window regulator DIY
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: California
1997 E420, 1983 300D
window regulator DIY
so, my back window regulator popped. i found a replacement for only $55 on ebay! It's on its way, so I'm prepping to put it in myself. There is a good pictorial on how to do it, but the cloudy part deals with the rivets. First though - do you really need to use rivets!?! Wouldn't nuts and bolts work the same? I don't have a rivet gun and don't feel inclined to buy one and/or learn how to use one.
Can anyone who has done this repair comment on whether or not I could get by with some nuts/bolts and a little locktight or something?
Thanks all!
Can anyone who has done this repair comment on whether or not I could get by with some nuts/bolts and a little locktight or something?
Thanks all!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 3
2007 S-550, 2001 E-430 & 1997 E-420
Rivets Gun $10 @ Home Depot
I did mine with rivets.
It was bitcx to work with steel rivets that came with regulator.
I went to Home depot bought aluminum rivets of same size and small gun, total cost was bout $15. Much easier to do this way then spend more time on other solutions.
It was bitcx to work with steel rivets that came with regulator.
I went to Home depot bought aluminum rivets of same size and small gun, total cost was bout $15. Much easier to do this way then spend more time on other solutions.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,815
Likes: 13
John Deere
Agreed, it's easy. If I figured it out, anyone can. The worst part is drilling out the old steel rivets. Once that's done, the new aluminum rivets pop in in 2 seconds. There are no threads to use screws.
A rivet gun is only around $15
A rivet gun is only around $15
Newbie
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Wine Country, CA
2001 E430 Designo
Yep - rivet gun is a cheap and very effective tool.
Beware of cheap regulators as you will truly get what you pay for. The guides and plastic wheel are generally of questionable quality and fail far more quickly than MB originals.
I know as I bought a 'cheap' alternative regulator that lasted less than two weeks. I replaced it with an MB original (~$70) and it's worked perfectly for the last six months.
A little bit more to pay but it lasts longer.
- Nellie
Beware of cheap regulators as you will truly get what you pay for. The guides and plastic wheel are generally of questionable quality and fail far more quickly than MB originals.
I know as I bought a 'cheap' alternative regulator that lasted less than two weeks. I replaced it with an MB original (~$70) and it's worked perfectly for the last six months.
A little bit more to pay but it lasts longer.
- Nellie
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: California
1997 E420, 1983 300D
thanks, so i have everything ready when i get started, can anybody tell me the size aluminum rivet to buy? i don't want to take everything apart and then go to the store. is it sized like screws? (6,8,10...) or is it a different measurement? if i knew all that before getting started it would give me a real head start.
regarding non MB regulators, somewhere i read that there was not a bid difference in quality. hope that's true. i really don't open that back window very often - at all the more i think about it. maybe it goes up and down 10 time a year? I figure i've only got 3-4 years left in this car before i get bored with it, so if the regulator can handle 40 trips up and down i'm golden.
regarding non MB regulators, somewhere i read that there was not a bid difference in quality. hope that's true. i really don't open that back window very often - at all the more i think about it. maybe it goes up and down 10 time a year? I figure i've only got 3-4 years left in this car before i get bored with it, so if the regulator can handle 40 trips up and down i'm golden.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,815
Likes: 13
John Deere
Incidentaly, I just stumbled across my invoice. I bought mine from:
http://www.stopshopanddrive.com/
It was $54 shipped.
http://www.stopshopanddrive.com/
It was $54 shipped.
