My windshield seal is old and has cracked and separated from the roof somewhat, causing water leaks into the driver side footwells. For now, I treated the gap with a Silicone II sealer to minimize rain-related leaks, but it's only a temporary solution. Ultimately, I will need to have that seal replaced.

I searched the forum about this, and I found a few threads about this, but my questions is somewhat different. I have NO experience whatsoever replacing windshields or their seals on ANY cars. I would only give the car to an MB dealer to have this job done to make sure they put all the OEM materials, but I'm sure it will be expensive... What would be my chances of success if I decided to undertake this job myself? What sort of skill is necessary for this?

I like this question.
Recently I replaced my rear window seal, having never done a window seal on any car.

In my favor I had:
MB manual for body that explained removing and installing window.
Dry clean place to work on car inside.
All the time I needed (spent a week on the whole thing going really slow).
The willingness to take it to a local window shop in case I failed.
A spare replacment window from a donor in case mine broke.

I think a first-timer can do this, how else can you learn ?

You don't mention how much other stuff you do yourself.
It takes a can-do attitude.

For your own sake, check out a local window installer, ask if they have experience with MB.
I found a local shop that was okay with replaceing the seal for around $100 labor only.
Actually quite a deal.
I did not use the MB factory seal, a billion members here will certainly
chastise me for that. Whatever.

I ended up doing it myself. Completely removed window alone.
Used teenage son to help install.

Another member only a week later did front window. Must have been his first time.
It came out okay.

If you have the time, patience, place to work uninterrupted, go for it.

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Good point - I should qualify my other skills and working conditions. I haven't worked on the Mercedes yet because I just got it, but on my '87 Saab, I replaced valve cover gasket, rebuilt the distributor and replaced distributor oil seal, adjusted timing, replaced battery, replaced battery cable, removed and repaired starter, replaced front shocks, replaced balljoints, replaced headlight, and maybe a couple other jobs I might be forgetting.

Working conditions... I live in an apartment complex, where I do not have a garage or a driveway, just a public parking lot and a nice tree I am therefore at the mercy of the elements. If it's dry - I have dry conditions. If it rains - I don't. I only really have one day for the glass job because I don't want the car to sit without a glass overnight and I actually need the car on a regular basis. I can get my dad or my friend to help me where two more hands are needed. Generally, I work with barebone tools (whatever I accumulated from Saab work, which isn't that much) and try to buy whatever I need for a particular job that I don't have.

Do you think it can be done for the first time under those conditions, or would I be in too much of a rush?

The front glass is easier than the back glass. The worst senario is you break the glass , but a beginner should have little problem with this project - get a helper if you are not used to working with large, bulky things that break. It should not take you more than 2 hours to complete the task

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Before you just change the seal, take a drive toward the sun at the end or the beginning of the day and see how badly pitted it is. Since you just got the car, it would be a shame to do the seal and find out a week later that it would have made sense to put in a new pit free windshield. There a couple of states that will replace your windshield with no deductible if it is pitted badly.

Len

Installing a windshield (which is what you will be doing to install the seal) is a whole lot harder than a rear window. They are more curved and easy to break. I've done a number of rubber-held rear windows, but would probably defer a windshield to a professional, and expect to pay enough for him to replace a broken piece of glass now and then. And have him promise to replace it if he did break it, of course.

If you do this yourself, be sure to cut the old seal to remove the glass. Normally, you don't try to remove the glass from the seal leaving both intact. You destroy the part that you don't want to save.

i am trying to remember but it seems i pay from about 225 to 250 for a pro to do it with a new windshield and seal.

this is not something that i would ever do myself because of the chance of breakage. glass is pretty easy to break if handled just a little wrong.

i might try when i was a lot younger and if i had two extra windshields. but typically on a 20 yr old car the shield is so dirt pitted that it needs changing any way.

what the hell, when i was younger i would have driven with a crack til the shield started to fall out! lack of funding will do that to you.

tom w

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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

try calling a few glass plces and getting qoutes from them. it may well be worth the $$$ to have piece of mind, not having to leave car over nite w/out the window,cracking window,etc. i have done a bit of glass, but i have watched the pros do it first.( worked as a gopher in a body shop when i was 18)

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Dealers don't do their own glass. Call dealer or indy shop and get a recommendation.

In my opinion, doing this yourself is definitely not the way to go. I presume your time is worth something. If you screw it up, then you will have to pay to have it corrected. There is a possibility of damaging interior items during the removal.

Windshield replacement market is highly competitive and thus pretty cheap.
They will come out and do it in your parking spot. The two windshields I have had done on my 300E's were around $250 bucks.

Steve

If its the front windsheild there is no seal, you chaulk the heck out of it and stick in in.

Also if you have glass coverage on the car call your insurance company. Usually they will cover it, and you get a nice new free windsheild!

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If you do decide to do it yourself (Not recommended) be sure to wear rubber gloves. Gloves are MANDATORY, so as not to get any of the oil from your skin onto the new seal. Any minute traces of skin oil, will cause the glass sealent not to seal properly, causing the glass may pop out in the slightest accident.

Observe the pros, or even TV commercials you'll see what I mean.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

I was a bit reluctant about this project, and after these replies, I think I'll look for a way to contract this job out. My insurance deductible is too high to cover the windshield, and I don't want to change my policy temporarily so it covers the windshield. The glass is in good shape - it doesn't bother me to look through it whether it's head-on sun or headlights. There are no cracks either. I'll check with the dealer who they use for glasswork (if they'll tell me), and there's also a shop I know of in Princeton area that service primarily Euro cars.

I let a firm called Binswanger Glass do mine last year (they are a chain). I think they did a good job and for $250 installed provided me with a brand new Pilkinton tinted windshied to replace my badly pitted one with three pebble holes in my '98 E300.
Most glass guys won't take on a seal replacement without making you indemnify them from breaking it during removal. Apparently more often than not they can't get the old one out without breaking it. I can understand this after seeing how they remove it (there is a tool they run around the seams that runs between the glass and the seal but the bottom is especially hard to get loose...my old one cracked while they were taking it out and they were being pretty careful about it.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

There is a place here local that comes to your house to do it and charges $85/seal (I supplied the new seal). They did a very good job.

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Jim

I have done about a half- dozen of these and haven't broken one yet (knock wood). The last one took literally half an hour. The first one took all day. The learning curve is very steep on these- but if you don't try the first one you will never get the experience. I would suggest getting quotes first on having someone pop a new one in at your place. I found them to be surprisingly cheap for the W123 (like $200 installed). Then , if you break it, call them over to install a new one. If you are careful and CUT the old seal out, I think odds are in your favor to have success.

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