Had to remove the window tint on the CDI to pass inspection last fall....did a half a$$ed job at the time, hoping to get get it perfect now.

The tint is easy enough. But the glue residue has proved to be very stubborn and difficult to remove. What has anyone found by way of most effective way to deal with it? Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I usually use Xylene (xylol) on a cotton rag. Smells like hell, but it makes the glue residue simply wipe off. Cleanup afterwards with some Invisible Glass and you'd never know there was ever tint applied.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

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

I removed dark window tint from the previous owner. The glue residue was tough. I think I got the best results with nail polish remover (which is basically diluted acetone). Most other things wouldn't soften the glue enough.

It took several rounds of nail polish remover to remove the glue enough to not leave behind a noticeably sticky residue.

WD-40 should remove it, acetone will remove it, as will lacquer thinner

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

Be careful with acetone or lacquer thinner. It can very easily damage plastic trim or painted surfaces.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

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

What not to do. I watched some YouTube videos that said use concentrated ammonia and a razor scraper. It worked poorly and I nicked some of the nichrome wires in the rear glass. Luckily it’s easy to drop in a rear window and they’re still available at the JY. Reminds me I should get over there since Covid has let up.

I hate old tint.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

I use 100% acetone and a rag. Then follow with window cleaner.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

I used a razor blade scraper. Did a 100% job, no additional cleanup needed.

To close the loop....Goo Gone Pro Power works PERFECTLY. Could not have been easier.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

^^^^ Thanks for the info. Good to know! Last time I had to do "that job", I used the "ammonia, trash bags, sunlight" trick. Worked like a charm. Wiped off with a rag. But workin with ammonia is nasty business. "Goo Gone" makes great products. Didn't realize they had something that would work on this problem or I would've used that instead.

A steamer and razor blade works good

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

^^^ Not on the rear glass with electric defrost/defog conductors mounted on the inside surface....unless you're trying to remove those, too ;>)

I had to remove the tint on the W211 when I got it. The back window was bubbling up so bad I couldn't see out the back.

The 'windex, trash bag, park it in the sun' trick works great.
Note you have to use true blue old school Windex, not the new 'crystal rain' stuff as that has no ammonia.

The trick is finding the sweet spot of how long to let it cook.

Too short and it won't have dissolved it enough to work.
Too long and it will start evaporating and the glue will re-solidify.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Gasket remover.