Side Finisher Rubber Replacement and Rear Side Window Trim Replacement

[Drewrivera]

Doesn't look like anyone had a hard time with it but if someone does have a hard time at the " bent" angle or " curved part", try using a wire hanger for the bend. Mine kept wrinkling up at that part so I did that and it worked.

[NZ_M3]

Have anyone tried these other type of weather strip and see if it fits better?? They seem like a closer shape to what was originally on the window trim to me?? No?

T shape

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402301155601

Z shape

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172709366717

[8000RPM]

Cool, that helps! Thanks again!

[Cubieman]

Where my finger is approx. where your 3M should stop and meet up with the rubber seal around the door/B Pillar. If you notice that piece has a slightly elongated part that the quarter glass shuts on. That "piece" should more or less meet up with your new quarter rubber.




Also here is a better shot, if you look closely you can hopefully see the 3M touching the factory B pillar rubber "tab". If I remember correctly there MAY have been a slight gap between the two, but this works.

[8000RPM]

Finally tackled this. I wasn’t paying more attention to the original seal but how is the seal supposed to be positioned? On or beside the triangle window seal? Right now I have it over.

[Stock_E46_M3]

Need to do this badly, appreciate the diy

[Maxima SE]

I ended up buying the 3M one from ebay. decided that if this project is going to take half of the day, it would be worth spending $30 more for this stupid weatherstripping and hopefully it will last me a decade.

[911Fiddler]

What did you use one your? Was this the 3M stuff? Or is that your temp setup pictured?

Hi, was not the 3M so some other brand. I would go 3M, usually works out better in the end to buy their stuff.

[zivagolee]

Thanks for the write-up. I gotta do this as well as all the rubber is cracking on that quarter panel. I gotta find some time to do this.

[Maxima SE]

Is the metro weatherstripping good quality for those of you who bought it? I'm not sure if the 3M is more durable at a whopping $50

[Cubieman]

So as it turns out having the vinyl tubing more or less run the entire length of the 3M was a mistake, it made it bulge out too much were the window won't close as far as the side I haven't messed with. The tubing should really only be used around the bend, ehhh.
Also I can hear the window motor working a lot harder to close the the window, so the driver's side has to come off for a third time! Too bad cause it looks so nice!
I think if I just run vinyl tubing to approx. the space where my photo ends on the left hand side that would create perfect "bulge" and not interfere with the window closing properly. I gotta have the perfect bulge ya know.

[Cubieman]

So I eneded up having to do the driver's side twice, that wasn't fun. I put vinyl tubing in the 3M to avoid the kinking, but found out after everything was all back together that the 3M did not stick out far enough basically everywhere to create a seal. The window closed inside of the 3M, not on it.
So I pulled everything back off and using a liberal amount of lube I managed to shove clear vinyl tubing through the entire length of the 3M. This bulged it out enough to create a great seal as well as looking better.
Unfortunately that means I had to order another 3M kit as you only have enough to do both sides of the car and not mess up like I did. So I guess if anyone else needs one side done I might have some extra assuming I don't mess the passengers side up!
Also, I got quite cavalier about my handing of the long metal strip that the 3M sits in and managed to create a few scratches, that was dumb. Take your time, I did at first and came to a point where I knew it was time to stop but just kept going.

[Cubieman]

I lucked out and had come clear vinyl tubing at home that fits inside the 3M and hopefully will prevent it from kinking. Yes the 3M stuff is new old stock, but seems it feels/looks like new, at least the one I got.. That works for me as long as it lasts 16 years like the factory pieces.

[Aeko]

Also wondering if the 3M or metro stuff is better. I'm hesitant to use a NOS rubber product if it's already going to be several years old when I install it... what's the point?

FWIW The Metro stuff is $10.95 on RockAuto, about $19 shipped.

[Bostonbruck]

I used the 3M stripping. Passenger side came out perfect. I am still working on the drivers side to get out a little kink, that is right at the curve. This picture is of the good side.