w123: living with a leaky windshield seal = dumb idea - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Zacharias · #1 08-11-2014, 10:56 AM

Others have posted similar warnings in the past after getting nasty surprises with their w123 floors, now my turn.

When I got my 1980 300td the windshield seal was leaking. Badly. When it rained, water ran down the inside of the windshield. Just parked. I fixed it within months.

This is an ex-Oklahoma car with no rust to speak of. I was aware at the time that the seal problem had resulted in a small hole in the driver's side floor, right at the back of the rear footwell (very common result of a leaky seal). This was fixed for the safety inspection.

On the weekend I went to change the driver's seat and noticed something odd about the rear mounting bracket, tunnel side. Look closely with a worklight.... Oh, okay, it's basically just floating there... the metal has rusted out all around it in a neat little seam all the way around the bracket, like someone cut it. Never seen something go quite like that. Rest of the floor is fine.

So the moral of this story: If you are driving around with a leaky windshield seal, try pulling up your mats and having a good look with a work light (and maybe a few pokes with a big flat-blade screwdriver). You may find that you are living in a fool's paradise.

Aside: I have come to the conclusion that this car does not want to leave me. Ever. Worst two-steps-forward, three-steps-back car of my experience. Every "simple" job uncovers more issues (usually not simple).

(sound of teeth grinding)

Stretch · #2 08-11-2014, 11:24 AM

Sorry to hear about the troubles (I know the feeling too if that helps)

Adriel · #3 08-11-2014, 11:39 AM

The trouble is replacing the windshield is not D.Y.I. friendly and good seals are apparently N.L.A., so thus why I left mine alone. Tram just kept using silicone which upset me.

uberwasser · #4 08-11-2014, 11:48 AM

The seals are still available from the dealer. And there are aftermarket ones that people have had luck with. Some forum members have even reported that the apparent quality of the URO seals has improved to where they can be easily installed and will seal (longevity unknown).

I'll be looking to do this on my '79 soon. The front is in so-so shape - the back is missing a huge chunk in one corner. Thankfully they only seem to leak in to the cabin or trunk if we have long periods of rain, which doesn't happen much here in Tucson. I've checked each time, but the quick storms that roll through haven't lead to any water in the floor pans all summer.

Zacharias · #5 08-11-2014, 12:02 PM

Observations:

- mobile glass installers are not particularly expensive and will readily install glass and/or seals you provide (obviously they won't guarantee work using supplied parts).
- in any case, having a mobile installer replace your seal is much cheaper than welding patches into your floor, unless you own a MIG already and happen to like welding.

- there have been several positive posts from members who used URO windshield and door seals and found them to work fine.

Adriel · #6 08-11-2014, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Observations:

- mobile glass installers are not particularly expensive and will readily install glass and/or seals you provide (obviously they won't guarantee work using supplied parts).
- in any case, having a mobile installer replace your seal is much cheaper than welding patches into your floor, unless you own a MIG already and happen to like welding.

- there have been several positive posts from members who used URO windshield and door seals and found them to work fine.

Do this mobile glass installers still know how to do seals with trim? My Volkswagen has trim and such a pain my former friend had me leave it out and I much regret it since he threw out the trim. I haven't ever had good luck with hiring work out and hate for them to bend something that I can't even get from a junk yard.

Zacharias · #7 08-11-2014, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

Do this mobile glass installers still know how to do seals with trim?

Best way to find out would be to ask.

I would imagine you might have a better shot, where you are located and there are still older cars on the road, than here in the rust belt where there are few to none?

Honestly my caution on this was not really aimed at those of you who live in dry states....

uberwasser · #8 08-11-2014, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Best way to find out would be to ask.

I would imagine you might have a better shot, where you are located and there are still older cars on the road, than here in the rust belt where there are few to none?

Honestly my caution on this was not really aimed at those of you who live in dry states....

Yet we probably all have the worst windshield seals, because people don't fix them in dry states

jay_bob · #9 08-11-2014, 12:45 PM

When I had a 123 I used Safelite Auto Glass.

They wanted to do the repair in their shop and not in the field. They had a guy in the shop who knew how to rope it in the old school way.

They used a true MB seal IIRC.

Mark DiSilvestro · #10 08-11-2014, 12:57 PM

I've replaced two Mercedes windshields in the past three decades. The first was on my old Ponton 180 in 1988. The second was by a glass-shop on my '82 240D in 2009. Both times the gasket was from Mercedes. NEVER AGAIN!
The OE gaskets are too old and have obviously been sitting on the shelf way too long. Both of mine cracked & rotted after a just few years until they looked nearly as bad as the original, 27-29 year-old gaskets. Next time, I'm letting the glass shop deal with getting their gasket to fit.

