Alert! Do Your Inner Door Seals Look Like These?
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Alert! Do Your Inner Door Frame Seals Look Like These?
My 2001 C-Sedan was delivered with black inner door frame seals (see picture below, arrows). The plain rubber seals are quite grippy, and rub on your clothing as you enter/exit the car. Over the course of a year, the frame seal on my driver’s door became visibly worn and thin along a 3-4” length of the B-Pillar at the place indicated by the RED arrow. So, I asked the dealer to replace this seal under warranty, which they did...
...with a NEW design. See next post…
...with a NEW design. See next post…
Last edited by MB-BOB; Jun 10, 2002 at 09:53 PM.
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…In this picture, you can see that the replacement seal is no longer raw rubber, but upholstery over rubber, to match the interior color of the car. It doesn’t catch your clothing like the former, but is marginally harder to keep clean, due to the light color. Charcoal interiors won’t have this problem, of course.
After replacing the Driver’s door seal, the dealer realized that the other doors no longer matched, (duh?), and they have since replaced the remaining three seals. This photo shows the difference between the front and rear doors while the three additional seals were on order.
My question: Can you folks with 2002 models tell us if your cars have these upholstered seals as standard? Or the exposed rubber ones? Do the 2002 Coupes have upholstered seals, or rubber?
My Suggestion: Anyone with exposed rubber seals (2001s?) should inspect their driver’s door frame seal for wear at the point indicated in the previous post… You may be entitled to an upgrade when it wears out.
After replacing the Driver’s door seal, the dealer realized that the other doors no longer matched, (duh?), and they have since replaced the remaining three seals. This photo shows the difference between the front and rear doors while the three additional seals were on order.
My question: Can you folks with 2002 models tell us if your cars have these upholstered seals as standard? Or the exposed rubber ones? Do the 2002 Coupes have upholstered seals, or rubber?
My Suggestion: Anyone with exposed rubber seals (2001s?) should inspect their driver’s door frame seal for wear at the point indicated in the previous post… You may be entitled to an upgrade when it wears out.
Last edited by MB-BOB; Jun 10, 2002 at 09:54 PM.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by MB-BOB
…In this picture, you can see that the replacement seal is no longer raw rubber, but upholstery over rubber, to match the interior color of the car. It doesn’t catch your clothing like the former, but is marginally harder to keep clean, due to the light color. Charcoal interiors won’t have this problem, of course.
My question: Can you folks with 2002 models tell us if your cars have these upholstered seals as standard? Or the exposed rubber ones? Do the 2002 Coupes have upholstered seals, or rubber?
…In this picture, you can see that the replacement seal is no longer raw rubber, but upholstery over rubber, to match the interior color of the car. It doesn’t catch your clothing like the former, but is marginally harder to keep clean, due to the light color. Charcoal interiors won’t have this problem, of course.
My question: Can you folks with 2002 models tell us if your cars have these upholstered seals as standard? Or the exposed rubber ones? Do the 2002 Coupes have upholstered seals, or rubber?
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by Fuzzo
So markL are you saying that even the charcoal interior should have a cloth outer lining on the seal... hmm... i'm pretty sure I have rubber..and my car was an early 02 as well....
So markL are you saying that even the charcoal interior should have a cloth outer lining on the seal... hmm... i'm pretty sure I have rubber..and my car was an early 02 as well....
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From: Sri Lanka
Originally posted by MarkL
Right, the new C32 I saw with charcoal interior had the fabric seals instead of rubber. My '02 C240 was built in July 2001, I wonder when the change occurred.
Right, the new C32 I saw with charcoal interior had the fabric seals instead of rubber. My '02 C240 was built in July 2001, I wonder when the change occurred.
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Originally posted by MarkL
I wonder if it just looks nicer, or if it does a better job of sealing out noises, etc?
I wonder if it just looks nicer, or if it does a better job of sealing out noises, etc?
I'd suggest you and Fuzzo check your rubber seal for wear anyway. You might be surprised.
Just to clarify... they're still rubber seals, just covered in fabric.
Last edited by MB-BOB; Jun 10, 2002 at 10:01 PM.
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
yes, those cloth doorseal is standard on my C32 AMG (april delivery)...and all the late 02 sedan model i think. C32 has those newer doorseal from the begining.
Last edited by FrankW; Jun 10, 2002 at 10:23 PM.
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From: Canada
Its amazing that your dealer will replace all the seals. I think most dealers would just replace the bad seal with a new rubber one at least during the warranty period. Otherwise they will have to replace a lot of perfectly good seals at considerable expense just so they all match.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by MB-BOB
MarkL, the seal is just as quiet as before. I find the door opening a little small for my 6 feet frame. I rub that portion of the B-Pillar, even when I consciously try not to do so.
I'd suggest you and Fuzzo check your rubber seal for wear anyway. You might be surprised.
Just to clarify... they're still rubber seals, just covered in fabric.
MarkL, the seal is just as quiet as before. I find the door opening a little small for my 6 feet frame. I rub that portion of the B-Pillar, even when I consciously try not to do so.
I'd suggest you and Fuzzo check your rubber seal for wear anyway. You might be surprised.
Just to clarify... they're still rubber seals, just covered in fabric.
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Originally posted by viper
Its amazing that your dealer will replace all the seals. I think most dealers would just replace the bad seal with a new rubber one at least during the warranty period. Otherwise they will have to replace a lot of perfectly good seals at considerable expense just so they all match.
