Hello everyone, looking for tricks and tips on sunroof seal removal for paint on a 1983 W123 300TD. Also, any word on if the URO parts have improved, or still just don't bother????

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1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I have a URO brand sunroof seal in my SDL that I bought out of desperation to replace the original rock-hard one prevening my sunroof from closing. The sunroof is completely non-functional because the fit of the seal is so bad I can't believe it's being sold as a replacement. Save your money or buy OEM. It took 3 people to get my sunroof closed and it hasn't been opened since.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

Having a super hard time closing the sunroof with the original seal, and then having the exact same problem with the new seal, sure points to the problem being something other than the seal.

Kent Bergsma says lack of cleaning and lubrication is usually the problem with these if you're not able to easily able to move the sunroof with one hand.
https://youtu.be/zIAkmgg5DsI

More videos from Kent, see 10:45 where he says proper adjustment is vital for final closure (and to not use any lubricant but special MB sunroof grease).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCNplcjFLiU

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Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. - Twain

Not saying cleaning/adjustment/lube aren't important, but in my case the original seal was hard and shrunken. Very much sun-cooked, it broke out of the roof in pieces.

The replacement URO seal literally does not fit the hole. It is too big around (physically larger than the hole it goes into) and the flattened part that get shoved in the metal groove is physically too thin, so it doesn't stay clamped in place. Took 2 helpers to get the roof closed. They stretched the seal and held it in place, I was inside and guided the roof in place and gave it a firm "push" to get it to force the seal in place.

With a craptastic fit like that, no adjustment in the world is going to solve the problem. I'll eventually cough up money for a genuine OEM seal, but in the meantime I'm not really much of a sunroof user so I don't miss it.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

^ Ahh, gotcha.

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Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. - Twain

The moral of the story: AVOID URO PARTS!!!

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

OK, so Uro parts aside, any tips for R&R?

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1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.