come with the rear mirror plinth pre-attached. It didn’t. Luckily, I’d saved and cleaned the old one, and National Windscreens reattached it for me. I was advised not to clip the mirror on for at least 24 hours, to give the adhesive time to set
- there were some minor differences between the old screen, and the new screen (which came in a Lotus-branded box with a Lotus part number on it). The new screen is missing the “black dots” shade band around the mirror plinth, and it didn’t have the mirror plinth referred to above
- the fitters had also told me the new screen would come with the side and top trim pieces. Again, it didn’t, and the old ones tore getting them off. Fortunately, I’d asked when they told me the screen had arrived, they said “no trims”, and I managed to get some within 24 hours from Mike Hopes at SouthWest Lotus. The side trims are no longer available, but they are the same profile as the top trim. What you need to do is buy two top trims, and one top trim is just long enough to cut in half and make two side trims

Overall, I’m very pleased with the results. It cost me £75 on the insurance excess, but National Windscreens did a great job. The fitter was very enthusiastic about working on it; he’d previously fitted screens to 2 Elise (where he had to dismantle the whole front of the car), and an Esprit, which he described as “like making up IKEA flat-pack furniture”. The Elan was apparently straightforward by comparison.

Thanks to everyone who shared their previous experiences; it made my life a lot easier

[Tuga2112]

did you tell them to expect my car at their door soon ?

[Saltire]

I didn’t mention it, Jõao - but I definitely thought it

[jc_uk]

Hi all,

What do you use to seal/bond the windscreen trims (upper/lower/sides/corners) please?

Many thanks

JC