GULLWING WINDOW ATROCITY

[voltron]

After posting all the questions about installing my window. I decide I'll get the trim out and just take it to a automotive windscreen place to fit. They look at it and agree it shouldn't be a problem and cost about $100. 3 hours later I get a phone calling from them saying that the new Gullwing window doesn't quite fit properly into the hole and that it is too big, but they are able to trim the window slightly and if I give my consent to do so. I say no worries as long as it looks good and your confident it will fix the problem. When I go in to pick up the car, what was laid before me was absolutely unacceptable.

Firstly there is sickaflex spilling out from the sides of the frame everywhere, on one side of the window I can fit my fingertips behind the window frame as it sits about 10mm away from the panel and the otherside about 5mm and it looks like dog balls. From inside the car I see that they haven't trimmed the window frame but they actually cut the panel of the body to make the window fit. Too make it worse they cut it at least 10mm too big at both top corners so it's just filled with sickaflex and not much contact between the frame and the body. The conversation that followed is not fit to print.

I spoke to the window supplier and he can't understand what would have went wrong as the window should fit and this is the first one that they have heard of have a problem. He spoke to Mulgo and same thing. They are being more then helpful at trying to fix this situation but we suspect something has happened at the installers end.

We are still in talks about how to fix this problem, but anybody have any idea on what could have gone wrong, or did the installers just **** up big time????

Cheers.

[Ranga]

I hate to ask, but can you post some pics?

[Disco Muppet]

Wouldn't be the first time a workshop has ****ed up on a Land Rover, or any car for that matter.
I'd be very surprised if it was an issue with the part itself.

[Basil135]

I think you have found the answer yourself:


"or did the installers just **** up big time????"

[ProjectDirector]

This seems to be the usual story these days, inexperienced and incompetent technicians are not short of supply. I have seen it with my Nissan xtrail where I requested to see who worked on the car and sure enough they were a couple of young kids. There is nothing wrong with young apprentices but at least provide adequate supervision to meet quality and safety requirements.
Post some photos

[isuzutoo-eh]

I have heard of another Puma where the gullwing window frame didn't fit into the hole from the original window. By memory it needed the corners eased.

[wrinklearthur]

I would have a;
measuring tape,
some cardboard to make a template from,
scissors to cut the template out with,
a thin felt tip marker.
And take my time to get it right.
.

[n plus one]

I have heard of another Puma where the gullwing window frame didn't fit into the hole from the original window. By memory it needed the corners eased.

Yeah, mine needed a couple of tweaks on the corners - tweaks mind, not a quick touch up with a reciprocating saw :p

I've long since given up letting workshops touch my truck - the likes of Mulgo and a couple of others are the only exceptions.

[Tombie]

I have heard of another Puma where the gullwing window frame didn't fit into the hole from the original window. By memory it needed the corners eased.

I have an old LRM where that was the case as well, only a very light adjustment

[Cracka]

Unfortunatley, that's why if you want something done these days you have to do it yourself. It doesn't seem to matter in what field it is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of dedication out there. :censored:

[gusthedog]

Unfortunatley, that's why if you want something done these days you have to do it yourself. It doesn't seem to matter in what field it is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of dedication out there.

Absolutely agree. When I rode motorcycles I always serviced them myself (I'd rather trust me than a bored apprentice) and it has transferred to my fourby ownership.

I can't believe a window installer stuffed up so badly voltron :mad: Hopefully they fix it all up for you.

[Gerokent]

When I installed mine, the corners needed relieving a wee bit, no biggy, a bit of die grinding was all it needed. I hope they replace the panel they stuffed.

[voltron]

So it seems like the minimising of the corners is pretty common. I just wonder if this is going to be enough for them to justify doing what they did. Common sense would have thought cutting the panel of the car was not a practical solution and hence why I thought they were talking about the window frame.

I'll try get some pictures up but tbh it's frustrating just looking at it.

Thanks guys.

[Iain_B]

I had to ease the corner on the drivers side now that I remember. One of the main reasons I do as much work one my own. I got tired of "That's the best we could do" - the general excuse for shoddy workmanship.

[alittlebitconcerned]

This seems to be the usual story these days, inexperienced and incompetent technicians are not short of supply. I have seen it with my Nissan xtrail where I requested to see who worked on the car and sure enough they were a couple of young kids. There is nothing wrong with young apprentices but at least provide adequate supervision to meet quality and safety requirements.
Post some photos

I completely agree. I was shocked to see unsupervised kids working on brand new LR's at a dealers I unfortunately used for repairs. I also wouldn't let other workshops mentioned anywhere near my car after what I have seen of their butchering.

Sorry to hear about your dramas Voltron. It's been a hard road for you these Gullwings.

