rexpontius

Last week I finally got my 86.5 back from the paintshop

Today I spent quite some time fitting the doors and trying to align them properly.

I bought a pair of new outer door seals. They actually look quite a lot different from my old seals.

The old seals are made from much softer foamy stuff, which is pretty easy to damage (especially around the edge where it is easy to rub agains when getting in/out of the car).

The new seals are much tougher and thicker, and look as if they will last forever. However I think they are for an older model 928, because in the lower section, there was only 1 cutout for the water-drain, whereas my door has 2 drains. So I had to cut away a small section to make it fit (had to use a dremel, becuase the rubber was reinforced with pretty tough steel).

Does anyone know if there is such a big difference between seal types?

Also, it was pretty difficult to get the door aligned properly with the seals in, they caused a litte 'resistance' at the last millimeters closing the door. Is it normal for new seals to need some 'settling in'?

I managed to align the doors so they will close without too much force and still be flush with the rear panels, but there is still a bit 'resistance' which can be felt pulling the door handle.

Cheers
Michel

ROG100

There is only one seal available for each door - no alternatives.
The part number was ss to 928 537 345 05 & 928 537 346 05 - old style was the same numbers but 03.
Hope that helps.

Jadz928

Post some pics of you problem area. Hard to say what goin' on.


Oh Roger, what's the chances of finding the 03?

rexpontius

OK, here we go :-)


Here you can see the seal looks a bit different along the edge of the door, compared to the 'foamy' style door-seal





I am pretty happy with the door alignment so far, have to wait until the front fenders arrive and check the alignment again, but I think I am in the right ballpark.

Both doors now close without a lot of effort (I dont have to 'slam' them shut), but there is still a bit of 'pre-tension' to be felt on the outer doorhandles, so the doors 'pop' open a bit.

rexpontius

Oh, and never mind the warped quarter panels, they will be fixed before refitting the glass :-)

Nicole

This doesn't look like the new seal style to me. The newer ones have an extra lip at the top that wipes water off the underside of the drip rails when the door opens.

heinrich

Those are very old, came on early cars.

BC

What you bought looks like New old stock.

rexpontius

Damn, I think you are right BC. I shouldn't have trusted the local guy who sold me the seals...

What is you advice, keep these, or get really new new seals?

Nicole

The ones you got are probably not sealing as well, and lack the lip at the top that wipes off rain water from the underside of the drip rails. OTOH, the ones you have are probably desirable for an older car, as they are more original.

The new ones were introduced during model year 1991 - my early 1991 (VIN 0102) didn't have them, and 0086 and 0103 didn't, either.

rexpontius

Hmm, they seem much tougher than the softer/newer style seals, so I think I will just try if I can get the alignment of the doors with the front fenders OK, and see what happens with wind-noise etc.

I am not really concerned with extra rain protection, as I will only drive the car in dry weather when possible.

BC

They were fine for most 928s made from the beginning, and only are replaced when someone paints a car or is... a bit more attentive to detail like we are here.

Can I ask what you paid? The prices I see for these door seals are outrageous.

Jadz928

Brendan,
All places I've looked into are just a touch under $300 each.
And the only have the later style ones.

BC

Yep.

There is nothing wrong with the later style really, they may be quieter even. But they are not as robust.

ROG100

I sell the later style seals (left & right) for $146 each