I decided to replace the sunroof seals of my 123 due to leaks. The problem is... the rear seal I purchased wraps around an inch longer from the curved edge of the sunroof lid. Whenever I install the sunroof lid, the rubber seal gets off at the corners due to they get into contact with the rubber stopper of the rail or the side "felt-like" seal. Since the dealer told me that the part is the same for MB models such as 123, 126, 116, & 115, I think the "one inch" extended rubber at the edges should be cut... just like the side seals which had to be cut, because they were an inch longer compared to the original ones installed. For the rear ruber seal, I have no point of comparison with the origanal one installed because I had to remove it in pieces since it was already brittle. QUESTION: Do I need to cut the extended piece of the rubber seal or it should really be that way? If so, what steps do I need to follow to make the sunroof properly??? BTW, my sunroof is the manual type.
Thanks in advance!!
- Tippee
84 300TDT

tippee,

I do not have access to my daughter's 240D at the moment, so I cannot check. But, if you can recall how far around the corners the old rubber filler piece extended, I would trim this one to suit the same "span" since the old one apparently did not interfere with operating the roof.

I have noted this in the past, the main function of the rubber and felt is to prevent offensive wind noise, and secondly to divert water around the opening of the sunroof. They do not effect a true "seal" for a variety of reasons, and the sunroof sealing you are used to comes from the internal drains. It is more reliable to provide a "least resistance" path for the water to flow to the ground than to seal the opening, and that is what MB did with the sunroof. The outside roof panel opening is larger than the inside one, and the inside opening is raised like a dam at its perimeter to encourage the water that gets past the outer "seals" to keep going on a path of lower resistance that does not involve the interior of the car. Which is through the drains in the "A" and "C" pillars. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)