85 300td windshield leak - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

greasyv · #1 08-24-2006, 08:48 PM

I have narrowed down a water leak to the seal around my windshield. anyone have this problem? Left unattended it can build up a substantial amount of water on my floorboard.
do you have to replace the whole windshield or just a new seal?

jonschwenke · #2 08-24-2006, 09:18 PM

I've got an 84 wagon and it leaks at the NEW gasket behind the glass by the drivers side....not where the gasket meets the body. Very strange I think. I recently bought some sealant and was waiting for a nice dry day to clean the hell out of the gasket and glass and try to get it sealed. I'm sick of the floormat squish and the potential rusting out of the floors

! I'm in Atlanta too, so if you wanna meet up and compare notes and wagons, I'm game. Shoot me an email or PM.

Jon

greasyv · #3 08-24-2006, 10:24 PM

would definitely like to meet up and compare notes. I am in the Roswell area but drive from midtown chamblee and up to alpharetta. also in the beginning stages of vegging. I have most of the equipment and how to info I just haven't taken time to install....

I am curious how to stop this leak......

jshadows · #4 08-24-2006, 10:46 PM

I have a couple of leaks on my '82. How much did you pay to have the new seal installed. When I was in DC 2 weeks ago they were quoting me anywhere from $175-$250 just for installation (I already have the part). Will try again here in NOLA, but want to set my expectations.

#5 08-24-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshadows

I have a couple of leaks on my '82. How much did you pay to have the new seal installed. When I was in DC 2 weeks ago they were quoting me anywhere from $175-$250 just for installation (I already have the part). Will try again here in NOLA, but want to set my expectations.

That sounds high. As I recall, I only paid about $200 for a new windshield, including installation.

jshadows · #6 08-24-2006, 11:57 PM

I thought so too, that's why I chose not to use their services and suffer with the leaks in what appears to be a very rainy rainy season here in NO.

They estimated 2-3 hours labor to remove the chrome trim and windshield and place the new gasket in...seemed a bit excessive too. Maybe I was supposed to pay for the coffee and lunch breaks too.

JimmyL · #7 08-25-2006, 12:27 AM

Do either of your leaks drip down on the emergency brake pedal? My wagon has a leak in fairly heavy rain, and it drips down onto the emergency brake pedal.
The hood drains are spotless, and it doesn't get wet if I pour down that side sunroof drain. I had thought maybe the spout/tube connection might be cati-wampass, but it is dry as a bone when I pour down it.
Always drips when it rains, and if heavy and sustained it floods the back floorboard.........

Mismost · #8 08-25-2006, 12:39 AM

I just used black silicone and plastic knives to seal up the gasket. The knives are usefully for lifting the gasket and scraping the crud out from under them. Then cut the tube nozzle for a thin bead and using the knives again to lift the gasket, insert the nozzle of the silicone under the gasket and apply a thin bead.

I also used masking tape around the edge of the gasket which kept the excess silicone off the glass and made clean up a breeze. Spent about 4 bucks and one hour...no more leaks. Thanks to twalgamuth of this board.

greasyv · #9 08-25-2006, 04:52 AM

yes it leaks right down the emergency brake pedal. took me a while to figure out it was coming from the windshield but if you use a water hose you can pretty much figure it out quickly.

good idea about the silicone and alot cheaper than $200 think I will try that before I buy a new windshield. That's why I like this site so much, always another way to solve the problem cheaper or save tons of time and frustration.

jshadows · #10 08-25-2006, 08:44 AM

Yep. After a big rain a few weeks ago and driving in it, when I pulled emergency brake lever got a spray of water. It's gotta be pretty torrential rain to get in there though and generally I have to be driving.

I checked likely entrance points and they didn't look suspect. There's a little air hole right around the speaker cover that is just below the windshield..that's the only place I could imagine it actually leaking. If y'all have other theories of where it's coming in from I'm interested.

riethoven · #11 08-25-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mismost

I just used black silicone and plastic knives to seal up the gasket. The knives are usefully for lifting the gasket and scraping the crud out from under them. Then cut the tube nozzle for a thin bead and using the knives again to lift the gasket, insert the nozzle of the silicone under the gasket and apply a thin bead.

I also used masking tape around the edge of the gasket which kept the excess silicone off the glass and made clean up a breeze. Spent about 4 bucks and one hour...no more leaks. Thanks to twalgamuth of this board.

The windshield shops use butyl which stays very flexible and adheres well to rubber and is easier to clean up than silicone.

I had my windshield replaced by others and they did a crap job. No one knows how to install windshields with gaskets and chrome anymore. They installed the aluminium strips after the windshield was installed. Forcing things in they made a little tear in the gasket at one of the corners. I looked at the FSM and it says to install the strips before you install the windshield. I already knew this from installing other Euro windshields but figured these guys do this for a living. Just another reason to never let anyone touch my cars.

However one thing they did do well was to caulk the sh_t out of it with the butyl caulk between the glass and the gasket and the body and the gasket. I still have a small leak elsewhere but that stopped most of the water.

Mismost · #12 08-25-2006, 06:58 PM

from my long gone days as an auto glass installer I seem to recall the glass must be installed first and the chrome strips actually work to close up the gasket to glass seal...never did a Mercedes though, but it would be a pain to install the glass after the strips were in place.

butyl is great stuff, but nasty to work with as it gets stringy and never gets hard....besides that it does not come in small tubes like silicone...either one will work.

Keith_otr · #13 08-25-2006, 09:42 PM

I paid $200 for a new windshield from Triumph Auto Glass. My original windshield was pitted and I had a small leak. The leak was fixed with the new windshield (and rubber). The new glass isn't as hard as the original though. I've got a few light scratches on it from a PLASTIC (!) ice scraper.

Keith

tobybul · #14 08-25-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasyv

I have narrowed down a water leak to the seal around my windshield. anyone have this problem? Left unattended it can build up a substantial amount of water on my floorboard.
do you have to replace the whole windshield or just a new seal?

I had a post on this..... per the suggestion of a friend who has had experience with his owm MBs, I put petroleum jelly generously on the outer rubber seal where its leaking behind the seal. Mine is on the lower drivers side corner. I carefully pried that corner and notice dirt underneath. I cleaned it first and then applied the jelly. I also applied jelly on all exposed rubber seal both outside and inside. I haven't had rain yet but I can see that the melted jelly seeps in to the path of the leak. It replenishes the oil that dried out over the years. Its also great to apply on the dash board - just a thin film - and pretty much on all the vynil in the car like the door panels. Let the car sit out in the sun after you do this so the petroleum gets absorbed in the the rubber. I found it also good for the rubber pads and wraps on the bumper. I did not apply it on the seats. But I might when I know no one will be sitting on them for a while.

At least this is harmless and if it doesnt work on the windshield I can try the silicone seal later. They say a urethane seal is better for a more permanent fix.