Thema Windscreen Removal

[murf]

Does anyone have experience of salvaging / removing the windscreen on a series 1 Thema. I recently took a high speed hit on the windscreen of my 8v turbo and have had it repaired by Autoglass hopefully to the satisfaction of the Mot tester next month! This prompted a discussion with the very helpful man from Autoglass about getting the screen out of the spare car that I have in storage. He thought it would be a very risky operation so I'm fishing for advice if anybody has tried to do this.  Many thanks, Murf.

[Lindsay]

Screen is relatively easy to get out - if you want to do it without trashing the chrome trim, that's another story......

[murf]

Thank you Lindsay, I'll have a tentative go at getting it out at the weekend. Rgds., Murf.

[Angle Grinder]

Watch out for Autoglass. I've had Thema windscreens removed / refitted several times by a guy who does homers, but when I took my car to Autoglass... surprise surprise they broke the glass and then tried to sell me a new Saab 9000 screen £200+.

Try and find a small independent and make it clear that the car is not covered by insurance.

Autoglass assumed I had insurance and were a bit uppity when I said I could get a screen 2nd hand from the Thema Consortium.

[murf]

Thank you for the warning about Autoglass. I'm going to attempt getting the screen out of the spare car this weekend with the help of a daughter so there will be a lot of finger crossing. My thanks to everyone for the advice. Rgds. Murf.

[St Volumex]

Screen is relatively easy to get out - if you want to do it without trashing the chrome trim, that's another story......

Hi Lindsay.  I've go to replace my windscreen now as it's cracked right across, but am wondering how to save the trim before the windcreen people trash it please? My Thema is an S2.

Thanks.

[HPEHF]

Do not know if it helps, but long ago I removed the rear window from a MK1 Astra.

From memory it had a chrome inlay which was gently prised from the rubber seal with a thin flat bladed scrapper as used to remove wall paper and a small screw driver. Then for the window it was using the same scrapper to prise the screen up and push a piece of string through to help free the seal.

The refitting was in the reverse. All went we but from memory it was harder to refit than take out

Slowly but surely it can be done without breaking the screen.

Regards

Simon Davis
8477

[Lindsay]

Screen is relatively easy to get out - if you want to do it without trashing the chrome trim, that's another story......

Hi Lindsay.  I've go to replace my windscreen now as it's cracked right across, but am wondering how to save the trim before the windcreen people trash it please? My Thema is an S2.

Thanks.

Only way to do it is ease it mm at a time - and it could take a couple of hours if you want to keep it intact and not bend/crease it. Start at the top middle where the surrounds meet (or bottom) and slowly slowly.

Best of luck!

[HF_Dave]

I removed the screen from my series 2 Thema using a Stanley knife with a concave blade fitted protuding as far as the knife body will allow. I used a knife called a Dolphin which is a bit thinner than a stanley. Start in the middle of the screen from the inside and score the bonding with the knife. I forgot to mention you have to remove the trim first. Make a series of cuts into the bonding, this takes a bit of time, eventually the screen will come out. You should be able to save the chrome trim with this method. When the screen is out you should be able to prize the trim away along with twenty odd years of muck if there is not to much bonding agent stuck to the trim. Thanks David.