After market windshield is killing my eyes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

otto huber · #1 10-05-2010, 10:30 PM

I've started to drive the 300SD I bought a few weeks ago more regularly now. It wasn't until about a week after I purchased it that I noticed a little wave near the driver's side pillar. It isn't really noticeable unless you stare right at it, but after experiencing a split image out of the corner of my eye while sitting in my studio, I realized that my eye is always picking it up and it's probably responsible for the eye soreness I've been experiencing.
So, it looks like the 126 windshield is not a DIY job like the 123 is. Is it even possible to pull a good one out of the junk yard? Can waves be repaired some how? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Brandon_SLC · #2 10-05-2010, 10:53 PM

I think I'd call the people who sold it to you and see if they are willing to fix the problem.

I've been in a few 126's that had some distortion near the edges. I noticed it in mine from time to time when trying to look at something from the driver's seat that's on the right side of the car, such as a roadside sign. I don't know whether or not it had ever been replaced since the car had 52k miles on it when I bought it, but if it had, there were no outward signs. It wasn't bad enough to cause me problems.

Now, my parents 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon was so bad you could get dizzy trying to look through it.

pawoSD · #3 10-05-2010, 11:59 PM

None of ours have that issue, if it really is the glass that is distorted I'd get it replaced. That would make me go crazy!

Skid Row Joe · #4 10-06-2010, 12:09 AM

The '83 300SD I bought in 1991 and drove it to 1999, had the same windshield curvature, visual distortion deal as you are describing on your's.

As far as I could tell, the windshield in my SD was the original factory installed one. It had mild road-sandblasting when I bought it. And it was the German brand of glass or whatever the original equipment labeling to the glass was of the time.

I think what you are seeing (as I did) may be indigenous of that era of SDs. At least that's what I thought at the time I owned one.

tangofox007 · #5 10-06-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon_SLC

I think I'd call the people who sold it to you and see if they are willing to fix the problem.

I bet I can answer that. No phone call required.

hey_allen · #6 10-06-2010, 10:05 AM

I had no problem with the windshield that Safelite replaced for me, other than a little bit of debris left in the cabin, but that was easily cleaned up.

My SEC has a definite fish eye distortion in the upper right area, which bugged me for a while, before I decided to ignore it and call it 'character' instead of a flaw.

otto huber · #7 10-08-2010, 03:35 PM

I had the windshield replaced this morning, and wow, what a difference. For all you East Bay guys, there's a nice glass shop in Oakland on E. 12th called In and Out. The manager's name is Gary, and he had the windshield installed in 2 hours for $178.00 out the door.

Skid Row Joe · #8 10-08-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otto huber

I had the windshield replaced this morning, and wow, what a difference. For all you East Bay guys, there's a nice glass shop in Oakland on E. 12th called In and Out. The manager's name is Gary, and he had the windshield installed in 2 hours for $178.00 out the door.

A "$178.00" windshield is a deal!!!

JHZR2 · #9 10-08-2010, 03:56 PM

Beware of Mexican glass, it is nasty stuff to look through. I prefer US made PPG glass if a replacement is needed.

Kestas · #10 10-08-2010, 04:27 PM

I used to work with the engineer responsible for glass at Chrysler. There are SAE standards that dictate how much waviness glass can have, and how to measure it. If it's as bad as you describe it, I doubt the glass would pass SAE or DOT standards.

tangofox007 · #11 10-08-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

A "$178.00" windshield is a deal!!!

Probably a bad deal.

Skid Row Joe · #12 10-08-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Probably a bad deal.

I try to take things prima facia, aroung here, unless I have expert knowledge otherwise by what I believe to be true and accurate.

If the guy say's he paid "$178.00" I say right-on!

Since I have no other expert/firsthand knowledge otherwise. I don't want to rain on a brand new $178.00 windshield......

THAT SAID:

I seem to HAVE RECOLLECTION that new windshields (at least in America) run $600.00 to $900.00 give or take.

Jim B. · #13 10-09-2010, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

A "$178.00" windshield is a deal!!!

It's worth your life to go into that neighborhood, that is why.

Jim B. · #14 10-09-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

Beware of Mexican glass, it is nasty stuff to look through. I prefer US made PPG glass if a replacement is needed.

PPG is Mercedes Benz OEM glass now, I am told.

Back in the day, or even 10 years ago, the German Sekurit or Sigla was what you wanted for your S class W126 Mercedes Benz.

Nowadays the Insurance companies try and pawn off on you the cheap $250 Communist chinese XYG glass (Xingyi Glass Company of Shaghai). Made by communist chinese children who earn about 7 cents a year.

Welcome to chintzy rock chip prone glass; optical distortion; and clouding.