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MG MGF Technical - Rear plastic window

Hi,
Went to put the hood down on saturday and the rear window split - probably due to the frost! In future I'll unzip it before attempting to put the hood down. I went into a MG Rover dealership who said it would cost about £400 to replace - just wondered if anyone knew of anywhere in London where I could get this done any cheaper ?
Many thanks.
Sarah
Sarah

Try this person - a lot cheaper!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROVER-MGF-REAR-WINDOW-SCREEN-REPLACEMENT_W0QQitemZ4590144206QQcategoryZ10414QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Blue Pocket Rocket

Hi Sarah,this is copied from the bbs archives which you can view if you join (it's free!)

"You could try Sonia Morris of 69, Rydal Gardens, Hounslow, Middlesex, tel:
0208 893 9747 or 07904 893460. She can send you the
part for £75. plus £7 p.&p with full instructions on
how to fit it and she cazn also supply zip sliders and
runners.

If you are not into DIY, then take you car to her, it
takes about 2 hours and she will relieve you of
£115. "

Don't know if the prices are still valid but they are much cheaper than your dealer.
Peter C

Sonia replaced the rear screen on my wifes car earlier this year, and I can highly recommend her work.
Took about 1 1/2 and cost just over £100
Stu

Ouch £400?! Those dealers never learn do they? Surely they never actually get to fit any rear screens at that price. Sarah, what part of London are you from? Moto-Build in Egham, Surrey ( http://www.moto-build.co.uk ) fit rear screens for £115 so this could be ok for you if you're in the south. However as mentioned by Blue Pocket Rocket, the Heathrow lady would be better if you're in the west.

Emma
Emma Jackman

or http://www.softtopwindows.com/ somewhere near Croydon.
John Ponting

>Ouch £400?! Those dealers never learn do they?
>Surely they never actually get to fit any rear
>screens at that price

That price is quite competative for what they offer, unfortunatly what they offer is a whole new hood.
Will Munns

£400.00 just for the window ,no way you can get a complete hood and window for that price. I split mine last year ,and did a repair with some all weather tape, lasted another year till i replaced the hood and window together .You are best warming the rear window by running the car up to temp with the heater on to soften the rear screen, even if you are going to unzip it , i learned the hard way too!!! you can get the tape for about 4.00 from most diy shops , cheers mel..
m e johnson

Warm water from the tap works best for softening - you pour it on and can see the plastic relax. Also this means you can put you hood down at the start of the journey, rather then the end!
Will Munns

>all weather tape

Sellotape works just as well. ;-)
Emma Jackman

Greenhouse repair tape is the stuff to use for 'temporary' repairs. Cellotape goes yellow, shrinks and cracks with time.

And a word of warning... the worst crack I got in my rear screen was whilst laying the screen down after unzipping it. I ended up with a slit that ran vertically, about an inch from the off-side edge.

Ralph
Ralph

WILL MUNNS, warm water...why didn,t i think of that , so simple ,i must have waited 15 minutes on saturday and gased myself out in the process ( car in garage) to warm the rear screen. Thanks Will , warm water it is........
m e johnson

Thank you all SO much for your helpful comments - this website is fantastic - I will be in touch with Sonia Morris and book it in with her.
Sarah
Sarah

I had the same happen a couple of years ago. On reading a post, i found a sail maker in Chatham kent. You had to remove the rear section by drilling out 15 rivits as i remember. The screen is very strong thinner used in sails and cost £30:)
Dave Smyth 1

You can make a semipermanent repair if you're careful with upvc cement. Push the crack open gently from the inside until it just separates, then from the outside wipe the sides with some cement on the end of a cocktail stick. Once coated let the two sides come together and you should end up with a virtually invisible join.

You have work quickly or the solvent evaporates and it won't stick. If you use too much glue, you risk getting it on the surface causing a scar, or the edges start to dissolve leaving a slight gap. Only use this on a perfectly dry window, because even traces of water reduce the sticking power. Best glue seems to be the stuff sold in tins for welding plastic kitchen waste and is based on THF. Don't spill it on the window or paintwork or you'll have a worse mess than when you started.

Not sure how the repair stands up to long term use but mine has been folded a couple of times without any problems.

If you can't get this method to work, you've only lost a couple of ££. Usual caveats about working at your own risk apply.

Chris
Chris

> tape

Gaffer tape. Ugly on screen but effective there and anywhere.

Chris
Chris Reeves

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2005 and 23/11/2005

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