At the Masai4x4 workshop in Staffordshire, we have been fitting windows to Land Rover Defenders for over 20 years. The much-loved Land Rover Defender come in a variety of shapes and sizes and boasts a community of enthusiasts who lavish their affections upon their vehicle with after-market modifications and upgrades. One such upgrade is the fitting of Traditional Side Windows and one of the common questions we get asked is “where should a traditional side window be located?”
The placing of the windows is important because if they are not placed correctly then this causes problems with the locating of Interior Window Trims inside of the vehicle.
What to do if the vehicle does not have any side windows
If your Defender is a hardtop and does not currently have rear side windows, the easiest way to locate your window is to purchase our template. The template will ensure that the window is located correctly and maintains 160mm distance between the window and the back of the side panel. Land Rover Defenders built before 2004 were factory fitted with windows that had 50mm corner radius top and bottom. Vehicles built after 2004 had windows with a corner radius of 50mm at the top and 70mm at the bottom. Either design can be fitted to your vehicle but if you want to keep to original radius’s for your Defender then you want 50/50 radius for Pre 2004 Defenders, and 50/70 radius for Post 2004 Defenders.
What to do if the vehicle already has genuine traditional side windows
This is the easiest scenario as the replacement of the windows will be like-for-like as the windows will already be correctly located. Make sure when purchasing your windows that you choose the correct window for your vehicle, 50/50 radius for Pre 2004 Defenders, and 50/70 radius for Post 2004 Defenders.
What to do if the vehicle already has none genuine windows
If your vehicle is converted by the previous owners please check before you order Masai windows. The location needs to be 160 mm away from the back of the side panel and the measurements will be as below. If your vehicle fitted none genuine windows before you bought your defender, make sure that the location is the same as below otherwise you will not be able to fit internal trims to your Defender.
What to do if the vehicle is a 110 4-Door Utility
If you are fitting windows to a Defender 110 4-door utility, the distance between the window and the back of the side panel should be 140 mm. It you find out that the windows are fitted too far back or too far forward then the only choice is to either replace the side panels or fit Masai panoramic windows.
The Masai4x4 Traditional Side Window Fitting Service
If you are still a little nervous about fitting traditional side windows to your Defender, why not let our craftsman here at Masai4x4 undertake the fitting for you. The Masai4x4 fitting service has the correct tools, knowledge and experience to fit brand new traditional style side windows to you Defender and deliver a first class result every time.
