Elan door seal measurements

[pamitchell]

Hello all;

I'm refurbishing my S4 coupe headliner and removed the rubber door seals. Now my doors fit flush! I think my car has replacement seals from Dave Bean. Has anyone trimmed their seals to get a flush door fit? How much seal material sb trimmed? All around or just along lower edge?
TIA
Phil Mitchell

[Frank Howard]

Phil,

There is nothing wrong with the seals. All S3 and S4 factory doors do not fit at the bottom as the factory made them about 1/4" too thick. The only way to fix them is to cut a 1/4" slice of glass from the lower edge of the doors, squeeze them together, and then re-glass them.

[mac5777]

Hi Phil, you don't have to trim the rubber seal, I tried it and I could not make it work and it looked sh--ty.
Try Rich Kamp, he has a very thin new door trim that looks like the original stuff. He stocks it by the foot. He knows the correct measurements and gives you one piece with a little extra. It does not push the door out and seals up well.
There is another supplier in East Canada. But can not remember the name, Mike Ostrov knows who he is.
At least i still remember that I can't remember.

Sarto
Any news on the trucking fees to LOG27?

[freddy22112211]

Only some doors stick out at the bottom at the rear - it would seem that there were two or more lots of moulds - and one was not quite right.
Gordon

[SADLOTUS]

I think Rich Kamp should be persuaded to tell us, sell us or show us.
Is it worth shipping to the UK? (Coals to Newcastle etc!)
Is there a UK supplier?
A pic would be nice.
Thanks Rich

[pamitchell]

Someone listed this Cdn. supplier. Perhaps this is the Kamp's source?
http://www.macgregorukcarparts.com/Merc ... creen=SFNT
Phil

[mac5777]

Hi Phil,
MacGregor has a very soft rubber door trim that allows the door to close tighter. He sent me several samples and they all seem to work the same way. He also has an Elan and knows the problem.
The hauling price sounds great for LOG27.

Thanks, Sarto

[dlbarnes1]

Phil - Keep us informed of your experience in dealing with this common dilemma.
Dave 72 Sprint DHC

[mac5777]

I found some unused door trim from Rich Kamp and a sample of the fuzzy trim that MacGregor developed. Rich's trim is not fuzzy and looks like the original trim but is thinner than normal. The fuzzy has a larger rubber bulb and appears to be thicker but it is softer and has less residence. Both did not hold my door out as some of the other trims I tried.
I ended up using Rich's as I cut the fuzzy trim short and only wanted one seam. Super glue really holds the rubber bulb at the seam. Sold the fuzzy in two pieces on ebay to a less picky guy. Found out about Rich's trim after I had ordered the fuzzy and screwed it up. I used his and I'm very happy with the fit. I purchased three different door trims before getting it right. $$$, lessons learned.
Hope that will help those in need. For those on the West coast, get in touch with Rich before his roll is out.
Some pictures

Sarto

[gjz30075]

Great info Sarto. Thanks!

[saildrive2001]

Sarto, do you have contact info for Rich Kemp.

[patrics]

Hi,
Based on a sample of one, the problem or main problem with my S4 doors was at the front not the back.
If you look at the front top before the window frame the angle changes which isn?t replicated on the body. If you take the seal off and measure the gap all the way around there is only a couple of mm clearance here.
It kind of says this in the workshop manual ? at least for the convertible as it states you should use the normal thin seal in this area and the broader section else where.
The manual actually says the gap should be 0.4375? (11.11mm) ? 2 decimal places! And there was me thinking that?s how far they were supposed to stick out at the back!
Last year I brought the original seal from Sue Miller which Mick had out of the factory when production stopped.
I have actually modified this area to give the correct gap but this will also mean modifying the trim as well which most people wouldn?t want to do.
Now I?ve done this the original thin seal actually looks two thin in most areas!
Regards
Steve

[mac5777]

So that is where the two thin strips go that came with the door trim. On my S3 coupe I did not use it. Maybe it was just the S4's that had the narrow section?? Mine seems to fit OK.

Keith, Rich's number is 707-933-8039

Sarto