I am wondering if anybody else has experienced the deterioration of the window trim/sealing strips on their bonneville'*

Mine have begun to rust from the inside out and they cost a lot to replace... from 110 - 214 each for 8 pieces!!!

Here are some pictures I've got of my problem:


and



The upper pieces are called Weatherstripping and the lower pieces are called sealing strips.
The image below shows the pieces with numbers 5, 11, 15 and 18 being the culprits.



This image is from here: http://www.compnine.com/

but the prices are from the Chico, CA area


Part numbers are #5 - 25766908/9 (R/L) $118.34/$123.86, #11 - 25766910/11 (R/L) $97.56/$96.58, #15 25740829/30 (R/L) $212.41/$214.46, and #18 25732992/3 (R/L) $110.39/$107.41 (when last I checked 10/14/09)

Does anybody have any suggestions on a more cost effective fix?

Thank you all!!

Adam

oh ya i did and fixed that problem. i took them off shaved the vinyl off with a razor blade sanded them down good with 400 grit and a palm sander and sprayed them with rustoleum gloss black been like that for a year or so now and still look like new

I've thought about doing that but I am not experienced with exterior finishes and worry it would not last. Glad to hear you have had success. I may try it when the weather stops being wet!

Thanks!
Adam

Your not alone. My '05 top pieces look fine. But the bottom ones are shot. It really sux having put a new paint job on the car and seeing the blistered sills.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you John... but the top pieces on mine looked fine until a few years ago... they seem to take longer to get crapy for whatever reason, too! I have seen the same thing happen with many cars, I had a friends Acura do the same thing! Nice to know quality improvement is doing such a good job

How do you remove the flat, horizontal ones along the door (#11 and #18 in the above diagram)? Mine are splotchy and faded, some sanding and paint would bring them back but I'll not bother if I have to dismantle the door.

I hear ya, Adam. The ones of old were chrome plated and so much easier to deal with. But I can see where chrome doesn't play to the look of the car. I look at the plastic at the bottom of the windshield with the same disgust. It looks like crap as well, and although ArmorAll helps for the instant, it doesn't last long. I think I will try Gunners razor/sand/paint carefully taping off the surrounded surfaces. I don't see where I could make it worse.

hey V want me to swing by on my way back to Iowa and help you out with it?

Mike,

I'm guessing with the windows down you could work them off. From my experience they just pry off. They have integral clips in the back that fit into holes in the door. The clips are rough so they kind of bite the door frame, so it takes some umph. You do want to be careful about bending them, so work them along. With the window out (especially on the back) I had a little more play with rotating them and grabbing them to get an easier angle. If I remember correctlly, tilting them toward the window, made them easier to pop out. There may be someone out there that has done it more recently with the windows in place that can give us all a better understanding of it... Steve?

I must have cross posted with Steve... looks like his offer is great!