I noticed that my 'new' S4 (replaced old one a month or so ago) had a lot of wind noise at speed which seemed to come from top of right hand door (driver's door this side of Atlantic, so next to my ear!).

Have examined seals on both sides and they are different. The lhs (quiet) seal has a kind of lip or flap running along it. When you close the door this flap folds neatly along the main body of seal, and holds it tightly against door frame.

The seal on the noisy side has no obvious damage, but it doesn't have the flap. When you close the door you can see that the seal opens a slight gap along the top of door frame.

I'm pretty sure that the quiet lhs seal has never been replaced. It's continuous all way round so I think was installed with door stays off.

I think the noisy seal was installed subsequently but there are no records (at least prior to 1996) to confirm. It has a crude cut in it to accommodate the door stay. More obviously when you feel along the bottom of the door the seal has simply been cut. I know this is accepted way of installing new door seal but the cat has not been joined with glue or instant gasket.

I'd like to install a new rhs seal to try to cure wind noise, but if I order a new seal does it have the flap or not? The flap certainly seems to help sealing. PET just shows same seal for all years (928 537 340 05).

 

aer you sure that that is part of the door seal... as i think there was a small seal retro fitted to the frame itself on later years

 

IIRC 928 Specialists offers both the Porsche seal and an OEM replacement. Might want to give them a call, though they will be caught up in the SITM aftermath tomorrow.

 

The seal with the lip was installed on 1991 and later cars and IIRC it was designed to wipe water away from the door edge so it doesn't fall into the car on rainy days.

Your other door has the standard seal for 1990 and earlier cars. You should be able to install either one.

 

The seal with the lip was introduced during the 1991 model year. My early 1991 VIN 0102 did not originally have it, and 0103 didn't, either. The 91 GT I owned previously already had them (higher VIN).

I have upgraded to the newer style seals in the meantime.

 

I'm not even sure if the older seals are available, and I can't imagine wanting them even if you could get them. I put the newer style seals on my '85 and there is a huge difference in noise reduction.

 

Fantastic - thanks for such knowledgeable responses.

My car was built 91 so that's why one side has the lipped seal, and the other side has an older seal retrofitted (though I've no idea why it would have needed a new seal apart from accident damage of which there's no sign).

Sounds like if I order new Porsche seal it will have the lip, and should reduce wind noise. I also plan to fit the GTS rubber side seal strips to the windscreen to cut even more.

So that raises some supplementary Qs:

Any tips for fitting the door seal? How easy a job is it? I also need to fit new door stays, is there any reason to fit seal at same time (since I will have the original stays off)?

 

I found this Metro Molded Cargo Door Seal as suggested by my colleague. I thought you might want to phone them and ask for the details. Fitting the door seal is also an easy job. I bet, you can do it yourself.

 

Thanks for link ema - thet seem to be well-stocked!

I have a new door seal now (with lip) which is patiently waiting in the jobs list line.

 

Can anybody tell me of the Metro Molded Cargo Door Seal is with the lip or without!!
I'have a 1991 928 S4 who is with lipped doorseals, and i need a new one.