280SL Windshield replacement

[Joe Z]

I am replacing the windshield and gasket on a 1970 280SL. Old windshield and gasket have been removed, and the frame has been cleaned of all old sealing material. I would like any recomendations on what type of sealing material can be used for the new gasket. It appears as if the old sealant was similar to Permatex #2 non-hardening gasket sealant. Is this a good substitution or is there something else that can be used.

[Walt Puryear]

Joe,

Use 3M body weather strips, more commonly known as dum-dum.

Walt P.

[ALUEB]

the mounting material and according to the manual mounting kts can be bought from the dealer. Butyl is one I remenber. Also, there are spacers involved as I get the impression you just don't put sealant in and drop in the windshield. I look up the pages and send you a PM on what the factory recommends.

Over the years the rear window on my 79 450SLC was replaced, when I got the car it leaked. the mechanic I use suggested a body shop that has experience in Mercedes windows. He took off the mouldings and found someone just use weatherstripping glue, and their estimation was wrong stuff to use. they went out and bought the mounting kit as it is called from the dealer, around $100 and remounted the window. Now it doesn't leak. I had tried to use clear adhesive but it didn't work, to plug so to speak the leaking areas. So, IMHO I would look into what kits are still available.

[vince]

When I replaced the original windshield on my 250SL many years ago, there was no sealer and I did not use any going back in. I did use a new rubber seal. Is your winshield original?

Mercedes-Benz does recommend the use of sealer on some of the sedan bodies. When I did glass/rubber replacements on those, I use 3M Auto Bedding and Glazing Compound #08509. It is a non-hardening compound similar to the strips mentioned by Walt Puryear. It comes in a cartridge for a caulking gun. It is gunned into the void between the body and the rubber after installing the windshield. It isn't easy to get the nozzle under the edge of the rubber with the aluminum trim. Also, it tends to ooze out for quite a while, so most installers don't like to use it unless they are having leakage problems.

[Joe Z]

Joe,

Use 3M body weather strips, more commonly known as dum-dum.

Walt P.

Walt,

Thanks for the information. I'll go shopping now.

On another note, seeing that you are a moderator, maybe you can answer a question for me. I noticed that I was referenced as a visitor on my question about the windshield. When I regestered and filled out the profile I indicated that I was a MBCA member. I have been a member for about 15 years. This is the first time I used the forum. Do I need to change something on my profile or was I a visitor because of the first time use?

Thanks,
Joe Z.

[Joe Z]

the mounting material and according to the manual mounting kts can be bought from the dealer. Butyl is one I remenber. Also, there are spacers involved as I get the impression you just don't put sealant in and drop in the windshield. I look up the pages and send you a PM on what the factory recommends.

Over the years the rear window on my 79 450SLC was replaced, when I got the car it leaked. the mechanic I use suggested a body shop that has experience in Mercedes windows. He took off the mouldings and found someone just use weatherstripping glue, and their estimation was wrong stuff to use. they went out and bought the mounting kit as it is called from the dealer, around $100 and remounted the window. Now it doesn't leak. I had tried to use clear adhesive but it didn't work, to plug so to speak the leaking areas. So, IMHO I would look into what kits are still available.

Alueb,

Thanks for the information. No spacers were found when the old gasket and windshield were removed, and there was some sort of non-hardening material between the body and the gasket and between the windshield and the gasket. I'm the original owner of the SL so I know that the windshield has never been replaced. I'll check with my MB dealer parts guy and to see if he can find any mention of a kit.

Joe Z.

[Joe Z]

When I replaced the original windshield on my 250SL many years ago, there was no sealer and I did not use any going back in. I did use a new rubber seal. Is your winshield original?

Mercedes-Benz does recommend the use of sealer on some of the sedan bodies. When I did glass/rubber replacements on those, I use 3M Auto Bedding and Glazing Compound #08509. It is a non-hardening compound similar to the strips mentioned by Walt Puryear. It comes in a cartridge for a caulking gun. It is gunned into the void between the body and the rubber after installing the windshield. It isn't easy to get the nozzle under the edge of the rubber with the aluminum trim. Also, it tends to ooze out for quite a while, so most installers don't like to use it unless they are having leakage problems.

Vince,

Thanks for the information. I'll try to get some of the 3M product you mention. I am the original owner of the SL and yes, the windshield was the original. I replaced just the windshield about a year ago but naturally it leaked so I got a new gasket. Finally had the time to work on the car this winter.

Thanks,
Joe Z.

[ALUEB]

Product. My back windshield as a leak. At first I thought it was a replacement back window. As the rear window defroster was missing and there is a switch for it on the dash. Upon closer inspection, it looks as if the defroster wire or whatever they were madr of have worn off. There is some on the very bottom of the window and the top. I have tried various fixes.the last being clear Silicone, windshield and glass sealer. I have a set of plastic pry tools I bought form underwood.com and I lifted the rubber seal, which is in remarkably good condition from what I can see and sealed all around the bottom and up halfway on both sides. Since then it has rained. I did was the car and it seems to be OK. But if does leak I am going to body shop I use and they are going to take the back glass out and reseal.

Another point I have a feeling it is not coming from the rear window. The louvers, Oh I am talking about my 79 450SLC and one Saturday my son and I spent the day cleaning drain holes. When I sprayed some air between the louvers outside trim and the car, small bits of black material came out by the droves. When to the shop manual and found out there is a insulation material in there which after doing a Google search is basically colorfoam, a product that crafter's use. I bought some at a local craft shop in black. But all the trim and covers have to come of the interior and there are 3 screws that hold a frame around the louvers. This were the insulation goes under the frame. I read it is near to impossible to take out the glass there and you have to buy a entire replacement unit. But in one issue of the STAR, the technical section had removed them, but made the comment never again. Also there are drain holes for these louvers on the bottom, they were clogged so I got a long thin drain brush and worked it in and out until they were clear. They empty out where the gas overflow does, at least that is the way it seems to me.

Thanks again for the valuable information.

[Walt Puryear]

Joe,

The problem must have been due to the "first post" as you guessed becuase you are now listed a a member.

I have to confess that I am not that familiar with the 280sl windscreen, however, I recently disassembled an original 190sl windscreen and found that the factory use a sealer exactly like the 3M product mentioned (only white, not black) bewteen the rubber and frame.

Regrds,
Walt