Replacement Hymer birkholz windows

[EuroTrotters]

I said I would post an update.

Our 23 year old Hymer van plastic double glazed windows delaminated. I ordered some adhesives from a specialist company to re-seal them.

Sadly, I think I was provided with the wrong adhesives resulting in a chemical reaction with the plastic. Then horrible cracks to apear, resulting in them being unusable.

It’s sn old Hymer, so I’m not prepared to fork out £1,000 on windows. Can’t find any on eBay.

So I have made this to see how it goes. Certainly useful as a temporary measure for those sending their windows of to be made.

Not finished yet, but you get the idea. These are the curtain twitcher version

 

[Figaro]

Wow that cracking is a mess
What have you done ? cut a piece of perspex to size ?
Looks ok but maybe more drafty being single glazed.
Never heard the term Birkholz before

 

[Lenny HB]

Blimey that's some reaction, have you removed just one panel that has cracked then put a tinted film on?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Blimey that's some reaction, have you removed just one panel that has cracked then put a tinted film on?

No, the inside and outside panes were all cracked. So I used a template to get a piece of single 5mm plastic cut.

I’ve drilled the holes for fixings and used a dremmel to cut a groove for the upper hinge rail.

 

[CazPaul]

I’m still not sure what you’ve done there, it looks a lot better. Have you an inside shot or is that inside photo one with the work done, hard to tell?

Have you removed the cracked stuff or just put the Perspex over.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheBig1]

Looks nicer than the Hymer original Trev. No idea which glue you used, but that is one hell of a reaction

 

[EuroTrotters]

I’m still not sure what you’ve done there, it looks a lot better. Have you an inside shot or is that inside photo one with the work done, hard to tell?

Have you removed the cracked stuff or just put the Perspex over.

Okay, the original window is no more, gone, binned.

It consisted of two pieces of plastic 2.5mm, one blown and sealed together to the flat piece to form a double glazed unit.

They came apart and I contacted a specialist plastic window company who recommend a thin black paint for a border and then an adhesive to bond them back together.

Within a few months, cracks started to appear and then spread with contraction and expansion in temperature differences.

So, I removed the original window and made a template. Had a piece of 5mm Perspex cut to size. Then when it arrived, I used the inner part to mark the holes for the struts and catches. Drilled the holes and then had to dremmel a thin groove to allow the original metal hinge to slide in.

I chose dark tint as the medium tint didn't look right and looks better with the black fittings on.

The photo from the inside to out is with the new window in-place. I was going out so did not have time to finish it. I will take some more photos when I finish it and clean it tomorrow.

Looks nicer than the Hymer original Trev. No idea which glue you used, but that is one hell of a reaction

Not sure, I threw it away and never kept the receipt. If I find out, I will post it here.

 

[bobandjanie]

Our friends new Chauson at the time had windows that cracked like that, after she stuck Merry Christmas stickers on them, obviously the glue had a reaction, Steve her husband was not pleased, he had to buy replacements. Bob.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I’m still not sure what you’ve done there, it looks a lot better. Have you an inside shot or is that inside photo one with the work done, hard to tell?

Have you removed the cracked stuff or just put the Perspex over.

A few more photos to make it clearer ! Pardon the pun

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks good.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EuroTrotters]

Looks good.

Thank you Lenny HB

 

[CazPaul]

How much was it to do in total.

If that is leak free then a great job.

 

[paddymcc]

Nice job. I made some silver screens for our windows using the bubble foil that goes behind radiators. I can fit them on the outside so that I can open the window to work as a sunshade and at night they fit on the inside as well to act as additional insulation . Might be worth considering for additional warmth?

 

[Manic]

Your repair looks good

Have tried

ukleisureparts

That’s where I got my window panel from a couple of years ago, cost £270 then

https://ukleisureparts.reimo-shops....s7/21127/replacement-pane-s7z-window-1300x600

 

[bobandjanie]

Our van has dark tinted windows, the only thing to watch out for with dark tinted windows is ........... I was standing there without a stitch On making the first brew of the day, and our neighbour got out their van and preceded to use our woosh bang door window as a mirror, I don't think she could see me, but ............. something to watch out for. Bob.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EuroTrotters]

How much was it to do in total.

If that is leak free then a great job.

Thanks

£100 ish. That includes the Sheet, P&P and the Adhesive (that I have not used yet).

 

[Libellula]

That looks bad. Sorry. My new (2002) to me Hymer has a similar crack at the bottom of one window that the previous owner pointed out to me. I hope it doesn’t go crazed like that.

 

[jezport]

Impressive job. People just dot believe you when you say use the proper cleaner on plastic windows. They like Tcut and Brasso and other dodgy products that can cause reactions with the plastic.

 

[WallaceandGromit]

Used to use this company when I was working https://eeco-ltd.co.uk/ you need the original tho

 

[fat haggis]

Looks fantastic You could make a few pennies making them for others wondows.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[glastry]

Thanks
£100 ish. That includes the Sheet, P&P and the Adhesive (that I have not used yet).

Hi -eurotrotters, i take my hat off to you , that looks good. I broke my own ,brown tinted double glazed window and wasted months looking for a reasonably priced replacement.(elderly mercedes hymer s550).
Then i got a new unit from stanislav stankov - he is based in sofiya -grad, bulgaria, (Design Alliance ltd). 03598 9988 4154.
This is one meticulous ,careful guy. He came up with a new unit that looks identical to the one that i broke.
I am posting this because it may be of use to many van owners,and i am so glad to get a unit that looks right.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi -eurotrotters, i take my hat off to you , that looks good. I broke my own ,brown tinted double glazed window and wasted months looking for a reasonably priced replacement.(elderly mercedes hymer s550).
Then i got a new unit from stanislav stankov - he is based in sofiya -grad, bulgaria, (Design Alliance ltd). 03598 9988 4154.
This is one meticulous ,careful guy. He came up with a new unit that looks identical to the one that i broke.
I am posting this because it may be of use to many van owners,and i am so glad to get a unit that looks right.

Brilliant, thank you.

Thanks for your compliment too

 

[glastry]

Your window is very good, but i was so gutted after breaking a window in my 38 year old van, that i was in despair!, i just wanted to put it right- sometimes these things are sent to try us!- sad isn't it , its only an old van. Maybe Jim could see merit in letting people know about this guy?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Your window is very good, but i was so gutted after breaking a window in my 38 year old van, that i was in despair!, i just wanted to put it right- sometimes these things are sent to try us!- sad isn't it , its only an old van. Maybe Jim could see merit in letting people know about this guy?

That would be good

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

A few more photos to make it clearer ! Pardon the pun View attachment 728901View attachment 728902View attachment 728903View attachment 728904View attachment 728905View attachment 728906View attachment 728907

Looks great

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Rusticrogers]

Looks excellent. I need to replace one on mine that has cracked.

 

[donkey]

That's a very tidy job, well done. Did you window tint it or did it come already tinted? If the later, how did you decide on the level of tint?

Geoff

 

[EuroTrotters]

That's a very tidy job, well done. Did you window tint it or did it come already tinted? If the later, how did you decide on the level of tint?

Geoff

Already tinted. Supplied in clear, light smoke and dark smoke. That’s dark smoke

 

[TheBig1]

The other huge benefit is that the sheet acrylic window is going to be massively stronger than the original

 

[EuroTrotters]

Impressive job. People just dot believe you when you say use the proper cleaner on plastic windows. They like Tcut and Brasso and other dodgy products that can cause reactions with the plastic.

I use this ... as seen in photos above

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}