Rubber From Mercedes

[pawel66]

For what it is worth, just sharing experience.

In 190SL, 280SL and Ponton restoration I followed a rule someone more experienced shared with me: buy all rubber from Mercedes if only possible. I proved true many times.

This time, when the car was put together, I found out that parts like door window seal (the one in the soft top) or windows guide jaws are "undefined availability" and dealer could not find them. I bought aftermarket parts.

I could not fit the passenger door window to soft top. The glass was binding in the rear part of seal. Tried to move glass to the front - it did not fit front pillar, tried to move the top to the back - could not fix it in the windshield frame.

I tried another aftermarket part - same problem.

I got desperate as binding was surprisingly strong - you really had to pull the door with force to open it.

I started digging in the Mercedes electronic parts catalogue. I attempted deleting the first digits of the part number - 4 and 0. There it was! Available! I bought the seals and I bought the old type jaw guides with slots for wedges.

I fitted the seal a couple of hours ago - perfect! Nothing binding. I will now replace jaw guides - hope to get rid of glass rattle while closing doors.

[aldesso]

For what it is worth, just sharing experience.

In 190SL, 280SL and Ponton restoration I followed a rule someone more experienced shared with me: buy all rubber from Mercedes if only possible. I proved true many times.

This time, when the car was put together, I found out that parts like door window seal (the one in the soft top) or windows guide jaws are "undefined availability" and dealer could not find them. I bought aftermarket parts.

I could not fit the passenger door window to soft top. The glass was binding in the rear part of seal. Tried to move glass to the front - it did not fit front pillar, tried to move the top to the back - could not fix it in the windshield frame.

I tried another aftermarket part - same problem.

I got desperate as binding was surprisingly strong - you really had to pull the door with force to open it.

I started digging in the Mercedes electronic parts catalogue. I attempted deleting the first digits of the part number - 4 and 0. There it was! Available! I bought the seals and I bought the old type jaw guides with slots for wedges.

I fitted the seal a couple of hours ago - perfect! Nothing binding. I will now replace jaw guides - hope to get rid of glass rattle while closing doors.

100% agree with you, MB rubber is the way to go for proper fit. Some after market gakets do work for some places but not the "main" seals like doors, trunk, hartop/softop, windshield, etc...
As far as the glides, some of us have removed the original bakelite blocks and lined the steel channels with felt guides. Rattle is completely gone.

[pawel66]

Yes, felt guides is an option I will check too. Need to get the rails out and try on...