XJguy

I just got a new window installed by Safelite and while the window looks great, OEM, I am not as satisfied with the reinstallation of the trim (its off center and the clips have marks, very slight but marks nonetheless), they also managed to crack my 3rd brake light housing. But there is one thing particular that I am wondering about.

On the outside of the metal bolding is black rubber that takes of the gap. I would like to know if this black rubber is supposed to go all the way around or if it just exists on the top and the two sides. The way they installed it it does not go all the way around which may or may not be correct, I do not recall. They claim that this is the right way...the ends are just cut and basically terminate at the trunk lid.

pwogaman

The brake light housing will crack if you look at it funny. I would not hold that against them. I can't speak to the rest.

RBYCC

It appears that you have the lower seal missing.
The coupe uses a two piece seal...the one piece goes around the top and sides and the other piece fits the bottom.
The rear window is also installed with a sealant.

XJguy

Thanks for the response. So there should be an additional rubber piece that adheres to the bottom edge? This rubber does not seem to do anything other than aesthetics, and maybe stopping debris, such as leaves from getting trapped. Or am I mistaken.

This is what the ends/corners look like now. That black thing is the end of the seal which is just stuck on. I dont know what that small blob of sealant is all about either its on both sides..did they knock off a rubber bumper and try to cover it up with some goop?

XJguy

Can someone snap a photo of that area on their coupe for me? I dont seem to recall that huge gap there.

RBYCC

stormtigers

There is definitely something astray there.
I was actualy looking at my Coupe rear window the other night. The rubber goe all the way around although it does tend to fold over when it comes to the corners.
It looks like they didn't like the fold over and chopped a piece out from my perception.
It's a bit late here for a photo but I will post one in the morning for you to look at.

XJguy

Thanks been looking at that but its hard to discern from the diagram. Also do you know if the holes that are being covered by the two globs of sealant are supposed to have something else in there?

RBYCC

Pix of my rear seals on my 1988 C124.
Window was out when the car was painted and new seals installed.
You can see the tail of the long seal (part 20)that goes from the lower bottom of each side and across the top.
The lower seal (part 29)that goes across the bottom can't be seen as it's under the molding.
There is another small seal (part 32)that goes across the top of the lower trim.
Note a small hole in the tail that sticks out...seems to coincide with the sealant on your car.
My car doesn't have a hole under that point.
Possibly the later coupes had a drain hole that is where the sealant shows on your car?

Your seal looks like the tapered tail has been cut off?
It looks like you can see in your first pic the outline (which appears very clean and blue) where the tapered tail was on your car.

Ed A.

XJguy

Thank you Ed! So it looks like the corner piece is missing on mine. As well as the rubber you said is not visible that is under the metal trim that goes all the way across. I think that there must have been a rubber or plastic plug that allows that end to be held down on the end. I believe they just used some generic rubber to put around the glass, as it has adhesive backing, one end was loose so I was able to see. I never had that additional rubber that I see you have on top of the metal trim towards the middle.

XJguy

I saw this on another post, but I think this car is a sedan. But I dont know, that is a rather large piece of rubber.



https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ield-seal.html

stormtigers

As you can see on Ed's picture there is a small hole on both sides of the seal but it certainly looks like they have cut that section off your seal or maybe corner pieces are missing.

Left & Right Images of mine below !

XJguy

XJguy

Storm, you need to host the images on another site. If you want, email them to me Ill put them up on my Photobucket and post them here.

XJguy@aol.com

stormtigers

It's okay I rebooted the browser. They are now in my original post to you.
Please excuse the car needs a good cleaning. Middle of winter too damn cold to do that stuff !

stormtigers

I think the answer to that should be a resounding YES !
Hence why the seal heads back in that direction from the channel (which from the look of that image) would be an overflow drain I suspect, to ensure no pooling of water if the normal drains get blocked for some reason or water can't flow out of the channel.

XJguy

According to the "technician" that did the window, the metal strips are not removable without complete removal of rear window, anyone know if this is the case? My strips are not on perfectly aligned and I would like to correct that.

RBYCC

This pic may give you a better idea of the complexity of the rear window installation.
Use the parts diagram from the EPC that I posted to see how the seals fit the channel and the trim.
Notice on the pic that part 11 is still installed on the car and it appears shiny.
Part 17 then fits over it and the seal and trim lock to it along with the adhesive sealant that secures the glass to the channel in the body.
You can also see the lower rubber seal that goes under the bottom molding in the pic.
To remove the window it has to be cut out along with the one piece seal that goes from the sides and around the top along with the trim that it fits into.

XJguy

Does yours have a hole in the sheetmetal below that?

stormtigers

Okay I'll stand corrected on the hole being for drainage.
Now I think it actually there so you can push a molded rubber plug (probably molded as part of the seal) into a hole. It is actually a hollow which is rubber on the inside. I would guess that by inserting something of an appropriate size into the hole it would help to locate the "rubber plug" into a receptacle in the metal.

Yes there is a rubber seal under the trim where you indicate.
I managed to put a needle under and could feel the rubber. In fact a tiny bit of rubber came off on the needle when I moved it along an inch or two.

I not so sure about not being able to remove the trim I am sure I have read of people removing there's to rejuvenate it properly.

XJguy

Thank you all very much, your help is much appreciated. Saturday I will go armed with this information and hopefully get this all righted.