Windshield for 280SL roadster

[Ron Seegars, Sr]

The windshield on my 1981 280SL 107 roadster cracked this week. Cannot be repaired since crack comes up from above dash and goes halfway across the glass. Can a regular auto glass installer get me this and install or is it going to be a big deal to even get one? What is a fair price? Also while I am on a roll here: My automatic transmission slips (second and third shift) when the vehicle is cold or sits for a couple of days. If I drive it everyday, it changes much better. It changes better when the car has been driven for 12 plus miles. Does that even make sense? No slipping problems on reverse at any time. Thank you my SL friends.

[sokoloff]

I'd sure go to someone who knows how to do a Mercedes windshield of that era. Maybe see who the dealer uses and/or your local Mercedes indie shops. I've seen lots of bad reports taking it to your generic windshield shops.

[Ron Seegars, Sr]

Thanks Len. I had a generic guy here in Lancaster, SC give me a quote of $19.00 installed but that does not sound legitimate to me. I will do as you suggest and call the dealer up in Charlotte because I do want it done correctly. Take care of yourself over there at Ocean Isle. I usually vacation there about twice a year for the past 15 years.

[Ron Seegars, Sr]

Len: I meant to type in $179.00 not $19.00 for the generic windshield job. Sorry about that.

[rocky raccoon]

and a 300CD windshield (rare glass) installed at a generic. They were able to obtain and install with no issues. The glass is not genuine MB but I for one don't care. Cost was less than $200 for each one.

Do yourself a financial favor and don't get caught up in the mythology. They are, after all, just cars and if you take it to a dealer, they will send it out to an independent installer anyway. Getting genuine MB glass for cars as old as ours is at best almost impossible and even if you can it will cost like it was cut from diamond.

Get a new gasket though.

[97 SL320]

Make sure the pinch weld paint is touched up / not scratched as this will come back to haunt.

Have a look at windshieldstogo.com , the glass is likely generic, they can install or sell glass only.

[sokoloff]

Originally Posted by Ron Seegars, Sr

Thanks Len. I had a generic guy here in Lancaster, SC give me a quote of $19.00 installed but that does not sound legitimate to me. I will do as you suggest and call the dealer up in Charlotte because I do want it done correctly. Take care of yourself over there at Ocean Isle. I usually vacation there about twice a year for the past 15 years.

Ron - you've got to plan on bringing your 280SL down this way during Oktoberfest one year. It's today BTW and I have been asked for the last three years to put on a display of Mercedes cars for the past 60 years or so - got a real nice collection. I'll post a few photos later.

Rocky - I wasn't necessarily suggesting using only MB star glass, but as you say an OE seal is a smart move. The problem with a lot of generic glass places is they think they know more about how to put in a Mercedes windshield than you or the service manual says. I have seen a number of reports of glass houses completely screwing up the windshield trim by trying to put it in after the glass is installed.