Member Since: 09 Jul 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 2776
XS Commercial rear window insert panels
Dont know if anyone has a solution to this question. I have a new XS commercial. The windows of the rear doors have a black moulded plastic insert panel covering the whole of the glass area.
Visability on the Commercial is bad enough at the best of times when pulling out of a junction, but as i'm off to the continent next week I thought that I would try and remove these panels on the rear doors so that I can better see vehicles comming up on my blind side.
The panel seems to be held in with a mastic which I have tried to loosen around the edges with a stanley knife, but this didn't work.
I dont really want to distroy the panels completely as I will need to put them back on my return, but as I dont know what i'm going to find behind it, between it and the glass I am not keen to do this.
My plan was, once I had it out, was to have the darkest available "Limo" privacy glass fitted to the rear door windows, so at least I could have some kind of view out, unlike now.
From what I can see on a small cut out section on one of the rear quarter windows the glass itself is not painted, but its just these black plastic panels that are blocking the view
Has anyone done this before as any advice would be appreciatedOn a mission to find the perfect Pork Pie. Just Found it (I think)..(Yes I have)
Official product sponsor for "Bloodhound SSC" 1000+ mph world land speed record
15th Aug 2008 6:22 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
It's probably designed to make it very hard to do, and not worth your while? I guess you'll have to get used to driving with a rear-view and two wing mirrors.
15th Aug 2008 6:40 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Member Since: 09 Jul 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 2776
Wiggs,
Thanks for that link, very useful, your a star
It sounds however that the Irish commercial is a differend spec to mine as they talk about fabric panels, mine are definately Plastic.
I will PM a couple of the guys to see how they got on.
I will do it, but not before I go away next week to the Netherlands. but am i'm sure my Dutch Landrover Defender friends would love the opportunity to distroy my new Disco after a few beers. so maybe i'll give it a go whilst I'm there.
JUST IN CASE, does anyone know a good Landrover dealer near Zwolle On a mission to find the perfect Pork Pie. Just Found it (I think)..(Yes I have)
Official product sponsor for "Bloodhound SSC" 1000+ mph world land speed record
At the risk of appearing to be a stickler for rules..........
The rear (passenger door) side windows on a commercial are not see-through for a reason
In order to qualify for the commercial vehcle vat exemption rules, this is how it has to be. I know it's a pain in the a$$, but that's how it is.
If you wish to retain the vat qualifying nature of the vehicle - don't try to take the black stuff out. If it's a company car you could land yourself / your company with a vat bill for £1000's
You have been warned...... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
Founder member of Club FFRRV
Club Orange, Mint or Fruit
Club Walnut Sniffers
15th Aug 2008 8:39 pm
highbayrack
Member Since: 09 Jul 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 2776
Thank you for those words of wisdom. If I were contemplating fitting rear seats (which I'm not) I would totally agree with your comments regarding VAT exemption status.
All I am considering doing is improving the visability, and therefore safety to both myself and other road users by being able to remove the door panels,especially at times when driving in Europe.
I appreciate that even this act could be questionable, but at the end of the day this would still be a Commercial load carrying vehicle with two seats in the front and a full load floor in the back, and if neccessary I would be prepaired to argue this fact. (there are to my knowledge Mercedes and VW commercial vans available for purchase with clear windows in the rear sliding doors which still fully qualify for N1 commercial vehicle status)On a mission to find the perfect Pork Pie. Just Found it (I think)..(Yes I have)
Official product sponsor for "Bloodhound SSC" 1000+ mph world land speed record
All I am considering doing is improving the visability, and therefore safety to both myself and other road users by being able to remove the door panels
I'm with you 100% as I suffer badly at 'Y' junctions and turning right onto dual carriageways. I have no rear seats and I believe (as you obviously do) that safety is compromised due to lack of visability.
However, being the fool that I am, I questioned and enquired with HMRC about bending the rules - just a smidgen - so that I could see more clearly, and was given a flat NO! They said that if this were done, then I'd be getting a damn large vat bill. The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
Founder member of Club FFRRV
Club Orange, Mint or Fruit
Club Walnut Sniffers
16th Aug 2008 6:53 pm
luckyrobp
Member Since: 30 Apr 2014
Location: Scunthorpe
Posts: 17
Any updates from Anyone on how to do this.
I know all about the law so don't remind me, I just want to know how to get the plastic panels out of the frame without wrecking them or the frame.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
