W123 Windshield Job - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rs899 · #1 05-23-2007, 05:59 PM

I respectfully disagree. This is a relatively easy job with great rewards ( what happens if/you find rust in the window channel?). Yes, it gets easier the more you do it - and I have done about 5 now and am in the middle of doing a W116 windshield ( wrong gasket

). I have 9 cars and they all have rubber gaskets so farming this out time and time again is not cost effective for me.

I would rather do this and leave rebuilding my front end to someone younger and more supple, given the choice.

It certainly helps to mitigate your risk and have a plan B if you are going to do this.

Knowing months ago that I would be doing this, I found a decent windshield and rear window at a upullit for about $25 total (on sale). The glass I have is good anyway, so I have a backup. And right now there are 2 W116s in the same yard with good glass and trim, and one of these even has my color interior.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it( watch me screw up this weekend).

Rick

tobybul · #2 05-23-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

I respectfully disagree. This is a relatively easy job with great rewards ( what happens if/you find rust in the window channel?). Yes, it gets easier the more you do it - and I have done about 5 now and am in the middle of doing a W116 windshield ( wrong gasket

). I have 9 cars and they all have rubber gaskets so farming this out time and time again is not cost effective for me.

I would rather do this and leave rebuilding my front end to someone younger and more supple, given the choice.

Rick

Rick, how about doing a pictorial of this process for us wanna be's

rs899 · #3 05-23-2007, 07:53 PM

Hmm, I might but last time it took me, my wife AND my 6 yr old daughter at the same time to get the gasket seated (she was holding the string). I don't think the guinea pigs we have have opposable thumbs.

That is a downside- you need at least 2 people available for , figure ,an hour for the first one. I think we did the last one in about 30 minutes. That's just gasket install time.

The prep time can be a lot more. This W116 has ossified gaskets (as did the 77 W123 we did about a year ago). Once you cut the old gasket and glass out, a lot of what remains is hard as a rock. I had to really work hard with a putty knife to get it out and eventually resorted to scrubbing it out with enamel reducer on an old towel- what a messy chore. It really seems to be best to pull these things when they aren't quite so old.

I may be able to take some prep pictures, but really, the trick is getting the glass/trim/gasket combo set exactly in the proper place on the frame. If you are off center, too high or too low, the gasket will bind and you risk cracking the glass. And probably there is a great deal of risk when you stretch the gasket over the glass. It fits very snugly and any extra pulling will result in glass failure. The back windows seem really thin but (knocks wood) I've done 2 so far without failure.

Rick

Rashakor · #4 05-23-2007, 08:03 PM

I actually disagree as well.
The technique is not as hard and at 30 dollars a pop (windshield at u-pull) it is cheaper to buy 3 or 4 windshields to do it yourself than to pay somebody to do it (and have them crack it as well!!!).

IMHO, there are a few points to pay attention.
-Buy a OE gasket. not OEM not aftermarket. only OE. it fit perfectly on the glass, on the frame and... and.... and on the trim. you are a brute if you mess up a gasket!!!
- pry the trim with all the love and care you can. and then some more. and before mounting the trim+glass+seal assembly insure yourself that the trim is perfectly straight. Glass will not go in properly without the trim perfectly aligned.
- use soap as lubricant and OE sealant
- i would POR15 the frame while the glass is out. and get a new foam liner (wind and road noise reduction main factor!!!!)

rs899 · #5 05-23-2007, 08:26 PM

I don't want to sound disagreeable...but I respectfully disagree with some of what Rashakor said.

You do not ever, ever, ever, pry the trim. Cardinal sin. It will not fit right after that. Always cut the glass and trim out together , and then cut the trim off of the glass when you have it off the car. ( Unless the gasket is so bad that the trim just falls out)

And, I think the OEM gasket thing is urban legend. Being cheap ( and with 16 gaskets to do) I have never used an OEM gasket. Maybe they are easier, maybe they fit slightly better but I have yet to have a major problem with an aftermarket one. If anyone has used both on the same type of car I would like to hear from them. I think the preference for OEM gaskets comes from the professional installers. Why do they care if the gasket costs YOU more money as long as it saves THEM ten minutes so they can turn the next job faster?

The rest is spot on.. Of couse he mentioned the other pet peeve I have- no installer will guarantee that he won't crack your glass....

Rick