What kind of lubricant grease can I lightly coat the rubber gaskets around my doors?

[JoeO]

I realize this isn't exactly a detailing question but you folks know your stuff about keeping a car looking and acting like new.

I understand the slight rattling sound coming from the gaskets rubbing together is not unusual for Audis. It's happening to mine. Everyone recommends greasing the rubber gaskets but I'm unsure of what exact lubricant to use. I don't want something harmful that will degrade the rubber and becomes a major catastrophe if I get some on my clothing.

I tried putting on 303 Aerospace liquid but that didn't work. I guess it's not really a lubricant. It's more of a protectant.

Any suggestions? I was thinking of trying petroleum jelly.

[NickS]

[JohnLZ7W]

[SouthboroAudiGuy]

[RKA]

Someone on the S4 forum was having a fit trying to track down a supplier for this stuff.

[JoeO]

Apparently the BMW folks have the same problem with squeeky door trim as us Audi folks. After doing an internet search and reading several of their forums, this is what I found....

There are two products that use the Gummipflege description. Gummi Pflege is not a brand. It means "Rubber Care" in German. The first Gummi Pflege product is made by BMW, is in a tube, and is almost like a thick greasy paste. From everything I read this is the better Gummi Pflege of the two. A lot of BMW people have used this product over the years.

The second Gummi Pflege product is made by 1Z and is more like a white liquid, somewhat similar looking to Aerospace 303 protectant. People often confuse this Gummi Pflege with the BMW product. They're not the same lubricant.

Just recently, within the past year, BMW stopped selling its tube of Gummi Pflege and removed it from distribution. There's rumors that it contained silicone and silicone can be damaging to certain types of rubbers after some time. So BMW stopped selling it and is now selling a brand called Carbaflo (KSP105) in its place. Supposedly this Carbaflo lubricant is better than the BMW Gummi Pflege because it contains no silicones and is made especially for stopping automotive squeaks (www.carbaflo.com). The downside is that it's expensive at $40 a tube, but it should be available at your BMW dealership (if not, they can order it). I'm going to stop by my local BMW dealership and try it. On a side note, BMW also sells a Concentrated Silicone Remover, but this is probably not necessary for most if you've never put a silicone grease on your door trim.

In my search, here are some other products which some people recommend (I cannot attest to whether they are harmful or not):

Zymol Seal
Wurth Rubber Care (silicone free)
Mequires NXT Tech product (some guy swears by this stuff - stops squeaks)
Pure Glycerine USP (bought at Rite-Aid)

Below is BMW Gummi Pflege PN 8214940715 (dis-continued):


Below is BMW Carbaflo (KSP105) PN 83230309627 (This is the one I've decided to try):

[JohnLZ7W]

[nynyvtecjstkickdinyo]

LETTER TO MIKE MILLER & RESPONSE:

Mike,
Last year, much to the chagrin of all BMW owners who care for their own cars, BMW discontinued the venerable Gummi-pflege rubber treatment. You have recommended using this product for years, and I don't know a single Bimmerphile that doesn't have a tube in their junk drawer for winter preparation of door seals, not to mention the regular care of very expensive rubber trim and engine components. I own 4 classic BMW's ranging from 1973-1993 and all of them need the Gummi-pflege to keep them from groaning at me when going over speed bumps. I have read every message board related to the topic, and nobody seems to be able to find a comparable replacement.

The masses are crying for a product to fill the void left by the loss of one of the best maintenance products BMW has ever produced, and nobody has come close to delivering. The product cost less than $8 per tube, and lasted a year if applied properly. I, as well as everybody I have talked to, would pay twice that price if BMW brought it back. Would a mass letter writing campaign or some kind of public outcry make BMW listen? Have you found a secret product that you would like to share with all of us that will work just as well?

James Rosenthal
Baltimore, MD

BMW Gummipfledge is a rubber care product formerly available in the U.S. under BMW part number 82 14 9 407 015, for about $7.50. It is an excellent product for stopping the horrible door gasket squeaks that plague some contemporary Bimmers. BMW cut off our supply of Gummipfledge actually about two years ago, with no explanation or replacement product.

The only product I have found that comes close to Gummipfledge is Zymol Seal (www.zymol.com), which costs four times as much, and works fine on door gaskets but does not have the wide range of other uses Gummipfledge has.

We have learned the Gummipfledge is readily available in the rest of the world; only we Americans must suffer without it. This leads me to suspect that BMW cut off our supply due to some senseless governmental labeling requirement -- the same thing that cut off our supply of original BMW touch-up paint a few years ago. Although BMW discontinued all the older colors, we can, once again, get touch up paint for newer models in the U.S. -- but not in spray cans; only brushable "paint sticks." So, we can only conclude that BMW could bring us Gummipfledge again if only whatever U.S. "environmental regulation" it ran afoul of could be satisfied, and we call on BMW to do exactly that and save us from the dreaded door gasket squeak once again.

BMW CCA members and BMW enthusiasts everywhere are encouraged to write BMW Customer Relations to request the reinstatement of Gummipfledge. Be sure to mention the part number, and as always, INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME AND TOWN!

Do not send your letters to Tech Talk. Send them here:

BMW of North America
Customer Relations
300 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677-7731

You can also call them at 800-831-1117 or e-mail them through the corporate web site at www.bmwusa.com. Go to BMW USA/Contact Us/Products and Services/Contact a BMW Representative.

Best regards,
Mike Miller

[phred]

it could be so old as to no longer be applicable

[nynyvtecjstkickdinyo]

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