I went ahead and purchased the 2001 750 IL, it has the full leather package and has just over 50 K, although is not CPO. I did the pre inspection and there are a few smaller issues to deal with, but for sure window delamination. I have read on here where the cost is between 500 and 900 dollars. Where are these prices at ? The local BMW dealership here wants 1350 to do one window. At 500 a window, I would go ahead and replace all four and be done with it, but at 1350 a piece, I am thinking differently.

Depends if you are looking for insulated or protective. I think they are quoting you for the protective glass. The REAL bullet proof glass that comes with the protection model. The double pane insulated glass is about $400 plus labor.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=GJ03&mospid=48546&btnr=51_2122&hg=51&fg=05&hl=52

Get the protection model windows. That way you can get shot at and (hopefully) not die! :D

You guys with delamination issues has anyone tried a Clear Oil between the glass layers Maby injected or I have a heat booth for Heating parts what about high heat to re seal the layers?. Someone should send me a piece and ill try to repair.

This issue gets talked about a lot. There are four different types of glass available for the E38:

1) Normal = Single pane, no tint, ~4.5 mm thick, $200
2) Insulated = Double pane, slight gray or green tint and has a black border around glass, ~9mm thick, $500
3) Protective/Security = Double pane, slight gray or green tint and has a black border around glass, ~9mm thick, $1100
4) Bullet-Resistant = Multiple layers, no tint, black border around glass, also has metal band around glass, ~40 mm thick, $5000


#2 Insulated panes are almost exactly like #3 Protective glazing panes, but #3 cost twice as much because they will not break open. However, due to the more complicated plastics construction, the seals on the glass can easily leak and cause the delamination.

The #2 panes almost never experience this because they do not have the same plastics inside and are sealed with a different adhesive.

I know all this because I have the #3 security glass which is delaminating and is super expensive to replace. I can speak for their strength though, they are incredibly strong and will not shatter no matter how hard you hit them.

Fixing them is another issue, I dont think you can easily separate the panes. The panes are glass outside, two sheets of plastic inside, then glass, than another thin plastic film on the inside. Whats letting air in is the black seal around the edge of the window.

Get the protection model windows. That way you can get shot at and (hopefully) not die! :D

Although he's only joking, you couldn't really do this without a lot of effort. The glass in much thicker and requires different window motors/regulators. Also the door trim panel is different to provide a wider gap at the top for the thicker glass.

I dont' believe you could "fix" these windows either. It's like the double pane insulated glass on houses. Once that seal lets go you lose the gas in between them and they cloud up although our windows don't have gas in the middle, air still gets in there. Maybe purposely seperating the glass to complete the process might work? I'd guess they wouldn't be very good optically.

Mani has the best description I've seen so far. I also have #3. The previous owner of my car had all four windows replaced under warranty. And I'm glad he did, because then they were covered further by a parts warranty. I needed it. I disagree with saying they are "strong". They won't shatter, this is true, because of the plastic laminates. I did however have to replace two of mine that spider cracked simply from slamming the door to hard. Once by me and once by a 5yo!

Mine are the protective/shatter proof ones, not the bullet proof. I was in hopes of finding them for a bit less, but maybe not.

I disagree with saying they are "strong". They won't shatter, this is true, because of the plastic laminates. I did however have to replace two of mine that spider cracked simply from slamming the door to hard. Once by me and once by a 5yo!

Err yea you are right. Guess I used the wrong words, by strong I mean that these windows are very hard to actually break open and create a hole through. They do crack very easily though, I had the entire driver door glass crack just by slamming it hard.

Mine are the protective/shatter proof ones, not the bullet proof. I was in hopes of finding them for a bit less, but maybe not.

You can try a junkyard and see if they have any of the glass on the cars. I havent tried it but you could also probably fit the insulated double-paned glass as well. Its pretty much the same thickness and has the black border too so it would look the same. Again havent tried it but its worth a shot.

Who would like to message this guy and call his bluff on this "bullet proof" glass? lol
I used to message guys selling "protection" model E38's on car trader when I was bored asking to prove it. Not many replies.
What's the chances that it really is? NONE since the 750iL protection model didn't start until 1998.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=&kind=P&series=E38&body=Lim&model=750iLP&zone=USA&arch=0
Everybody with double pane thinks it's bullet proof. I wonder if he'd have any legal issues with someone who takes a bullet in the head?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-750iL-Rear-door-Glass-Bulletproof-window-E38_W0QQitemZ180230420193QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item1 80230420193 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335818596&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2FBMW-750iL-Rear-door-Glass-Bulletproof-window-E38_W0QQitemZ180230420193QQcmdZViewItem%3Fhash%3Di tem180230420193)

It is possible to replace all the delaminating security glass with regular single pane glass. We used single pane glass and trim from a salvage vehicle and swapped out the delaminating windows for very cheap. Here is the link:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/477445/

It took us about 90 minutes to do the swap. Colin (04SSHD) and Edwin did most of the difficult work. They have mad skillz compared to me. :(

ok chances are the interior side of the lamination s peeling and you can just take it a local shop that does tint and have the pull it straight out, interior peeling is far more uncommon, but does happen in some of the more humid states, ie florida, california etc. i had all my interior lamination pulled and the car fully retinted for 300.00 at a local shop and it looks beautiful.

It is possible to replace all the delaminating security glass with regular single pane glass. We used single pane glass and trim from a salvage vehicle and swapped out the delaminating windows for very cheap. Here is the link:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/477445/

It took us about 90 minutes to do the swap. Colin (04SSHD) and Edwin did most of the difficult work. They have mad skillz compared to me. :(

That's what i was going to suggest. Replace the glass with single pane and do away with the delamination problems

ok chances are the interior side of the lamination s peeling and you can just take it a local shop that does tint and have the pull it straight out, interior peeling is far more uncommon, but does happen in some of the more humid states, ie florida, california etc.

I'm not sure if we can assume the innermost tint layer is the delaminating one in this case.

Every delaminated dual-pane window I have seen firsthand (including one of my own windows) has been delamination of the center tint/film of the window, not of the "interior" tint (i.e., the tint not sandwiched between the two layers of glass).

-pd.

Who would like to message this guy and call his bluff on this "bullet proof" glass? lol
I used to message guys selling "protection" model E38's on car trader when I was bored asking to prove it. Not many replies.
What's the chances that it really is? NONE since the 750iL protection model didn't start until 1998.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=&kind=P&series=E38&body=Lim&model=750iLP&zone=USA&arch=0
Everybody with double pane thinks it's bullet proof. I wonder if he'd have any legal issues with someone who takes a bullet in the head?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-750iL-Rear-door-Glass-Bulletproof-window-E38_W0QQitemZ180230420193QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item1 80230420193 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335818596&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2FBMW-750iL-Rear-door-Glass-Bulletproof-window-E38_W0QQitemZ180230420193QQcmdZViewItem%3Fhash%3Di tem180230420193)

I love how "double pain" [sic] is written on the glass itself in the picture at that auction. A true enthusiast, this seller, clearly knows his stuff.

-pd.

ok chances are the interior side of the lamination s peeling and you can just take it a local shop that does tint and have the pull it straight out, interior peeling is far more uncommon, but does happen in some of the more humid states, ie florida, california etc. i had all my interior lamination pulled and the car fully retinted for 300.00 at a local shop and it looks beautiful.

Interesting. Did you have the security double pane windows? Not the regular double panes and assuming definitely not the bullet resistant glass?