54 0... Repair instructions for bonded seals

1. General information on handling rubber seal profiles: 

• If seals reveal partly detached protective film on delivery, they must not be bonded.
• Store seals at 15 °C to 25 °C.
• If, during the handling, the protective film has come off before bonding, it can still be bonded.
• Bonding at room and object temperature >20 °C. Temperatures between 40 and 50 °C significantly increase initial adhesion.
• Seals, which are subjected to temperatures above 80 °C after bonding, will be very difficult to remove.

2. Damage pattern and repair: 

1. 2.1 Partially detached bond (rubber-adhesive tape or adhesive tape-paint)
   • Up to 120 mm for reworking without auxiliary materials
   • Up to 200 mm reworked with pressing-on tools on straight surfaces
   1. Cleaning damaged areas:
      • Degrease bonded area with adhesive remover (refer to BMW Parts Department) and remove other residues.
      NOTE: Use necessary cotton- or fluff-free paper towel once only.
      When using solvent: Allow the repair area to air-dry for at least 2 minutes.
   2. Applying adhesive:
      • With a fine nozzle, apply a wafer-thin bead to adhesive tape.
      NOTE: Use contact adhesive (e.g. Terokal 2444)

      Attention: 

      Avoid contact with skin!

      Do not apply adhesive to visible painted surfaces.

   3. Pressing on rubber seal:
      • Press down seal using contact pressure (forced pressure not necessary) for at least 1 minute.

      Attention: 

      Load can only be applied to the bond after a period of 2 minutes. This waiting time is absolutely essential.

2. 2.2 Larger defects (mechanical damage and larger separations of seal)
   • Complete replacement of rubber seal necessary
     1. Peeling off damaged rubber seal:
        • Pull off rubber seal slowly at an angle up to 20° under uniformly strong tension.
        NOTE: Make sure the connection between adhesive tape and gasket is retained.
        If the connection between adhesive tape and seal is detached: Carefully and slowly detach adhesive tape at an angle of 20° from roof aperture or lid.
        When existing gaskets are being peeled off with a hot air blower: Do not damage paintwork.
        Do not detach rubber-adhesive tape connection if at all possible.
     2. Cleaning bonding surface:
        • Degrease bonded area with adhesive remover (refer to BMW Parts Department) and remove other residues.
        NOTE: Use necessary cotton- or fluff-free paper towel once only.
        When using solvent: expose repair area to air for at least 2 minutes.
     3. Detaching protective film from bonding surface:
        • Detach protective film from rubber seal in sections.

        Attention: 

        Once the protective film has been removed, do not under any circumstances touch the exposed bonding surface.

     4. Applying rubber seal:
        • Apply rubber seal on roof aperture edge beginning at rear center. Use upper lip as reference edge. Press on gasket continuously by hand. Carefully unwrap seal at radii without tension and press down (critical area).
        NOTE: If positioned incorrectly, the gasket can still be pulled off, repositioned and pressed on again.
     5. Establishing sealing joint:
        • Mark contact point at joint by pressing down loose end on seal of already bonded end. Then cut and press down loose end at same height.
        NOTE: Small areas of gasket can remain stuck to adhesive tape of loose end.
     6. Pressing on gasket:
        • Press on seal using a roller
        • Adhesive tape width up to 5 mm Contact pressure approx. 5 N
        • Adhesive tape width up to 10 mm Contact pressure approx. 10 N

        Slide/tilt sunroof gasket only: 

        • Press against seal strongly with a roller. Contact pressure approx. 70 N.

        Seal only, slide/tilt sunroofE36: 

        • Contact pressure approx. 30 N.
        • Remove the tear-off lip from the rear and side near the narrower flange.
        NOTE: Firm thumb pressure has approx. 35 N/cm²

3. Checking rubber seal: 

• Check the bonded gaskets for correct positioning and perfect adhesion. The bonding can be checked by pressing back the sealing lip.
• The force required to peel off the gasket immediately after bonding must be greater than 10 N/cm.