Tail Light weather seal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tomfowler · #1 08-05-2003, 12:41 PM

Hello all,

I have a 1977 Mercedes 450SEL. It appears that some water is getting into my trunk from both tail light assemblies. The assemblies themselves are in good shape and there is no visible rust around the sheet metal, so I think I need to replace the rubber seal around them. Unfortunately, I can't find any in the "PartsShop" or other popular Mercedes part shops on the Internet.

Can I manufactorer something like this myself? How about some good automotive chaulk? Is there any other solution? I'm trying to perserve the car and would like to stop all the leaks.

#2 08-05-2003, 03:13 PM

Have you tried to order a pair through a Mercedes dealer? They probably won't give it away, but the gasket may still be available.

Palangi · #3 08-05-2003, 08:47 PM

I was able to order the seal material (funny looking rubber stuff, sold by the meter if I remember right) for my 75 240D. I bet yours takes the same stuff. Having seen and worked with it, I think next time I would probably just get some vinyl tubing from the hardware store and make my own taillight seals.

tomfowler · #4 08-05-2003, 11:16 PM

That sounds like what I'm looking for if I can't find the original part. Can you expound on what you are describing? I haven't taken a tail light out yet, so I'm interested to hear what you have to say.

Would the vinyl tubing be crunched between the taillight and the sheet metal, or would it be cut lengthwise and put over the metal lip?

Thanks,

Tom

Palangi · #5 08-05-2003, 11:52 PM

On the 240D the seal is a round length of fairly soft rubber material about 1/4 inch diameter, sort of like foam rubber only more solid. It fits into a channel on the inside of the taillight lens. I don't know what held it in there originally as it was pretty much gone, but I used a little rubber cement to hold the new seal in place in the lens. I let the rubber cement dry completely and reinstalled the taillight lenses. It does seem to have stopped the moisture from getting inside.

I don't remember what the seal material cost from the dealer, but it wasn't much. Vinyl tubing would be a bit harder than the proper material, but I'm sure it would work in a pinch.

We are making an assumption that the seal on your car is the same stuff. Just take a taillight off and see what's in there. Even if it is deteriorated there should be enough remains of it for you to understand how the seal fits in there.

tomfowler · #6 08-06-2003, 08:41 AM

Thanks for the info. I will keep you informed.

I've only been posting to the board for a few days but I have been impressed with the folks here. Everyone seems real helpful. It is a honor to be apart of this community now.

Thanks,

Tom

MikeTangas · #7 08-06-2003, 11:54 AM

I have been trying to find the part numbers for you from the EPC, but I turned my computer off when I went on vacation and now I can't get the upper CD drive to read data disks. I guess my drive is still off on vacation.

tomfowler · #8 08-06-2003, 06:38 PM

What is the EPC?

I called the local Mercedes dealership. They quoted my $75 each. They are specific parts, one for the left and one for the right. He suggested I go with the auto part store vinyl tubing route. I don't know, I sure would like to fix permanently. I feel like I will have problems with shortcuts. Oh well, I'll pull the tail lights out and figure something out.

Tom

psfred · #9 08-06-2003, 10:49 PM

If you can stand it, go for the dealer part, it will last 30 more years. That's the problem with MBs -- the parts are ALWAYS available, but get so expensive as the cars age they might as well not be.

My brother sprang for both the main gaskets and the gasket for the lens -- well worth it as both seal perfectly and we had to find a replacment set of "buckets" due to leaks on the original ones -- no silvering any more.

Peter

MikeTangas · #10 08-07-2003, 03:00 AM

EPC's are electronic parts catalogues. I still can't access the upper cd drive, looks like I might have to get a new one, I'll keep trying though.

neileg · #11 08-07-2003, 04:29 AM

Mike,

If you run your PC 24/7 and the drive failed after the PC being off for some days, you may just have a loose connection. The connectors inside suffer from thermal creep, and can disconnect due to movement as they heat up or cool down. It's worth simply taking the cables to your failed drive and unplug and replug each end.

In my experience, this works 50% of the time in a failure like yours.

psfred · #12 08-07-2003, 07:36 PM

We had a rash of CD roms going because there is a rubber belt drive and the belts failed, probably because they didn't get used much and stuck to one of the shivs.

Peter

MikeTangas · #13 08-09-2003, 12:46 PM

Peter and Neil,

The drive works great with music cd's but won't read a data disk. It won't even recognize a data disk. The lower drive recognizes data disks fine. Wondering if the laser head is dirty and whether trying a cleaner would be worthwhile?

Having one cd drive down is only a problem when trying to run the EPC. It is a two disk set and both have to be running to search out parts and numbers.

psfred · #14 08-09-2003, 02:51 PM

Mike:

Sounds like a driver problem to me -- I can make suggestions for Mac OS, but I'm lost with anything Microsoft.

Peter

joshhol · #15 11-23-2003, 05:38 PM

What did you guys end up using for adhering the seal to the lenses?
I sprung for a dealer set for my 300D, no it was not cheap!

But I don't mind.
I will have 3M General adhesive cleaner and 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive when I R&R the trunk seal as per instructions on Thomaspin's site. I suppose I could use that, but I don't know how it will react with the lense material.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Josh