Freezing doors
 

Each time the temperatures drop, the rubbers of my doors freeze up, making it very hard to open up them in the morning.
Very annoying this.
Does anyone have a tip to prevent this?

THANKS!

I would try a heavy dose of Armour-all, or something similar. Some kind of non petroleum based lubricant..

A good coat of car paint wax around the door jambs might avert sticking as well.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

White Lithium grease. Works for me.;)

I'm Icelandic although I live in US now. The winters can get fairly bad there (although not as bad as most people think). Many of my relatives own Benzs, although with gas models, a block heater is almost mandatory equipment up there.

Winter is hard on a car. If you have access to a garage, park the car in there. There was an article in the recent edition of either The Star or Mercedes Enthusiast for winter preparations of your Benz and the article included solutions for those who did not have access to garages. You can buy hi-quality tent like structures for parking the car in. This would be overkill for the door problem, but not necessarily for really COLD temps in general.

What sorts of temps are you dealing with when this is happening?

- Jon

You can buy a small can of silicone spray at any auto parts store or wal-mart. sray into a coth and apply generously to all door rubber.

Minus 5 to -10 degrees Celcius usually at most, so no that arctic...
Will try Sixto's paint wax first, and see how it goes.

Thanks!

I had this problem too, but then I installed remote start. Now at night I just leave the heat on, and in the morning, I can zap the car from the window 10 minutes before I leave. When I get out to it, the engine temps up, the ice is melted, and everything is warm.

Remote starters may add convenience but isnt it bad to leave your car warming up just idling? I read somewhere that manufactures recomend that you let it run for about 30secs and just use gentle throttle until it gets to running temp.

I second the recommendation to use silicone spray.

Everyone should have a can of HD silicone spray handy. Spray rubber seals to stop squeaks and sticking. Spray the inside of spark plug boots to make it easy to pull them off w/o damage.

Spray it on a rag and wipe the antenna mast with it.

Spray the rubber seals on air cleaner housings to make it easy to remove the cleaner.

I've been maintaining cars for more than 40 years but it took me a long time to learn just how useful silicone spray can be.

Gummi-Pfledge
 

BMW sells a product called "Gummi-Pfledge" at the dealer. It comes in a small tube with a foam applicator built in. I'd use this product on the door seals. Using grease or wax could have an adverse effect on the rubber over an extended period of time. One tube will likely last you the rest of your life. Just squeeze and apply on all door and trunk rubber. Good for getting rid of squeaks too.

Regaards,
Troy
1995 E420 71k

I use glycerin

Another vote for the silicone. -Either as a spray or a stick. (stick is easier to control).
Not only will the silicone prevent the rubber from sticking/freezing to the doors. It also has a preserving effect on the rubber.

In my part of the world, winter is just around the corner. And we can get temps down to -25 deg Celsius. -We see the silicone sticks for sale at every gas station by now.
My 300E got 'siliconed' this weekend. ;)

Freestyler

Watch petroleum based products and rubber, they can accelerate the degeneration of rubber. Use silicone spray and pastes for the sticking door jams.

Keep silicone products away from intake areas due to the silicone creating problems with O2 sensors.

Don't forget to lube door, trunk and ignition locks. I have been using a spray graphite and it works very well with the old ignition lock.

Haasman

Here on the Canadian prairies we get -40C regularly in winter - Silicone spray is the best. Soak a rag with it and generously apply it to the rubber. When we wash our cars here in the winter we always have a can of silicone spray and lock deicer in the car. After washing the car - lock deicer in each lock and a good wipedown of the door seals with a dry cloth -then a generous application of silicone and not more problems!