Rear Window Shatter While Removing Subframe

[DJB]

The usual reason for the rear window breaking is a hot spot while the defogger grid is on -- perhaps combined with the defogger switch jamming on.

Otherwise the rubber gasket should be isolating the rear window much better than the rigid adhesive on more modern cars. (By the time the e30 was designed most unibody designs had already switched to bonded-in windows to increase rigidity.)

[Kershaw]

wow. this is crazy.

[StereoInstaller1]

Mine shattered into a zillion bits, just out of nowhere.

[JoeyBones]

how much you talkin?

[cobraken]

Im lucky I have a spare rear window from a parts car, however Its just more of a pain in the ass than I wanted to deal with right now. It just opens another bag of worms that Im not ready for such as I was planning to replace the headliner anyways but I wanted to fix my leaky sunroof first/do the electric sunroof modification.

If anyone wants a complete rear subframe set up let me know. I built the rear subframe from my parts car and then rolled it right up and bolted it in. The swap itself took about 2 hours. The build of the spare subframe took about 8 hours. All new rubber bushings!

[E30Nova]

Spontaneous rear windshield failure is not unknown. I'd bet yours was just getting ready to do that.

This. I don't pretend to know why they randomly shatter, but I've heard of it happening before.

Matt

[Leeroy]

So has anyone ever shattered there back window while removing the subframe? I shattered my back window on Sunday. Its in a million pieces. Oh, and yes the jack stands were on the OEM jack stand locations.

I have a rear glass for sale if you need one.

The rear glass should no break that is some major flex if it does. I would check to see if your chassis is straight.

Keep us posted.

[nrubenstein]

Spontaneous rear windshield failure is not unknown. I'd bet yours was just getting ready to do that.

[dinanm3atl]

Wowsers. What were you doing? Shouldn't happen I don't think.

I am doing this... this weekend. Will try to be careful :)

[cobraken]

So has anyone ever shattered there back window while removing the subframe? I shattered my back window on Sunday. Its in a million pieces. Oh, and yes the jack stands were on the OEM jack stand locations.