Windscreen replacement

Body parts, seats, dash, headlining, windows and stuff!

Moderator: Board Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1121
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

Windscreen replacement

Post by Alan_M »

Ok, so after the NEC I ended up going home with a new windscreen from Lotusbits :shock: While everything is off the car and it’s just in primer I will be removing the current windscreen and fit the new one after it’s painted. Has anyone successfully removed and replaced one? Any tips?

User avatar
rbgosling
Senior Poster
Posts: 1702
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
Model: Lotus Excel SE
Colour: Midnight Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Rugby

Re: Windscreen replacement

Post by rbgosling »

It's a bonded windscreen, which I believe is always a professional job. The windscreen is an integral part of the structure and stiffness of the bodyshell, so it's important that it's done right.

Not like the olden days, when it was held in with a rubber strip you could install with some washing up liquid and a length of fishing line!

Mine has gone milky in the bottom left corner, so it would be nice if it was replaced, but it hasn't really got any worse in the last 10 years or so and it's easier just to leave it be!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

tonypoll
Senior Poster
Posts: 832
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 19:27
Model: Excel SE
Colour: BRG
Year: 1992
Location: Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire

Re: Windscreen replacement

Post by tonypoll »

Don't forget the spacers at the bottom of the screen. When I first got my screen replaced (by a non-Excel specialist) some 15 years ago they didn't fit these spacers. The screen is attached by some sort of 'soft' glue, so it can move a bit and not break. A couple of years later the screen had slid down leaving a gap at the top for water ingress.
The second screen was fitted by LotusBits, and 10+ years later it is still good.
Tony

Post Reply