Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Commercial rear window panels
Hello!
Just wondering if anyone ever removed the blanking panels on the rear windows (the 3rd row windows i mean, not the 2nd row doors)
The tinting on my Irish commercial is bubbling and peeling, and I need to get the panel off to fix it. Does the headliner need to come off?
Thanks!Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
24th Mar 2014 9:53 am
theanswers
Member Since: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Sligo/ Belfast
Posts: 244
How did an Irish Commercial end up over with you? Regarding the 'tinting'.
It's not tint you will find that's well applied sloppy black paint thats bubbling with the heat.
28th Mar 2014 10:38 am
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
The Irish commerical was imported It was in such a good condition compared to the UK models that were available, I could not refuse. Maybe less road salt in Ireland than UK?
Regarding paint/tint, when I did the rear door windows, after I removed the metal panels I was very surprised to find that one window had flaking solid tint film (practically 0% light transmission) and was very easy to scrape off with heat and plastic scraper, while the other side had black paint and was a total to remove. Maybe the conversion people ran out of paint?
I'm suspecting that the rearmost windows are the same. One side film, the other side paint.
You can see the bubbling tint/paint in this pic
Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
28th Mar 2014 10:50 am
theanswers
Member Since: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Sligo/ Belfast
Posts: 244
It's odd to find two different approaches on the same Land Rover.
I've done it myself before, sharp Stanley blade removed from it's holder done the trick. Oh, you can also plug in the rear windows. The motors have not been removed.
Did you reinstall the rear seats or have your left her commercial?
28th Mar 2014 11:55 am
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Yes I did plug in the rear windows too. Haven't installed any rear seats (yet) as I usually have dogs in the back not children I did take a grinder to the galvanized false floor and installed a couple of wooden trapdoors to access the acres of space under there
Did you manage to get the rearmost window panels off? The ones that are bubbling for me (between C and D pillars)? I suspect it's more of a because you can't open the window to push from outside.... and the metal blanking panel goes up above the headlining, apart from having to work while crouched in the back I will be having a better look this weekend to gauge the difficulty.Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
28th Mar 2014 12:01 pm
theanswers
Member Since: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Sligo/ Belfast
Posts: 244
I did manage the job at the time. One must remove the surrounding plastics. It's not hard and shouldn't take too long. Regarding the panel, I'm afraid more than likely its going to bent out of shape whilst being removed. I just forced it out, first with a flat head and then sheer force.
28th Mar 2014 12:07 pm
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Thanks. No worries about the metal panel. I don't intend to put the it back. Will just remove the bubbling tint and redo it in limousine black and should be good. If the dogs don't like the sun I'll install some removable blinds or something somehow Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
28th Mar 2014 1:06 pm
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
OK got the panel off. What a . I managed to do it without messing with the headlining at least. The plastic wheel arch thing had to come off though. In the end brute force worked. Stanley knife on the side closest to the front of the car (the only side with sealer visible). Then after a good 45 minutes trying to figure out how to get the rest off... gave up grabbed the panel with a huge pipe wrench and PULLED outwards and downwards... came off in 2 seconds
The even bigger was the 3 hours scraping the old tint off the window. And the huge difficulty removing the old paint tint from the screen heating elements means a tint film is probably out of the question as it will trap air around the elements. Might go with painting it again... The bubbling problem only happened because of the panels. Since it is sealed, the air between the glass and the panel becomes incredibly hot. An inferno to be precise. With the panel off it should be much cooler so will last longer.Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
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It was in such a good condition compared to the UK models that were available, I could not refuse. Maybe less road salt in Ireland than UK? 
to remove. Maybe the conversion people ran out of paint? 
I did take a grinder to the galvanized false floor and installed a couple of wooden trapdoors to access the acres of space under there 
