[diogenio]

Group:

I'm having the front glass replaced on my car tomorrow. Recognizing this is an
"exotic" car to most auto glass installers, I want to anticipate what is required, so that they dont break anything on my beloved Milano. I'm honestly
nervous as all hell.

I already removed the front plastic cowl at the base of the windshield. It's
plastic, old and brittle - and easily broken by a ham-fisted installer. I can
also clean and treat it with "Back to Black" more easily while it is out.

What else needs to come out? I'm assuming the interior trim panels on both "A" pillars will need to be removed. How do these come out? Does one just pry them away from the pillars with gentle care? I'm assuming they use fastening clips similar to those on the cowl? Anyone have a tip or technique for removing these panels without breaking them?

Any and all advice in advance of this windshield operation is greatly
appreciated!

Thanks,
Dennis
San DIego, CA

 

[JoeCab]

I've had a couple of windshields replaced on Milanos and it's actually a pretty simple job for most installers.

The only other thing I would do to prep the car is make sure it is spotlessly clean, which cuts down on misc. scratches and cover the outsides of the A pillars with painter's tape. The reason for the tape is the A pillars on a Milano are big, square, and bulky and often get scratched by the wire the installer will use to cut the glue when removing the old glass.

They will not have OEM plastic moulding that goes around the glass, so they will substitute a universal moulding that is slightly wider but doesn't look bad.

 

[diogenio]

Joe:

Thanks for the tip! Please check your email/PM in box. I just sent you a message, in the hope you can respond before my installer gets here tomorrow PM!

 

[JoeCab]

So - how did the install go?

 

[diogenio]

Joe: The installer was a real pro, 20 years in the biz. When we removed the glass, there were small patches of rust on the lower metal frame, caused by a previous replacement where the installer didn't paint over the knife scratches he made when removing the old glass! Shoddy work via previous owner...it never fails.

I opted to treat these areas with rust reformer and rustoleum paint before we put in the new glass. It will go in on Friday.

My challenges right now deal with the plastic cowl. The rectangular clips that are captive on the body (and mate with the cowl metal posts) are a very poor design...a tiny molded ridge is all that keeps them in place. Half of mine popped out when I pulled the cowl up. I need to find a way to modify them so they remain firmly down in the metal.

The black, closed-cell foam weatherstrip - which runs under the length under the cowl, is also trashed. I'll need to find a substitute for that is the right thickness, of course - as it presses up against the glass and keeps water out of the lower area.

It's a bit of a project to do this right, and to make a quality repair that will last. More involvement than I anticipated, but I love the car to be done right.

Thanks,
-Dennis

 

[Travis_k]

If those clips are the ones I am thinking of, Performatek can still get new ones. I didn't worry too much about it when I had the windshield replaced in mine, but then again when I went to pick it up it was parked next to a 60s ferarri so I imagine the owner of the shop was used to doing quality work.