W126 rear window design flaw.

[Hatterasguy]

I have my rear window out this week to fix some rust under the gasket. MB made a great car but they screwed up when they designed the body that holds the rear window. This is hard to explain but if you have had one out you will know what I am talking about. The channal that the gasket sits in collects water! MB didn't really give the water that gets behind the gasket a way to escape so it sits. The corners of the rear glass are the worst, thats why a lot of W126's have rust holes their. Also along the bottom of the lip two body parts are welded together. Open up your trunk and stick your finder up uner the rear window you will feel the seam. Rust gets in their and you really can't get it out. MB should have molded drains into the corners and center of the rear window. They could have drained the water right into the gutter the trunk gasket forms.

Their really isn't anything we can do to fix this, but if you plan on keeping your W126 for a awhile I would pull the rear window. The gasket costs $80 and the putty is $30. It isn't to big of a job and if you catch the rust early it is simple to fix.

So the W126 isn't perfect after all, just close.