Door seals / alignment

[AshM]

I want to replace all of the rubber door seals on my S2 FHC plus attempt some minor door re-alignment improvement too.

Question is sequence...

Door seals first and then door alignment?

thanks
Ash

[PhilP]

Hi Ash
Sorry about the delay in posting a reply but I’ve only just seen your post. I’m surprised somebody hasn’t told you the correct way of doing it all I can tell you is what worked for me. I bought my car restored by a specialised but was never 100% happy with the doors, they closed and locked well but we’re about 3mm proud when shut.
I decided to remove all the rubbers and was surprised how well the doors closed without them. I set the doors to fit flush and lock without the rubbers and then started refitting the rubber from the A post back. With the A post rubber fitted the door still closed correctly but as soon as I fitted the B post and cill rubber the doors sat proud again. I tried a new set of seals but they were just the same so I decided to take my belt sander to the back side of the seals and reduce the thickness of them. With a bit of patience and a few trial fits I got the doors to close correctly. When I glued the seals in place I was pleasantly surprised as the doors had also stopped letting water in when I washed the car something it had always done since buying the car.
It’s defiantly worth the effort to get the doors to close correctly as my car looks far better now not Audi or BMW shut lines but the average person would think they were perfect.

Hope this helps

Phil

[AshM]

Thanks Phil, very helpful.

And perfect timing, the first door is to be worked on tomorrow!

Cheers
Ash