Is this the LS end of the sunroof front seal oriented with the proper side up?

If so does both horizontal legs fit in the groove or does only the upper leg go in the groove with the lower leg going below it?

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

The picture shows the seal upside down. The thin flap on the inside radius faces the edge of the suroof and it doesn't fit over anything. Just hangs down loose.

To install these seals, you need to loosen the roof lining and partly lower the front of the sunroof frame. There are a number of sunroof threads here and on Benzworld. One by Stretch might have pics.

Hopefully you have an OE seal. The URO ones could not be installed (see attachment) But is shown right way up.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Thank you and I bought the OE seals. I have it oriented just as you say. I've pushed it into the space but the roof panel doesn't move forward enough to close or allow the rear to lift flush with the roof. I'll try it again.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Question for you since you are doing this. Where can you find/buy the side seals? They have like a fuzzy buffer on them. I've only been able to find the front seal you are installing.

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1976 Mercedes 240D (Sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel: 500,000KM
1986 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
1988 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
2002 Mercedes C240 (Sold)
2008 Mercedes C350 4matic

A great site for purchasing industrial rubber products!

Industrial Rubber

It's been a while, but I bought mine from Buds Benz. Dealers 'should' have them, but maybe they are NLA? A search for 'w123 sunroof brush seal' might help.

Clemson - Did you lower the sunroof frame so you push the seals fully into channel?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Yep, the SR frame wouldn't loosen from the shell so I used a wide slotted screw driver to pry them apart. I pushed the tip of the screw driver into the joint between the frame and shell then gave it a gentle push. I feared snipping paint off the shell so I never really got them separated much. After loosing the bolts on my parts car the frame came down

I put the seal in twice with no luck getting the lower portion to seat properly. Finally after I lubed it and the metal with Ivory Liquid straight out of the bottle and seated the lower section well before starting the upper part it began to cooperate.

It's is magnificent and I feel quite a bit prouder than I should. I could probably do this start to finish in two hours if I had it to do again. I kept failing and putting the project off and wasted a ton of time doing it wrong.

The side seals are absolutely NLA at this point but there's an aftermarket supplier who claims to have a complete set of seals which fit the 116 123, 126 and a few more. The price is close to 100 bucks and I'm suspicious of the quality of the rubber in that kit. Ebay if anyone wants to roll the dice.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

I know how you feel. I pulled old seals off before taking car to body shop to have area around sunroof repainted. They were supposed to install the new seals. But they called and said they couldn't get them in. I brought car home and did it (after getting help here on how to do it!) Took it back later to show them it could be done

By the way, did you check this place? https://classicbenzparts.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=118&product_id=229

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I have the front and rear installed. I'm not prepared to buy an entire kit for the side seals though I expect spending 45 bucks each isn't such a bad price. It wouldn't hurt to have the rubber seals put back for the future either.

Maybe in a month or two I can budget that in. Thank you.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic