The front glass in a recently purchased 1983 240d was cracked so found a nice piece of Pilkington ($50) at my local pick 'n pull and ordered a factory seal (discounted to $141 list is $192) from the local Benz dealer.

After pulling the old glass and spending three hours cleaning massive amounts of butyl from beneath the old seal I was ready to mount the seal and aluminum trim to the glass and rope it in.

Imagine my surprise when i discovered the seal was twisted! That's right, twisted. No matter how flat we laid it there was still one 360 degree twist remaining.

I thought it was odd that the part came in with no packaging—just a piece of cardboard with the order information wire tied to the seal. I did check for the Mercedes star at the time of purchase. It was there.

But today while looking it over we noticed it was stamped made in USA. I'd always thought these seals were made in a mold and come out ready to go. Apparently they are made in two pieces and the lower corners are vulcanized.

So I guess the day this seal came off the line the vulcanization wizards were asleep at the switch as were their inspectors.

If you are planning to replace your W123 front or back glass seal anytime soon you may want to inspect your purchase before leaving the dealer.

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Probably switching to URO windshield gasket brand now or some similar trash.

That is depressing.

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

Return the seal to the dealer and order a new one from Tom Hanson at the MBZ Classic Center. Thomas.Hanson@mbusa.com

I have used three over the past year and never had a problem.

Frankly I am surprised Mercedes would deliver a part like that.

I know here in Canada sometimes they transfer an old-stock part from dealer to dealer to fill an order. Assuming they also do in the USA, I wonder if that is where it came from.

I got a big chunk off my brand NOS w123 fender that way, but thankfully the outcome was more positive.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I know the hate for uro parts....but I must admit, I like their seals....I have never had an issue with them, running them on both my cars....have reused to of them and they are in perfect shape...ones been in for 5 years, another 3 and just got another one....trim grips in fine and provides an excellent seal.....

Another proven fact, is the fact that OEM seals are no better then uro seals....the OEM seals have usually been on a shelf for 20yrs....members have reported these seals cracking in like 3 months...

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I think all window rubber seals are stored twisted like a pretzel in a bag. Over time it takes the shape of a pretzel. You have to lay it out flat (in a hot car in the sun speeds it up) and that unkinks it over a period of time. If they stored in flat on cardboard backing the shape of the windshield, you would not be having that problem but it would probably raise the price due to increased packaging and storage cost.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

So, to be clear you rolled in a front seal on a w123 and used a URO seal.
Please share more info. A new seal is on my list.

So how did you resolve the issue? Surely it could not have been installed as it was twisted. I hope you sent it back for a replacement.

My OE seal was purchased and installed in 2007 - about 7 years ago. No problems since. Glass was from Safelite. They were happy to use the OE seal I provided. Back then it was $120.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Shortly after discovering the original seal was twisted I called the dealer and asked them to order another. They had it for me overnight.

Before leaving the dealership I inspected the new one and there was no twist but the same 'made in the USA' mark in the mold.

The install was uneventful. I did use Aerospace Protectant (formula 303) as a lube to install the metal trim and sprayed it on both the car and the rubber before installing the window. Any other time I'd used window cleaner.

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Are you really surprised?

I've noticed quite a variable quality in the parts I buy from the dealer - this is why I play the find out who makes the part game and try to get it direct. The dealer is after all only a middle man...

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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!

All the glass was busted out of my euro when I got it back.

I had the windsheild replaced in the euro by safelite, at least 5 years ago, I re used this same seal maybe a month ago when I installed the front windshield again.

I use the rear windshield seal that was a uro seal that I put into the euro 3 years ago on the 78.

I then maybe a week ago bought another uro seal for the euro..

Boy try reading that five times fast

Installing the rear window is very very easy compared to the front...which is a royal PITA

When installing the seals, you need a high concentrate of soapy water, a bent screw driver/butter knife, block of wood encase the chrome has gotten bent.

You really need a helper, when you rope in the seal.....rope it in slowly and in small sections, running outside to adjust/pull the seal...

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So far I've used W-123 Coupe and Sedan grommets from Tom Hansen @ The Mercedes Classic Center to good effect . all were top quality and fit right , didn't leak , not even the rear Coupe seal .

When buying rubber , never go for the cheapo stuff ,it'll always go in harder and be a PIA sooner than later .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

As long as I've been here this is the first time I've heard of issues with a factory front windshield seal. Non factory? Plenty of problems. I replaced two seals with from the dealer factory seals and they were great. I had a local guy come and do it for me and it was cheap ($150- I provide the seal) and well worth it. New glass on one and I kept the glass on the other- both turned out fine and no leaks or issues to this day. I'd never tell anyone to buy anything but from the dealer for this item- and the OP's experience supports this despite the first one being "twisted"; the dealer made it right.

Main problem I've had with the 'factory' seals is age. They've been sitting on the shelf at the dealer way too long. I don't have a garage to house my diesels. The gaskets fit OK, but once installed and exposed to the weather and UV, they rapidly rot & crack.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

All the rubber parts I buy from the dealer come with a date of manufacture on them - to the best of my knowledge the parts I have bought recently have been less than a year old.

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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!