Wow, lots of interest in this subject.I stand by my reporting of the
junkyard caper. Why risk the windshield popping out and hurting someone,
just for a cool black gasket look,or because someone dosent like the old
stuff,and lacks the ability to reinstall them?.VW went to the trouble to
put them in for a reason.I have seen them on other makes too.Who am I to
remove them? Not me , thats all. This is the main reason that I replaced
all my strips when I had my westy repainted recently.Took all the windows
out myself.Yes, I have tried to do this the other way and I ruined a $20
strip. I had the "tool", but I think it takes a 4 year degree in auto body
to know how to use it.Even then, I dont think it will work properly.  I
installed my windows w/the new locking strips, and still couldnt get the
sliding door strip right.I paid $35 for a professional to reinstall the
strip . He used the tool, and butchered my strip. Each corner was ,I dont
know how to describe it ,ruffff,and the chrome bad.Not the smooth chrome
like the rest the strip had.The body shop where I had my van done, said
that the tool will not work well. Even a go westy salesperson agreed with
me on this, when I bought the strips ,and not the tool that was
offered..They sell the tool but install the strip the way that I do.