Front Door Weatherstripping 99 ML
 

The front driver's side door weatherstripping is ripped on my 99 ML430. Before I remove the existing, I would like to know if it glues onto the A pillar, or runs through a channel. In the door sill it looks like I pry up the center plastic piece to get at the fasteners, but I haven't tried it yet.

Before I pull off the old, are there any tricks involved? What kind of adhesive (if any) should I use? Do I need any special tools?

I have the replacement OEM weatherstripping. I saw a refence on the ML forum that the weatherstripping on the 99s was a problem, and the design was changed. Is there a way to tell if I have the old or new style?

(Tried this on the ML forum but no responses.)

Thanks
Al

SORRY I should have cought this on the ML forum. NO adhesive. You DO need to lift off the trim on the bottom, the threshhold plate. The ribbed section is pried up and there a screws under that holding down the larger part, then you can pull it off the door opening, new one is just pushed on by hand. Pretty easy job, should be able to do that without alot of guidance.
Gilly

Gilly

Done. Took about 20 minutes following your directions. Thanks.

However, I was left with one concern. The original weatherstripping was cut at the A pillar about 2 feet up from the floor. The new one came from the dealer as a continuous loop (the bond was visible). When I installed it, I wound up with about 3/4" excess material. So I removed the 3/4", kept the cut at the A pillar, and it fit fine.

The continuous loop seems to make more sense from an integrity viewpoint. Why would I have to cut it to make it fit properly? Couldn't the loop be made 3/4" shorter?

Thanks
Al

What you'd normally want to do, is after getting the weather strip roughly installed (about to the point you realize it's a tad long) is then butt the 2 ends together, then reposition the rest of the weatherstrip to accomodate the excess. Usually it'll alll fit that way.
Gilly

Gilly
Hopefully I won't have to do it again, but now I know. Thanks
Al