I'm stripping the car down for the paint shop and wanted to remove the side rear windows. I tried removing the philips head screw holding the window to the latch but that sucker is on TIGHT. I removed the latch from the C piller and was just able to remove the window that way but I know there must be a better, and safer, method.
--
don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35

If you are trying to get the Philips screwdriver to stay in the head of the screw, first dip the screw driver bit is a bit of valve grinding compound. The small sharp grit gives the driver bit a "bite" that helps it from slipping out of the screw head.

You can put a lot more torque on the driver.

There's only 2 methods.. and you tried both. I had luck every time i locked my keys in the car by finding a phillips screwdriver, i was never too keen on this method due to the force exerted on the screw with the glass underneath. It never did crack, but the fear was there. After the first time i used a little wd40 on the screw just to keep it lubed up for the next time i needed to use it...

Scott

We used to break into a friend's 242 all the time this way, and he never figured out how we were doing it until we showed him... he wasn't that bright.... anyway, I've always been able to do it with a great big #4 phillips or that 140/164 hubcap tool... maybe you need to put a wrench around the screwdriver the first time but after that they're EASY...
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 221K, 88 744GLE- 202K, 91 244 181K, 88 244GL 145K

If you're real good- or real patient- or real lucky, you can fish a coat hanger in through the open window and unlock the car. Not that I'd know, but I had this friend...