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Dried rubber


JHG762002

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I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about how to deal with drying window seals. They don't leak and appear to be in good shape, but in the rain they make black streaks that are staining the original chamonix paint. I brought the '76 with me when I moved from the bay area to WA. I think a life in the cali sun degraded the outer layer of the rubber which is dissolving (for lack of a better term) in the rain.

Armor all, I've been lead to believe it isn't a good choice.

Any suggestions.

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.

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Mathew -

Ask any body shop guy - you don't want silicon anywhere near your car.

Bob Napier

I will and good to know! When it was a beater it didn't matter so much but now that it is nearly finished, these things matter. Thank you.

Matthew

Chastity: the most unnatural of sexual perversions.

74 tii, 99 BMW R1100R, 99 E320, 01 S4 Avant

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Depends on how bad they are. If they are completely rotten, there is not much you can do. If there is good rubber underneath a layer of oxidized rubber, you can remove the oxidized layer by using a rubber cleaner like Griots 11136. I have also just used a reasonably strong detergent on a rough cloth like cotton terrycloth (e.g., a bath towel), rubbing until no more black material comes off the seal.

Griots has an undeserved reputation for being expensive, but I have found their products to be almost universally good and not that expensive, especially in volume.

I like Vinylex for routine maintenance of rubber and vinyl (after the oxidized layer has been removed). There is also Wurth 8930128, which I believe is basically the same product BMW used to market as Gummi Pflege.

Chris B.

'73 ex-Malaga

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I used to use the BMW stuff, sorta vasoline consistency in a tube, and it worked great on the door seals. For the past several years, though, I've been using Vinylex, and like it alot. Lately though my carcare fanatic son (he spent 14 hours [and nearly $100 worth of product] this past week end buffing and polishing my wife's '76) has me using DetailedImage's V.R.P. Dressall. It's supposedly sold only to professional detail shops, but it is available online. Makes rubber (bumper profiles, knee trim, and tires) look brand new, but not at all shiny. Smells great, too, sorta like some of the Zymöl products.

Bob Napier

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Thanks for all of the replies. I will start looking locally to see if I can find some of those products. The rubber seals are still flexible and not cracked, just an outer layer of very dry rubber.

I don't think I'll try the boiling vinegar trick right away. Boiling rubber and vinegar, I'm sure that must smell wretched.

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.

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I like Griot's Products. Their Spray-on Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner products work really well on tires, hoses and seals.

When I bought my VW in '93, the PO (a VW shop owner) gave me a large tube of Autosol S from Germany that is designed to "clean, condition, protect and restore luster for leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic and black chrome". Made by Dursol-Fabrik in West Germany. It works pretty good but is messy.

Jim Gerock

 

Riviera 69 2002 built 5/30/69 "Oscar"

Royal Red 69 VW Squareback built 8/13/68 “Patty”

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The best I've found in the last 35 years is Gummi Pflege (gummy flodge). The dealer has sold there own product with the same name for years for almost $40 for a very small bottle. The one I now buy from AutoGeek.com is a larger size but still made in Germany. It makes all rubber soft and keeps it pliable and dries in a couple minutes so there is no smears on the windows when used on door seals and it will not attract dirt. Easy to apply and has a built-in applicator.

I hate giving out all my secrets so don't tell anyone. Just between you and me!J/K.

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-rubber-care-stick.html

Original Owner, Malaga 1973 tii, unrestored.

1985 Euro M635, Cinnabar, fast and fun!

2003 325i, Alpine White

2007 530i Sport, Titanium Silver

2000 Tundra LTD, White, Daily driver

2011 Audi A3 TDI, White, son's new car!

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