help with w124 rear hatch glass TRIM removal
 

I have a bit of rust on the lower right portion of my hatch where the glass trim/rubber is at. I'd like to take a peek in there and see if I can do anything about it. I first need to remove the grey metal trim piece surrounding the glass, how do i go about doing this? Any body have any experience removing the trim, rubber, glass?

thanks

OK. These are VERY tricky to remove without bending the trim. There are only two phillips screws at the very bottom of the rear window trim (open the trunk to see them, under the rubber piece). Other than that, the trim just sits in a grooved channel in the window rubber. I have removed one succesfully with two flat bladed screw drivers, but scratched the paint (it was a junkyard car). One I bent at the very end of removal. And on one car I broke the rear glass. So two soft tipped, but stout pry tools are needed. One on each side of trim and just pop it loose little by little. There is actually an FSM on this, I might be able to find it.

yikes. :) breaking the glass is not an option!!! haha
I forgot to mention that it's for a wagon... I have no idea where to look for the screws. I thought they'd just pop out or something.
There are 2 "breaks" exactly dead center on the top and bottom perimeter. I guess this is where things overlap. I don't know what the trim looks like when removed. If I could find a picture then i could maybe figure out how to go from there.

I would suggest hiring out the glass removal/installation to someone that does it for a living. With the glass and seal out of the way you can take care of the rust and then have them re-install the glass. You will probably need to purchase a new seal.

i will eventually have to resort to that i believe... but I need to take a peek in there first before deciding what to do next.
Is the trim separate from the rubber? I would think so... correct?
What is holding the glass to the rear hatch? Is it the same with the windshield? Can the trim and the rubber trim/gasket be removed without removing the glass?

The reason I ask is because i have successfully removed the trim and rubber gasket up front to "seal" a few leaks... was just wondering if its the same at the back

It is my understanding that the trim is a separate piece from the rubber seal. I have never seen the seal/trim removed without removing the glass. Just for an example we recently had a windshield company replace the rear glass in the gold 1995 W124 car and it came to ~$250 which was for new glass, rubber seal and labor which I did not think was that bad.

if you mess up your glass Gasket, I have one I'll sell

which part is the glass gasket? the rubber part at the outer or inner perimeter that is visible? or are they one and the same. A breakdown or diagram of the parts would be most helpful... thanks. PM me the price if ever. :)

I'm not quite following you when you ask inner/outer. The rubber seal around the rear windshield is one piece.

The aluminum trim is set into the rubber seal before installing the glass. It cannot be removed separately without damaging it. The window is easy to remove. Carefully roll the rubber seal upward and outward while applying gentle pressure from the inside. I have done this job for the same reason - rust under the rubber seal. In fact, lifting the aluminum trim won't reveal anything. The rust is coming from the steel panel under the rubber seal.

To reinstall, lube the seal, insert two cords into the groove in the rubber seal, set the window over the opening and have a helper apply gentle pressure, then pull the cords to roll the seal lip over the flange.

@engatwork... from a visual standpoint, looking at the grey trim there seems to be 2 rubber strips alongside the trim, the inner rubber I refer to is the one that slopes down and mates to the glass... the outer part i refer to is the rubber "lip" that rests along the hatch bodywork. The inner rubber seems harder...while the outer rubber is more pliable. it seems tome that they are made up of two different types of rubber, which leads me to assume that they are 2 separate pieces. I know pics would be helpful at this point, I will try to get one. :)

@vince... are you saying that the aluminum trim cannot be removed without removing the glass? it seems to me that the first thing that CAN and should be removed is the trim. What am I not seeing?

thanks

I don't know why you can't see it. The fact is - the seal is a single piece of rubber. The aluminum trim is held in a groove in the rubber seal. When the seal is installed, it grips a lug on the trim, locking it in place.

This is the way nearly all metal trim is held onto rubber glass seals on cars by all manufacturers.

hi
got problems with rusty rear windows on both my wagons so I know I will need to do this soon!
If anyone has actually had a price for these seals? I was just wondering, because you can buy all sorts of complex section mouldings quite cheap? For example, would any of these 's' section mouldings work?

- http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/bbCMS/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=4

http://www.par-group.co.uk/rubber-polyurethane/u-channel-sections-with-1-lip.aspx-

They work out at $6 a yard, I reckon 5 yards would do both sides?

cheers!

Going on memory but I believe the procedure for installation is to install the rubber seal on the glass, install the chrome trim and then install the assembly. People that do it for a living make it look easy.

Don't forget the 'string trick'....