I just had my 240d's windshield replaced.
I ordered a new seal from Mercedes source.
According to my trusted mechanic, the top corners weren't molded to the glass as the bottom corners were- making it very difficult to put the windshield in- resulting in the chrome sticking out slightly in one corner.
He says it's sealed- and it doesn't look too bad.
But......I'm about to have him do the front windshield replacement on my baby- my 300D. I have a new seal- the same kind that we used for the 240d.
What gives? Is there a better seal to work with? Is there a trick we need to know?
I figured I'd check with the collective before proceeding.
Please advise.
Thanks in advance.
Jay

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Wordmanjay
Tribetown, Ohio

That is correct, only the bottom corners are molded in.

I suggest that if the seal you bought from Mercedes source is not a OEM Mercedes seal you should get one from the dealer for your 300D.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

There are detailed instructions for the w123 rear windscreen here

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123RearWindowSeal

As for better seals - I think most people who have tried to fit seals that weren't sourced from the dealer say that the dealer ones are the best.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I believe the Mercedes factory windsheid gaskets do fit better, BUT.... I've installed two Mercedes windshields using Mercedes gaskets, and both times the rubber seemed to age and crack prematurely. I suspect many of the factory gaskets have been sitting on the shelf way too long. The replacement windshield gasket on my '82 240D is now showing serious cracking in the upper corners after two years. So be forwarned!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

That is not good news.

Should we be asking Mercedes are a can of Aerospace303 to help the signs of premature aging?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I did both my front and rear window on my 1980 W123 300D.

Neither seals were OEM dealer.

Both went in fine, both work great. I do use aerospace303 protectant
in hopes they will not dry out again.

My trim fits well, considering I probably caused any misshapen damage
myself because of how hard it is to work with.

Rubber mallet and a block of wood helped finish the fit.

I do not understand the comments about bottom corners molded in.
My seal was pretty simple, fits around the glass.
But the procedure is very specific, and everybody knows that trim
has to be done correctly
(window out, seal off, trim off - trim into new seal,seal on window, window in)

Did I get that right ?

My teenage son and I did both windows pretty easily.

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80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

The problem my mechanic had was the top corners not being molded to the glass like the bottom piece.
Top doesn't stay on the glass very good- needed to be taped to the glass before install.
Because the top corners weren't molded, the molding didn't want to sit in the groove very well.

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Wordmanjay
Tribetown, Ohio

I've done both the front and rear on my 240. Getting the rubber on the front was harder than the back. It took two people and a lot of soapy water. The trim holds the rubber on the window. So you have to put the rubber on the glass the best you can. Then work the trim in, it took some doing but I finally got it all in place. The trim will kind of snap into the rubber when everything is in the right place. A spray bottle of soapy water is the key.

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