Window Glass 280c

[PaVarrieur]

Hello Everyone
Need some help in locating a passenger window glass for my 1974 280c. Seems some vandals couldn't resist THROWING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER through it. My local old parts guy says 250.00 and 15 days from Germany. Anyone know of a junkyard source.

Thanks

[autozen]

Paul,
I'm guessing Atlanta is a fair sized community. You must have some full service and pull-it-yourself wreckers there. The 250C should be the same. Installation will be a pain, because of all the adjustments.

By the way who did you p*ss off to make him throw a fire extinguisher through your window?

Peter

[PaVarrieur]

I have not been able to locate the window at a junkyard locally. The "Pranksters" were more than likely teenagers with nothing better to do with their time than to destroy someones property.

[JoeyTheB]

Check out Sun Valley in CA.
There's a photo of them on the web with 108 stacked up.
If anyone's gonna have one, they will.
http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/

Last time I looked, new ones were around $300.
Call around to auto glass repair shops, someone will sell you one.
Less $$$ is you get one that doesn't say "made in germany" (duh)
Definitely want a NEW gasket though.

[ctaylor738]

Two suggestions:

TMC in Baltimore - 410 789 7896

ATVM in Aberdeen MD - atvm2@prodigy.net.

You will be looking at least $100 plus s/h.

[PaVarrieur]

Thanks Everyone
Found one today at a junk yard in Alabama for 150.00. Not bad. I only wish I could have a "talk" with the Vandals that threw the fire extinguisher through the window. Try as I might, I could not convince the junk yard dealer to trade me the window for the extinguisher!!!!!

[JoeyTheB]

Wondering if you did it yourself or what it cost to have it done.
I have a spare rear window gasket in the bag if interest.

[autozen]

Paul,
Just a tip since it is your own car, I would hold off putting the trim panel on until you are happy with the adjustments. Coupes and roadsters can be a PITA, because you have only two sides supported. If it stops too soon on the way up, you have a wind whistle. If it stops too high, the top of the window makes a thunk sound as it is pulled out of the weather strip.

Peter

[PaVarrieur]

I did not do the repair myself as I am out of town. The repair shop that I have to use when the car needs service when I am out of town was contacted to install the window glass.
A bit of history here. I can usually repair just about anything on this car myself given an informative manual, or advise from posting here. However when I travel, I sometimes must rely on a local Mercedes repair shop to enact any repairs. It is very difficult to find an independant Mercedes repair shop that will work on a car of this vintage. Most will not work on the older cars because they do not know how to trouble shoot and find a cause for a malady. If they cannot hook a computer up to a port in the engine compartment that tells them what's wrong, they are not interested in working on the car. Therefore, when I cannot work on the car myself, the independent shops that do are not very good. Here are some examples:

1) Engine Miss: Repair shop diagnosis: Valves needed adjustment. $125.00
When I returned from my buisiness trip, the car was still running rough. I
found two broken spark plug wires. Replaced them myself and car ran great

2) Car was in a minor accident. Replaced right front fender. Car was returned
without the turn signal lamp and the fog lamp connected. The wires were
just hanging there where they had cut them instead of unplugging them at
the junction which is about four inches away.

3) While at one shop, the car sat waiting for them to repair it for a week.
some how the battery went flat? Could it be they were listening to the
new audio system that had recently been installed? No one knows, but
they installed a new Interstate battery, $150.00. Only problem was. This
battery is too large for the car and has a vent tube that was not
connected. Battery acid leaked all over the engine compartment. Ruining
the brand new battery tray I had recently installed. The acid leaked on the
High Pressure AC hose and while my daughter was driving the car the
hose blew out. Vintage air had to custom build a hose for me using the old
connectors as Mercedes no longer sells this part, and even Mercedes shop
will only sell you bulk hose and hose clamps with instructions to hack saw
the old tubing and affix the hose and clamps to the cut tubes. Not my idea
of an elegant repair. The battery acid also ruined the Radiator overflow
hose, and just made a mess that took me half a day to clean up.

4) I bring all this up, because the shop that was (has) been contracted to
repair the broken window has also failed in instigating proper repairs. The
car was returned without even cleaning up the broken glass. While they
had the car, I figured I would have them also replace the front and rear
windshield gaskets, which had very small leaks. Both were replaced and
they now leak like crazy, with water pouring into the car. The window they
replaced does not fully seat and wind noise is at an all time high. At this
point, I think that when I am out of town I am going to bite the bullet and
just have a Mercedes Dealer do the repairs at their astronomical prices.
It at least my get fixed properly.