Shattered rear window!

[Tanz]

Took the cover off my Excel that lives on the drive only to find that the rear window was shattered. Still intact but totally ‘frosted’ over. On the floor was a piece of mortar that looks like it had come from the chimney on the house and hit the rear window.
Has anyone on here had any experience of changing a rear window? Looks like the rear roof quarter panels have to come off as the glass tucks under them. Do you have to remove the rear side glass to get those panels off? Looks like it might be a job for Lotusbits – better get my savings out!

[rbgosling]

Oh crap, sorry to see that Phil!

[AndrewWebber]

Insurance policy? or don't want the claim recorded ?

Andy

[Excel SA]

Oof. I had to remove the glass to get to the screws to get the panels off. I think you can get to some of the screws from the outside, but not all of them. It may also be possible to get to them from the inside, but then you'd damage them and not get them back in. I'm bonding in studs to put mine back on with.

Neil.

[MetBlue]

Sorry to see that Phil. Must have been quite a shock.
Sure Alan or Stu will be along with answers about the rear quarter panels. Both have done much strip down in these areas.

[Hawaiis0]

I'll cobble some images together.

The side rails go over the glass. And the side glass may block the screws holding them on.

Once the screen is accessible an oscillating saw or a bike brake cable works wonders.

You may be able to re-use the 5mm rubber spacers. Either get some from LB or SJs or make some.

I would get your insurance to cover it and hand it over to LB.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Got to be a 1st, at least for members on this forum ! So unlucky, you must feel very peed off about it. I would be . Must have been a big chunk of mortar! Yes I think I'd go insurance route unless it's not covered of course.

On the positive side, if all of the rear glass has to come out, i'd be tempted to pay the uplift and fit rear privacy glass to reduce the summer cabin heat as I don't have a\c. And any leaks can be well and truly fixed.

[Tanz]

Thanks for the sympathy, folks. Was a bit of a shock. I spoke to Club Lotus Alan Morgan who thought house insurance was worth trying first. I am sure the house insurer will say it a car insurance job and vice versa.
Any way I emailed Lotusbits and got an immediate reply (I know!). To buy a second-hand rear window is £150 plus VAT so I might have a bash myself with help from Big Jim – remember him? Former Excel owner who produced the ‘how to change your cambelt’ video on You Tube.
I use the car all year, so it is a bit of a pain having it off the road. Also waiting to get my distributor back from the Doctor – complete rebuild and calibrate.
Will update the forum on how I get on with the window and if the distributor makes any difference. Good job I sold the M100 to top up my cash!

[Alan_M]

Sorry to hear about the screen.
The rear on the later Excels is a PIA to get out.
As has been said you will almost certainly have to remove the rear side windows to get to the screws that hold the rear side roof trim on. If you’re very very lucky you may be able to release these screws through the gap above the rear side glass.
I couldn’t, and had to take out the windows to remove these trim pieces.
They have to come off as they overlap the rear window by about 20 mm either side.
In addition to the screws holding these side trims on they are glued (silicone) onto the side panels ( the wide bits where the petrol filler is on one side ).
It is also glued onto the glass - this might be a PU type or silicone.

If you have to remove the rear side windows try and release and slide the lower rubber trim off the glass - these are NLA.
Best to also remove the inner rear C post trim panels and possibly the side trim panels below the windows.
Getting those windows out was possibly the hardest part when I stripped mine - I would get a professional in if I ever need to do it again.
Good luck !!

I will try and get some photos loaded up when I have a few more minutes.

[Tanz]

Sorry to hear about the screen.
The rear on the later Excels is a PIA to get out.
As has been said you will almost certainly have to remove the rear side windows to get to the screws that hold the rear side roof trim on. If you’re very very lucky you may be able to release these screws through the gap above the rear side glass.
I couldn’t, and had to take out the windows to remove these trim pieces.
They have to come off as they overlap the rear window by about 20 mm either side.
In addition to the screws holding these side trims on they are glued (silicone) onto the side panels ( the wide bits where the petrol filler is on one side ).
It is also glued onto the glass - this might be a PU type or silicone.

If you have to remove the rear side windows try and release and slide the lower rubber trim off the glass - these are NLA.
Best to also remove the inner rear C post trim panels and possibly the side trim panels below the windows.
Getting those windows out was possibly the hardest part when I stripped mine - I would get a professional in if I ever need to do it again.
Good luck !!

I will try and get some photos loaded up when I have a few more minutes.

Thanks for the advice - very usefull

[Alan_M]

This photo shows the 3 blobs of silicone that were used to bond the trim on.
Also you should be able to make out how far the trim overlaps the glass.

There is also a bead of silicone running along above the window where the lower flange of the trim fits. Very little of this was holding the trim on on mine

[Hawaiis0]

.......

There is also a bead of silicone running along above the window where the lower flange of the trim fits. Very little of this was holding the trim on on mine

This bead I see as an anti drip device to direct roof water away from the interior

[Tanz]

That's a very usefull picture - I will come and pick the brains of the folks on the stand at the NEC

[Alan_M]

That's a very usefull picture - I will come and pick the brains of the folks on the stand at the NEC

I will be there every day - are on the Club Lotus stand?

[Alan_M]

.......

There is also a bead of silicone running along above the window where the lower flange of the trim fits. Very little of this was holding the trim on on mine

This bead I see as an anti drip device to direct roof water away from the interior

It maybe, but if it is it’s a pretty rubbish design.
The section above the door dips down in the centre, so water would run down to this area and overflow downwards towards the door seal.

The bit above the rear window wouldn’t really be needed, and judging by where all the deposited dirt was, didn’t work.
I suspect it was more likely supposed to seal/bond the lower edge/flange as it did on the lower half of the diagonal section.