Happy Motoring, Mark

jay_bob · #11 08-11-2014, 02:11 PM

Hmm

I wonder if that is what happened to Greazzer.

He inherited the body of that car for his Sleeper Part Deux project and he was commenting on having to replace the windshield recently. I had the windshield replaced in 2012.

funola · #12 08-11-2014, 02:57 PM

Windshield leak is insidious and you may not know that damage is occuring because of the thick carpeting with foam layer. This reminds me to continue development of the moisture alarm I was working on.

As for windshield replacement, I had Safelite do the first one one on my 83 300D which was botched due to using the wrong procedure (roped in without the trim) and it leaked. They tried multiple times to seal the leak with urethane unsuccessfully. The second windshield (rear glass with the defroster) I did myself following factory procedure with a used Mecedes glass and the same (old) gasket came out perfect, no leaks.

A month ago I had 2 VW windshields done at home (fully covered by insurance) by a local glass shop and both came out perfect. One was a rope in the other a glue in. I can tell this guy was good, He was happy to explain what he was doing and answer my questions. He has 25 years experience working for the same shop. I told him about my experience with Safelite and he says those guys with 1 or 2 years experience gets $12 an hour and once they get more experience, they leave for higher paying jobs. I don't know if that's true or not but experience is what counts in my book. You may luck out and get someone good from Safelite but my advice is do your research and find a local shop with long term employees. He also told me Safelite have their own line of glass and gaskets and they are inferior to many competing replacement parts out there.

Adriel · #13 08-11-2014, 03:47 PM

Man you all have a lot of good information! Thank you so very much!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Best way to find out would be to ask.

I would imagine you might have a better shot, where you are located and there are still older cars on the road, than here in the rust belt where there are few to none?

Honestly my caution on this was not really aimed at those of you who live in dry states....

I rarely see a classic like I do when in Sandy Eggo. But, valid point about asking and guess if they mess it up they have to be the ones to make it right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberwasser

Yet we probably all have the worst windshield seals, because people don't fix them in dry states

We also have monsoon rains. That is how I found out my seal leaks, as pushed her out of the garage so I could wash her in the rain. She also spent a good part of her life in Oregon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay_bob

When I had a 123 I used Safelite Auto Glass.

They wanted to do the repair in their shop and not in the field. They had a guy in the shop who knew how to rope it in the old school way.

They used a true MB seal IIRC.

Safelite, huh? I wonder what they do if the seal failed sooner than it should?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

I've replaced two Mercedes windshields in the past three decades. The first was on my old Ponton 180 in 1988. The second was by a glass-shop on my '82 240D in 2009. Both times the gasket was from Mercedes. NEVER AGAIN!
The OE gaskets are too old and have obviously been sitting on the shelf way too long. Both of mine cracked & rotted after a just few years until they looked nearly as bad as the original, 27-29 year-old gaskets. Next time, I'm letting the glass shop deal with getting their gasket to fit.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark, interesting that Mercedes is ripping folks off by selling a useless product! Too bad! I will keep that in mind!

Adriel · #14 08-11-2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Windshield leak is insidious and you may not know that damage is occuring because of the thick carpeting with foam layer. This reminds me to continue development of the moisture alarm I was working on.

As for windshield replacement, I had Safelite do the first one one on my 83 300D which was botched due to using the wrong procedure (roped in without the trim) and it leaked. They tried multiple times to seal the leak with urethane unsuccessfully. The second windshield (rear glass with the defroster) I did myself following factory procedure with a used Mecedes glass and the same (old) gasket came out perfect, no leaks.

A month ago I had 2 VW windshields done at home (fully covered by insurance) by a local glass shop and both came out perfect. One was a rope in the other a glue in. I can tell this guy was good, He was happy to explain what he was doing and answer my questions. He has 25 years experience working for the same shop. I told him about my experience with Safelite and he says those guys with 1 or 2 years experience gets $12 an hour and once they get more experience, they leave for higher paying jobs. I don't know if that's true or not but experience is what counts in my book. You may luck out and get someone good from Safelite but my advice is do your research and find a local shop with long term employees. He also told me Safelite have their own line of glass and gaskets and they are inferior to many competing replacement parts out there.

Oh dear!

I was going to look small business and this basically does it. Thank you so very much!

cooljjay · #15 08-11-2014, 05:16 PM

I have uro seals on both my cars, one is 7 years old and was reinstalled....no leaks, perfect seal and no cracking yet.....the install takes time, but it is pretty simply....oh course I want mine perfect so it takes me a good while to do it. I clean the gunk off the glass, clean the pinch weld, rust proof it, fix the head liner....etc...safelite did one of mine years ago, did an excellent job....called them about 2 years ago, told me they no longer do these cars...