[rijidij]

Too make it worse they cut it at least 10mm too big at both top corners so it's just filled with sickaflex and not much contact between the frame and the body.

Is it the same Gullwing as in the pic below ? If so, just to clarify, the corners of the window frame are a different radius to the cutout in the body panel, so there is about a 10mm difference at the centre of the radius.
Also, when the original window is removed (late type, stuck in, no rivets) there is a small tab at each corner of the cutout. They are only small, about 10mm long and protrude approx 1-2mm into the cutout, so easy to overlook. These must be removed, or the new window will not go in to the cutout without using excessive force. Even when they are removed it's a very neat fit, but the ones I've fitted have gone straight in.
I suspect they might not have removed the tabs. If the window came from Mulgo then maybe they just didn't read the instructions. By the sound of it, maybe they can't read at all :eek:
There are too many people out there who aren't skilled in the job they do, or just don't give a damn, unfortunately it looks like you've found one.

It would be good to see some pics if you can post some.

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/04/1286.jpg

[voltron]

Is it the same Gullwing as in the pic below ? If so, just to clarify, the corners of the window frame are a different radius to the cutout in the body panel, so there is about a 10mm difference at the centre of the radius.
Also, when the original window is removed (late type, stuck in, no rivets) there is a small tab at each corner of the cutout. They are only small, about 10mm long and protrude approx 1-2mm into the cutout, so easy to overlook. These must be removed, or the new window will not go in to the cutout without using excessive force. Even when they are removed it's a very neat fit, but the ones I've fitted have gone straight in.
I suspect they might not have removed the tabs. If the window came from Mulgo then maybe they just didn't read the instructions. By the sound of it, maybe they can't read at all :eek:
There are too many people out there who aren't skilled in the job they do, or just don't give a damn, unfortunately it looks like you've found one.



It would be good to see some pics if you can post some.

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/04/1286.jpg


Yep, this is the same window.
I did ring the supplier to say that it came with no instructions, and he responded that it was pretty straight forward once you get the window out. So I
left it at that.

You are probably right about the tabs, but where that leaves me I am not sure. They are going to try and rectify it on friday with the boss reassuring me he will do the job personally and see what he can do.

Figers crossed.

[alittlebitconcerned]

If worse comes to worst and they have botched it, you could ask the manufacturer to make a pair that fit the new opening. I'm sure you could sell the other ones if you can get the gunk off.

[hans]

Put my l/s gullwindow in today not a lot of trouble filed tabs off window went straight in
No top ain't rivet black. R/side next week.Am impressed with the windows

[voltron]

Ill just do the opposite side myself next time haha.

[isuzurover]

I just saw this thread - was there ever a resolution - and any pics???

My 2 gullwing windows were a piece of cake to fit.

[voltron]

Hi mate. They basically pulled it out, refit it to a far better and more acceptable standard . I didnt make them replace the panel because the second effort turned out spot on, and the owner assured me he would do it himself. I told them if it wasn't acceptable I was going to want the panel replaced but I couldnt fault the refit and I didnt want to go through replacing a whole panel. It was obvious they screwed up and put a begginer on the job, why is beyond me. But I just can't be assed investing negative energy into those sorts of questions that wont change the outcome.

I didnt post any pictures at the time because, I think the response would have just made me more angry.

[harro]

Hi mate. They basically pulled it out, refit it to a far better and more acceptable standard . I didnt make them replace the panel because the second effort turned out spot on, and the owner assured me he would do it himself. I told them if it wasn't acceptable I was going to want the panel replaced but I couldnt fault the refit and I didnt want to go through replacing a whole panel. It was obvious they screwed up and put a begginer on the job, why is beyond me. But I just can't be assed investing negative energy into those sorts of questions that wont change the outcome.

I didnt post any pictures at the time because, I think the response would have just made me more angry.

"It was obvious they screwed up and put a beginner on the job, why is beyond me."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
It is always the same reason......

Paul.

[DrytheRain]

Pleased to hear that you got this sorted Voltron. I don't know why they put beginners onto these jobs (presumably without supervision) in the first place; I know they have to learn, but if they make a mistake, the business ends up having to do the work twice, so they don't save anything in the long run.

[voltron]

From this experience, I am of the opinion people just look at it as just an old Defender and treat it as such. But the chain stores like OL and ARB have actually been really good in that way, to me anyway.

[isuzurover]

From this experience, I am of the opinion people just look at it as just an old Defender and treat it as such. ...

I have lost count of the number of people who are surprised that the puma that I point out is new. The response is along the lines of "I didn't realise they still made those, it looks really old"

[harro]

I have lost count of the number of people who are surprised that the puma that I point out is new. The response is along the lines of "I didn't realise they still made those, it looks really old"

And lets hope they keep it that way;).

Paul.