The windshield gasket on my 300td is leaking, so I ordered an OEM seal. Looking at the replacement, do I have to remove the front of the headliner and A-piller trim? How are you supposed to get to the bottom lip of the gasket, since it's behind the dash?

I can't see how to gain access without removing the dash, but that seems ridiculous.

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1984 300TD -- summer daily driver
Many others that aren't Mercedes...

Take the pillar covers off, sun visor, rear view mirror, interior light, metal strip across front of sunroof opening and then the panel that the visors and interior lights attach to. Dash does not come out for windshield replacement.

Carefully cut all of the gasket away and remove the windshield. The trim in the gasket is what locks it all together, the trim bends very easily and is next to impossible to straighten, cut it out, don't bend it by pulling it out. The gasket goes on the glass, the trim goes into the gasket and then the windshield gets installed.

Not a bad job to do, takes 3-4 hours for a slow methodical install.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Thanks. There's a youtube video where a guy dose on on a w116, it looks to be pretty much the same process as the w123. I just wasn't sure about access to the bottom lip, sounds fairly straight forward.

I'll have to do it on a day where I have more patience than usual. This coming friday I'm taking a week off to help someone deliver a boat, so maybe after a slow trip at sea I'll be in the right mood to pick away at something tedious.

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1984 300TD -- summer daily driver
Many others that aren't Mercedes...

Never had this problem with my car .Old screen was removed , and all work was done from outside the car. They just feed the new seal on the lip after old one is removed .Best to get a fitter to do it ,and get a good job done they are doing it for a living and know all the ins and outs ..

If I can find someone who wants to do it correctly for a reasonable price, I'd have it done. Having a hard time with that, though. I'd pay $100 or so, but the dealer wanted around $400 (lol).

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1984 300TD -- summer daily driver
Many others that aren't Mercedes...

Call a glass company. Pay them $100-200. You will be glad you did. They have the necessary tools, have had practice and are much more likely to get the glass installed without cracking it.

Every bodyman I've ever known has farmed out glass work. These are people with the skill to cut a car down the middle, remove a chunk of metal, put the car back together and make it look like nothing ever happened. Following their glass example will have you money ahead.

Have you priced a new windshield installed? It was under $200 for my SD.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Had mine done at Safelite for about $250 and never looked back. Looking at the shop manual for my E300d, I would have had to pull half the car apart to do the job. They finished the job in under 2 hours, and you would never even know they touched the car with the exception of the new windshield!!!!

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96 E300d

That has always been my experience. Additionally, I had access to some OE Nissan surplus glass and called around to sell it. Aftermarket glass is very inexpensive and it looks like the companies price = glass + labor + margin where labor and margin are equal.

OP already has the OE gasket which is more expensive than what is available aftermarket if it is available at all. I'd guess $150 - $200 for the install with no guarantee against breakage.

You want to find an old glass guy that has experience. An indy is preferable. Ask the small car lots who they use.

Repair to "out-the-door" is the rule in the used car world. Lowest cost is always the objective and "quality" doesn't enter into the equation.

Price can be negotiated down if 2 sources are willing to give you a price. If necessary (and possible) buy the glass installed but have them use your OE glass unless there is a reason to use the new. Sometimes the used glass is delaminating or has scratches or.....

Frequently, buying the glass installed will guarantee you a lifetime installed leak free glass.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Yea, some good points. I should talk to the shops that do restorations on old cars, they probably either do their glass in house or have a guy they trust.

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1984 300TD -- summer daily driver
Many others that aren't Mercedes...

Price out a new windshield, they can be less than you think and go that route. The installation of these is not common, ask the potential installer if they have done them before. Don't let yours be their first or your moldings may be bent when they are done. I've done two and they are not that difficult.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

I have NEVER found a bodyshop or car lot that does their own glass - EVER. Not a bodyshop that does restorations or one that does new crash parts or one that half fast fixes cars for lots. They ALL farm it out.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.