Safelite Auto glass/Windshield Seal

[danvw1]

I took my '69 220D down to safelite today to get a quote on putting a new seal in the windshield and was not pleased with the results. (It leaks in heavy rain)

I have installed windows before and the only reason I'm not doing it myself is that I just don't feel like wrestling with it for a few hours. Well safelite told me the only way to do the job was to replace the entire windshield......that the seal itself couldn't just be done. And it was going to cost me BIG $$$$. I got out of there as fast as I could.

So I see here on Fastlane a URO seal is listed......is that comparable to OEM? I know the only way to go with seals is to get good quality ones.

[Carpenterman]

I can tell you with all confidence that you will not be happy with anything other than a genuine Mercedes seal. Uro and Febi brands have been roundly criticized as inferior and a waste of money on these forums.

[danvw1]

Alright I will get a Mercedes one. I kinda figured I'd have to, but I just wanted to check.

[ScooterABC]

It took me a long time to find a glass shop that was willing to replace the seal on my 1971 250 C. Glass shops are not skilled in dealing with the seals that have chrome strips in them, etc and it is important to find someone who DOES have this kind of experience.

I would only by an MB seal.

I would find an OLDER glass shop who has people who have been there for a long time.

If you have the option of new glass, do it at the same time, but on my 250 C I re-used both the front and rear glass.

[alabbasi]

There is good reason for them to tell this. A 35+ year old windshield is probably going to break when you remove it or put it in. They know this and don't want to own the problem.

The URO rubber is going to be hard to fit. If you're an experienced installer you can probably make it work but most DIYers buy the OE seal from the dealer. It's about $125.

Furthermore, new windshield installs are much simpler then the old style and many installers will not know how to install this glass. When I had mine done on the the 6.9, the guy struggled for about 4 hours, then gave up and sent me to another outfit who did the install.

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

There is good reason for them to tell this. A 35+ year old windshield is probably going to break when you remove it or put it in. They know this and don't want to own the problem.

I wouldn't say "probably". But I would say "possibly". The glass shop I use will not take responsibility if the windshield breaks. They told me that they break about 2% of the time.

Originally Posted by alabbasi

Furthermore, new windshield installs are much simpler then the old style and many installers will not know how to install this glass. When I had mine done on the the 6.9, the guy struggled for about 4 hours, then gave up and sent me to another outfit who did the install.

There is no relationship between the way glass in new cars is installed vs. glass in old cars. You would be just as well off having a tire shop install an old windshield as having a "safelite" install an old windshield.

I have a great place in Los Angeles, but that probably doesn't help you...

[Tomguy]

I had my windshield in my Charger replaced by Diamond before Safelite bought them. The glass looked like a prescription lens and gave me a headache while driving. They replaced it with another made in China crappy glass that was better, but still imperfect. The seal leaked after a year, so I called and now they were Safelite. They replaced the glass and seal again. The new glass is MUCH better, there is no leak, and I believe it won't leak because I can see under the trim when I pull it up they used better sealant than last time.

I don't know how it would translate to a 108, but Diamond was way worse than Safelite now is.

[danvw1]

I got the windshield seal from the dealer and my neighbor recommended me a local glass guy to do the job. As it turns out, he has done windshields on these cars before. I picked it up yesterday and the new seal looks real nice, fit and form are very good. Now my feet won't get wet when it rains!