W124 Windshield Batwing Help, Please

[tlynch]

On my '95 E300d (W124 body) I am going to replace the long rubber bat wing that fits around the wiper and runs the length of the bottom of the windshield.

Can this seal be stretched around the wiper counter weight assembly, or does the entire wiper assembly have to be removed?

Thanks in advance!
Tom Lynch

[Chris W.]

It can be stretched, but it is not easy. I did mine on the bench when I had the wiper motor assembly out of the car. I changed the wiper motor, etc. from an earlier vintage 124 to my '95 car. The wiper assy. I got from the boneyard did not have the whole gasket (batwing?) on it so I used the old one and stretched it around the replacment assy.

It helps to have the batwing warm, to make it stretchier. I used a heat gun on mine to warm it up, (don't melt it!) but I guess you could put it in a bucket of HOT water also. Have some strong wooden sticks available for levering it around the assy.

BTW it's not that hard to remove the wiper assembly, once you're in there. And then you can easily change the interior air filters.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 297K

[tlynch]

Originally Posted by Chris W.

It can be stretched, but it is not easy. I did mine on the bench when I had the wiper motor assembly out of the car. I changed the wiper motor, etc. from an earlier vintage 124 to my '95 car. The wiper assy. I got from the boneyard did not have the whole gasket (batwing?) on it so I used the old one and stretched it around the replacment assy.

It helps to have the batwing warm, to make it stretchier. I used a heat gun on mine to warm it up, (don't melt it!) but I guess you could put it in a bucket of HOT water also. Have some strong wooden sticks available for levering it around the assy.

BTW it's not that hard to remove the wiper assembly, once you're in there. And then you can easily change the interior air filters.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 297K

Thanks for the tips! I am planning to do the cabin filters at the same time.

Tom

[JimmyL]

Is this the long rubber seal looking thing about 3-4 inches tall that runs along the bottom of the windshield?
I pulled the car cover of the '95 E300 a few weeks ago and noticed the above described piece looking like it is about to fall off. Very large ripples in it, and it has pulled up in several places. Does this piece act as a seal or moisture barrier of some sort?
Never noticed it before it started lifting.....

[tlynch]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Is this the long rubber seal looking thing about 3-4 inches tall that runs along the bottom of the windshield?
I pulled the car cover of the '95 E300 a few weeks ago and noticed the above described piece looking like it is about to fall off. Very large ripples in it, and it has pulled up in several places. Does this piece act as a seal or moisture barrier of some sort?
Never noticed it before it started lifting.....

Jimmy:

I think we are talking about the same seal. It is pretty wide, and it runs from one side of the windshield to the other, with a loop around the wiper motor. I was looking into changing the cabin air filters when I noticed how loose and floppy it is on my car. I don't know how critical it is for keeping water out of anything, but I figure it can't be helpful for anything in this condition.

I'm still not sure if I need to take the wiper motor off to get this done, or if I will be able to stretch it over. I'll post my results here after I finish, but don't hold your breath. I'm tied up the next two weekends, and I don't know when I will get to it. I can tell you that the MB dealer is fairly proud of their rubber parts. This seal was $100+. I gotta find an alternative supplier!

Tom

PS BTW, my '95 E300D is also that very Texas-unfriendly black as well. When we were in the stretch of 100-degree days this summer I didn't need the microwave to cook lunch.

[Chris W.]

Your gaskets may have taken a beating from the sun there in TX. But mine still seems to be in reasonable shape after being parked outside for most of its life. That gasket has a male strip running along it which locks into a channel below your windshield. If it gets loose in one spot, gunk can get in there and build up preventing the gasket from "locking down" and it will just continue to build up more gunk, etc. You can pull up the gasket and peel it out up to the wiper and clean it and the channel and then lock it back in place.

But if it is trashed by the sun, well, I guess you're looking at a new one.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 297K

[tlynch]

Originally Posted by Chris W.

Your gaskets may have taken a beating from the sun there in TX. But mine still seems to be in reasonable shape after being parked outside for most of its life. That gasket has a male strip running along it which locks into a channel below your windshield. If it gets loose in one spot, gunk can get in there and build up preventing the gasket from "locking down" and it will just continue to build up more gunk, etc. You can pull up the gasket and peel it out up to the wiper and clean it and the channel and then lock it back in place.

But if it is trashed by the sun, well, I guess you're looking at a new one.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 297K

Thanks, Chris!

It sounds like you have had pretty good luck with yours. You are about double my mileage, though we have the same length of time for the elements to take their toll.

I tried snapping the old one back in place without success. I may give it another try after looking for debris to sweep away.

Thanks!
Tom