Was cruising about 75 today in the Benz, heater on, car running great. All the sudden I heard a very loud bang (my ears are still ringing) and my diver side glass blew in all over me and the rest of the car. I stopped, swept the glass off the seat, put on three coats, gloves, hat, and wrapped up in a sleeping bag and continued on. Thankfully the freezing rain held off for the last two hours of the trip, but man it was cold anyway. Anyone had something like that happen?

Now I'm looking for new glass, the car is basically off the road until I get it. These cars are kinda rare, so I hope I'm not screwed. Quick search didn't reveal anywhere to buy it new, love to get it used but I don't have much time, I need the car back.

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1985 300D, 237k.
1994 F-350, 6.9 diesel, 5 spd manual, Banks Turbo. 261k.
Sold: 1985 300CD- 267K

yep, that can happen if the inside of the cabin is too much warmer than the air outside. Bummer man. I hope you find a good replacement for not too much.

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'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

Might check with jim harris here. he is in southern indiana. I think he may have a coupe.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

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

Made any really bad enemies lately? A bullet can do that to glass in a moving car.

No enemies, and I've actually never traveled that stretch of highway before (tried a new, slightly longer route, to alleviate boredom on my 3 hour trip home from college). And I don't have any enemies (although I did wait a few miles before pulling over after it happened, just in case). I did consider if someone could've accidentally shot it out, or maybe just a kid with a bb gun. There aren't any other bullet holes I can find in me or the car, so I kinda doubt it. But a kid with a really well placed bb shot, or maybe something from really far off, could've done it. I'll definitely look when I clean it out.

There weren't any other cars around so I don't see how flying gravel or anything could've done it either. It was about 30 degrees and I did have the heat cranked up. Maybe the 23 year old glass just finally gave it up. There is glass in the passenger side door cubby hole thing, as well as on the ledge behind the back seat, basically everywhere you can imagine. But at least I'm almost thawed out now.

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1985 300D, 237k.
1994 F-350, 6.9 diesel, 5 spd manual, Banks Turbo. 261k.
Sold: 1985 300CD- 267K

wow thats a little scary... I like my heat, i will have to be careful on the next trip to cincy and keep the vents set to the floor. BTW, Jim is great to deal with. Ive bought a whole bunch of stuff from him over the last year for my cars.

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

Heat is not the problem. I have a tempered glass cooktop, the burner surfaces will be hundreds of degrees hotter than the surrounding area on the glass (the side glass is tempered glass or TSG), thermal shock can be a little more of a problem, I would't want to de-ice the window suddenly with a bucket of steaming hot water for example, ... I drive my cars on days below zero F regularly, and in such conditions we start out with the defroster on its highest setting, sending all of the available hot air to the windshield and side windows for defrosting, TSG can take it, even the LSG windshield can take it well if it isn't cracked.

Look in the window frame for any exposed metal, seems that another CD had a broken driver window just a week ago while parked, quite a coincidence if it wasn't a BB or other impact. Tempered glass is highly stressed, tough from the sides but an impact on the edge can cause it to explode (ask me how I know, used to work with the stuff). If the weatherstrip has worn to a point where the window can vibrate or bounce and impact a piece of exposed metal around the edge or top it can explode in this way.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I had the passenger front glass on my car explode on me a few years ago when I was trying to realign the glass into the track/window seal....I accidentally flexed the glass slightly and BOOM, little pieces all over me. I took the door panel off and vacuumed up all the glass, then called auto glass specialists....they happened to have one in stock locally, and came out and replaced it in about 25-30 mins for $128 right in my driveway. It helped that I had removed the door panel for him. (I also put it back on) I don't trust people to not break things doing that.

If locating new glass is unsuccessful from normal glass places, I bet the dealer could get it for you quick...and real MB glass too....not sure of the $$ though.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Well, it was my friend Mike that had his 300CD driver's door glass broken while the car was parked, but he suspects neighborhood juveniles. A new coupe driver's glass is over $300 from Mercedes! Mike got one for $75 from a local salvage yard.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I think under the right conditions such as he described it is possible for the heat to break the glass. think of the 4 foot span of glass being very hot and the 4 feet of steel window frame of the body being cold. this could be stressing the window, then you hit a bump and somewhere on the 25 year old window gasket there is a spot that has hardened over time and exposure, or filled with 25 years of road grime to make a hard spot or the steel has worn through and there goes the glass. on the curved glass it is really easy for a side load to break it, like at the door frame pillars pushing toward the center, which is the direction the expansion differences would be worst. I think next time Im in a cold climate i will use the window vents more sparingly.

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I was driving a K-car on the PA turnpike when my windshield exploded. I closed my eyes as much as I could while still seeing the road and held my breath as I pulled off the road. It made a huge cloud of glass dust in the car. It shot glass all the way into the hatch area (it was a wagon). My face had splinters of glass in the surface of my skin so it was weeping blood.

I didn't see anything approaching the windshield before it happened, but there was a small crease in the hood right by the wipers and a 1/8" hole in the windshield at eye level that punctured the safety layer.

My point is, something obviously hit my windshield, but I didn't see it. I originally thought it was something like a thermal shock since it was winter and I had the defrost on high.

Maybe something flicked up off the road or bounced over from the oncoming traffic lanes and hit it.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Was stopped at a stop sign. Driver's side window blew in with much force. Asked car driver behind me if he saw anything either...nope. Later found a 2 oz. truck tire balance in the right rear seat crease. If that thing hadda hit my head I prolly would not be here.

Regards

Run-Em

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1983 300SD - SPARKY THE DIESEL
2004 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Roadster
1999 SLK - aka - LIL RED
1956 Chevy Nomad - aka - REAL MAD
1940 Ford dbl dr. Deluxe - aka - ORANGE U GLAD
1998 Kawasaki Nomad bike --

Well this is unfortunate. Glass America got my hopes up with a quote for $180 and change. Then when I went to schedule it they came up empty, no way to get it. No one has it. The Mercedes dealership can get it, there is exactly one in the country, for something over $400. Phil here at mercedesshop can get one for just under $300. Ouch. I've got a lead on some used, though, so hopefully that'll work out. Kinda makes a guy not want to drive an old car anymore.

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1985 300D, 237k.
1994 F-350, 6.9 diesel, 5 spd manual, Banks Turbo. 261k.
Sold: 1985 300CD- 267K

Its probably not so much that its old, its that it is a very unique car. The 300CD was relatively low production. You own a rare and awesome car, enjoy it!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I remember when I was knee hi to a grasshopper, driving along in a fiathful ford pinto wagon(i was in the back) and the window next to me shattered for no apparent reason. I bet my dad still thinks I did something to cause it.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.