w124 Sunroof seal replacement ???

[87tdwagen]

Hi all,
Decided to finally replace the original sunroof seal on my 300TD as it occasionally leaks water in a heavy rain and is nearly 27 years old... time to change.

The question is How To? Anyone done this and can share their tips?

I have a MB replacement seal in hand, I understand the orientation of the seal front/rear and multi-barb side up... but how is it installed and held in place? just pressure?

I read the ROM Procedure 77-130, but that has left me with more questions than answers. It starts off with open sunroof, remove gasket, then a bunch of detail regarding holding rail removal replacement, wind deflector etc, and then ends it with insert gasket into holding rails????

OK so what I gather is remove gasket by pulling straight out, orient new gasket correctly and insert into holding rails. Is that it? Is it that simple?
Any tips to be aware of?

TIA

[87tdwagen]

OK, so there are several ways of approaching this task. Follow the ROM procedure or follow the procedure outlined below:

In typical German engineering to English translation lost, the ROM essentially gives you two sets of directions, distinctly little on the seal itself, and far more on the removal of the seal retainers, which is unrelated to the seal replacement itself.

You may be left thinking that the seal replacement procedure is akin to: "secure seal in place, disassemble vehicle, replace seal with new and afix in place, reassemble vehicle around new seal"

The alternative procedure is:
1. Open Sunroof
2. Remove seal by pulling straight (laterally) into the sunroof void starting in the middle and working your way all around until completely removed
3. Clean channel (I used a rag folded over a Popsicle stick with cleaner) all around
4. Serrated Channel Side Up. Starting at the rearmost section where the shorter "U" of the seal (facing rear) is bonded to the longer "U" (retainer #5 per ROM) Insert new seal pressing in (laterally) until fully seated and work your way all the way around until fully installed.

In reality the job should take 15-20 min tops. It is the easiest sunroof seal replacement process I've ever encountered. There may be more involved upon closing the sunroof all the way against the new seal, but I'll note anything I observe when I get there.

In my case, I'm currently addressing some rust spots before I finally install the new seal. I did carefully remove the old seal and noted that it is pressure fitted, and reinstalled it several times to get the feel for it.

The seal rides in the channel that requires it to be fully pressed in and seated within the channel. Worth noting that the side with the serrated seal faces upward and the location of the two bonded joints and where they fit between channels #5 and channels #3,4

[nulu]

Use lubricant on seal , push into groove by hand, after finished leave roof shut for a couple of days for seal to conform to sunroof lid , its going to be very tight! Only adjust roof lid after you verified seal is installed correctly

[rocky raccoon]

in place your sunroof should not leak. They are meant mainly to suppress wind noise.

You probably have one or more clogged drains. Use heavy weight monofilament or solid core electrical wire to clean them out. On my W123 there is one in each corner. I believe our sunroofs are similar.

[87tdwagen]

Finally got the replacement seal installed, and it did take only 20min to install completely. If your sunroof is correctly gaped to start with and you use a factory seal, you should have very little resistance on initial sunroof closure.
It will be a little tight the first time, mine closed 95% on its own, slap the perimeter of the sunroof and it should pop into place fully closed.

Leave closed for a couple of days longer if at cooler temperatures, and the seal will conform to the sunroof making full closure on it's own power possible.

Overall, a very easy job indeed, probably a 1 or 2 on the DIY scale.

[pampadori]

found this thread while searching for details on the seal install. Looks like there are a couple of part numbers for this item and might be vin specific.

124 789 92 98
124 780 00 98

Not sure how you determine which fits your w124 but I was told the bottom one worked for my car based on the VIN. Host doesn't carry it but found at a local AAP.

[optimusprime]

See this done on video from youtube . Kent Bragsna is the guy.