Driver’s side window outer rubber weather-strip on my ’93 W124 is shot and binding the window on lowering. Can I replace it without pulling the door panel off and removing window glass to get to it? (The inner rubber felt-lined rubber strip has three or so clamps that fasten it to the door panel.) My local MB dealer’s parts guy says the outer rubber weather-strip just “snaps” into place, but if past experience is any guide I’m a little anxious about prying the old piece out and then being stuck with no way to get the new strip in! Can anyone help? Many thanks!

Mercedes call it a "sealing rail" and it appears to snap onto the door body. If you can remove the old one with the window down then you should be able to snap the new one in place.

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First - I assume you're trying to replace the felt channel that the glass tucks into when closed,right? If so - click here to read the factory procedure. Here's some more tips:


DO NOT remove the outer sealing rail, the long/flat rubber piece at the bottom of the glass, on the outside of the door! Don't touch it. You do not need to remove the window glass, or even loosen the bolt shown in the factory procedure, just roll the window down. Remove the door panel as shown here. Remove the *inside* sealing rail at the bottom of the window glass, after the door panel is removed (it may come off with the door panel, if not, it pries off easily).

Now pull the old felt channel out of the metal window frame. Make sure you bought the right part... early cars have 3mm window glass, later cars have 4mm, the felt channels are different for each. Lube the back side of the new felt channel with a soapy solution, or spray lubricant, or something similar to help it slide into place. Install the vertical section first, then the top "corner", and work your way down the curved side. The hard part is getting the felt channel all the way down into the guide inside the door. I use a long (3-foot) piece of thin metal bar from Home Depot, about 3/4" wide and 1/16" thick. This slides down the window slot and you can use it to push the channel down to where it goes past the glass. You will need a flashlight to see inside the door. Make sure the felt channel is fully seated and not buckled, or it will jam when you try to raise the window.

When it appears to be fully in place, slowly raise the window a few inches at a time, checking with the flashlight each time, to make sure the felt isn't moving. It should stay in place until the window is fully raised up.

Then re-install the inside sealing strip, and the door panel.

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and after all that, I just realized you may be referring to the rubber strip I said to not touch, lol! If so, yes, that just pulls off. It will deform when you remove it and it's almost impossible to straighten out and re-use, which is why I said to leave it alone. The new one snaps into place. Use some lube to make it a little easier.

If you have any wind noise from the driver window, then a new felt channel should cure it, as described above...

Thank both you very much... Yes, it's the weather-strip (outer seal)... Part #A-124-725-01-65 that I've been sweating about trying to replace... You've given me the courage to try it and will soonest -- right after I get the blower regulator - which just failed - fixed next week.

I was hoping I could also replace the driver's door lock actuator if I was into the door panel, but given your last post, I'll just try to replace the rubber weatherstrip from the outside and hope for the best!

Door lock actuator evaded me last time I tried to get to it... Couldn't seem to get an angle on it with which to work.

Thanks again for all the help! I'll let you know how the weatherstrip replacement goes...!

(Been chasing so many small issues, haven't had a chance to move ahead on the elective stuff -- Euro headlight and wiper conversion, paint-body clean-up and seat-heater retro-fit...)

so where did you buy from and how much was it?

Migtek -- if you mean the weatherstrip, I'm embarrassed to write I went to a local MB dealer and coughed up $57. for it...

thanks, I'm looking for some cheap replacements.

If you find a better source, please share it... I've got three other needy windows!

It's a dealer-only item. Your only other option is to buy from a dealer who sells at wholesale via the internet (or phone / email). MSRP is $50 for the front window outer seal (124-725-01-65), you should be able to get those for about $40 plus S&H. The rears are a buck or two cheaper, and are side-specific (124-735-01-65 left, 124-735-02-65 right). It's relatively rare to have to replace these.

Many thanks for the help... I will look for a better price on the others... and you are correct, the rear strips are not nearly as bad. For as much as I've been at my local MB dealer's parts desk over the years - with 6 other older Benz's at one time or another (!) you'd think they'd be nice to me, but every time I come in they treat me like just another street sucker with a VISA card... Little to no advice -- and even less curiosity about the respected marque they represent in the US... and from the prices you've quoted, what they charge here in the DC area seem even inflated beyond MSRP!! Thanks again.

Thanks both Cal Learner and gsxr... Am familiar with Lexol, it did a good job bringing back tired leather in my former '88 300SE. I've been using a 5-gal container of 3M's pro-grade auto vinyl-leather "protectorant" for some years, but can't really rave about it. I'll check out the 303. Looks like it's available at both West Marine and Eastern Mountain Sports in my No. Virginia locale. Good condition "Blue" vintage anything replacment parts for W124 can be hard to find...



Thanks for the counsel... $560 today to fix the blower regulator. My shop gave me the regulator for their cost... I checked... it was indeed $209 and up on the web... A/C condensor/dryer work ran a cool grand two weeks ago... Onward and upward.