Its amazing that your dealer will replace all the seals. I think most dealers would just replace the bad seal with a new rubber one at least during the warranty period. Otherwise they will have to replace a lot of perfectly good seals at considerable expense just so they all match.
Lynn, yup, I like the longer door in the Coupe for that reason. I understand that the B-Pillar is heftier on the C-sedan compared with other sedans, for rigidity and safety reasons. (All of the MB loaner cars I've driven are easier to enter/exit, because their B-Pillars are thinner, front to back.)
MarkL, yes the tan seals get scuffed with the shoes easier. I'm hoping some Simple Green and water that works on the door kick panels will also clean the seals when the time comes. I prepared myself to work harder to clean a Java interior, but it's proving to be much more of a chore than I expected.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by MB-BOB
MarkL, yes the tan seals get scuffed with the shoes easier. I'm hoping some Simple Green and water that works on the door kick panels will also clean the seals when the time comes. I prepared myself to work harder to clean a Java interior, but it's proving to be much more of a chore than I expected.
MarkL, yes the tan seals get scuffed with the shoes easier. I'm hoping some Simple Green and water that works on the door kick panels will also clean the seals when the time comes. I prepared myself to work harder to clean a Java interior, but it's proving to be much more of a chore than I expected.
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Originally posted by MarkL
I think I've had to clean my inside windshield surface more than the seats, and not just the center area. I had this experience w/ my Passat also -- it's hard to really clean that surface w/o leaving some streaks. I think I need something other than Windex.
I think I've had to clean my inside windshield surface more than the seats, and not just the center area. I had this experience w/ my Passat also -- it's hard to really clean that surface w/o leaving some streaks. I think I need something other than Windex.
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From: Canada
Originally posted by MB-BOB
My dealer told me they no longer make or stock the plain rubber seals for the sedans. The only replacement available was the upholstered one... hence the swap-out of all four. The whole point of this post is to alert others with plain seals to the probability of an upgrade when theirs go bad.
My dealer told me they no longer make or stock the plain rubber seals for the sedans. The only replacement available was the upholstered one... hence the swap-out of all four. The whole point of this post is to alert others with plain seals to the probability of an upgrade when theirs go bad.
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I have rubber seals and they looked deformed when I first got them so I had it replaced. I wonder how I can get them to replace it again... I think the fabric is much better like you said. 
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Originally posted by viper
Yes thanks for letting us know. I was only making a point that its going to cost them a lot of money to replace 3 other seals when only one is bad. Just surprised that they would thats all. Sounds like you were offended by my comment ?
Yes thanks for letting us know. I was only making a point that its going to cost them a lot of money to replace 3 other seals when only one is bad. Just surprised that they would thats all. Sounds like you were offended by my comment ?
My dad had a Buick where the cloth upholstery on the driver's seat unravelled at the seams under warranty. They apparently had similar problems on several cars with these seats, because stock of the original pattern cloth seats were no longer available by the time his went bad. So the dealer ended up replacing ALL the seating surfaces in the vehicle. That was expensive, too.
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'01 C240/6
Originally posted by viper
Its amazing that your dealer will replace all the seals. I think most dealers would just replace the bad seal with a new rubber one at least during the warranty period. Otherwise they will have to replace a lot of perfectly good seals at considerable expense just so they all match.
Its amazing that your dealer will replace all the seals. I think most dealers would just replace the bad seal with a new rubber one at least during the warranty period. Otherwise they will have to replace a lot of perfectly good seals at considerable expense just so they all match.
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ML,
I for years I have been cleaning the inside of my windshield with regular glass cleaner and......get this.....newspaper. Yeah, just take a bit of old news paper, crumple it up and dry the sprayed on cleaner with it. You'll never get a nicer cleaner streak free look than by this method. I was hesitant to do this too my car at first but my girlfriend did it to her car so I thought I'd give it a try.
Excellent trick
I for years I have been cleaning the inside of my windshield with regular glass cleaner and......get this.....newspaper. Yeah, just take a bit of old news paper, crumple it up and dry the sprayed on cleaner with it. You'll never get a nicer cleaner streak free look than by this method. I was hesitant to do this too my car at first but my girlfriend did it to her car so I thought I'd give it a try.
Excellent trick
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by AMGracer
ML,
I for years I have been cleaning the inside of my windshield with regular glass cleaner and......get this.....newspaper. Yeah, just take a bit of old news paper, crumple it up and dry the sprayed on cleaner with it. You'll never get a nicer cleaner streak free look than by this method. I was hesitant to do this too my car at first but my girlfriend did it to her car so I thought I'd give it a try.
Excellent trick
ML,
I for years I have been cleaning the inside of my windshield with regular glass cleaner and......get this.....newspaper. Yeah, just take a bit of old news paper, crumple it up and dry the sprayed on cleaner with it. You'll never get a nicer cleaner streak free look than by this method. I was hesitant to do this too my car at first but my girlfriend did it to her car so I thought I'd give it a try.
Excellent trick
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From: Obama Land
K Car
I finally remembered to check last night, and my 2002 C320 has the black rubber seals. No wear marks on them yet, and I haven't noticed myself rubbing up against them. I think the upholstered one's look a lot nicer though.....
No wear marks on them yet, and I haven't noticed myself rubbing up against them. I think the upholstered one's look a lot nicer though.....
