Window problems
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
2002 E200
Window problems
My E200 has just over 200,000kms on it, it's not perfect but quite usable and presentable.
But driving it can be a bit of a problem with regard to visibility. The driver's window is severely marked with vertical lines, as if something in the door has scratched some kind of soft surface on the inside of the glass. It doesn't appear to have an aftermarket style of tint on the window, but maybe it has.
At night this is particularly bad:
In the daytime it makes checking the outside mirror almost useless, everything is indistinct as you look through those lines and get the distortion they create.
Is this normal? Is it curable?
In addition to this, there's a problem with the rear window. I will get a photo that shows what has become of it after we tried window cleaner on a patch which - if anything - has made it worse.
Any help with these issues will be appreciated.
But driving it can be a bit of a problem with regard to visibility. The driver's window is severely marked with vertical lines, as if something in the door has scratched some kind of soft surface on the inside of the glass. It doesn't appear to have an aftermarket style of tint on the window, but maybe it has.
At night this is particularly bad:
In the daytime it makes checking the outside mirror almost useless, everything is indistinct as you look through those lines and get the distortion they create.
Is this normal? Is it curable?
In addition to this, there's a problem with the rear window. I will get a photo that shows what has become of it after we tried window cleaner on a patch which - if anything - has made it worse.
Any help with these issues will be appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
Wild guess from my keyboard might suggest that airborne particulates from driving through cloud of sand, dust storm, gravel etc which then lodged into the built in window squeegee. they're not only rubber but kind of a woven pile I recall. Each time the window is cycled it just allows the grit to further scour the window.
One way of inspecting would be to (easy to do) remove the inside door panel and inspect/clean the window seal/gasket thing along each side of the window. May be more challenging to do on the outside... very easy to inspect on the door panel side.
Driver side much more than passenger side as it's most likely to be used more.....and much less so than the rear side windows.
Insofar as the back rear window, no clue yet. thought: be careful cleaning the rear window as it will have some sort of laminate to hold the antenna (I think). overall, same caution if your car has aftermarket tint on side windows.
One way of inspecting would be to (easy to do) remove the inside door panel and inspect/clean the window seal/gasket thing along each side of the window. May be more challenging to do on the outside... very easy to inspect on the door panel side.
Driver side much more than passenger side as it's most likely to be used more.....and much less so than the rear side windows.
Insofar as the back rear window, no clue yet. thought: be careful cleaning the rear window as it will have some sort of laminate to hold the antenna (I think). overall, same caution if your car has aftermarket tint on side windows.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
2002 E200
Apologies for the late acknowledgement of your response...
I've been hijacked by a stack of work and unable to get back to this. Except that I have decided it's a stick-on tint which, I'm told, can be removed and then some special solution used to clean the glass.
I'll report back as I make any progress, but I still have to put up with this nightmare when driving for a while longer.
I've been hijacked by a stack of work and unable to get back to this. Except that I have decided it's a stick-on tint which, I'm told, can be removed and then some special solution used to clean the glass.
I'll report back as I make any progress, but I still have to put up with this nightmare when driving for a while longer.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 3
From: South Georgia USA
2012 GL450, 1998 E300, 2014 GLK350, 2004 Ram 2500 with the Cummins
heating the adhesive with a steamer, heat gun, or hairdryer, then slowly peeling the film off to avoid leaving glue residue. For stubborn residue, use a soap/water solution or adhesive remover, then scrape with a fresh razor blade at a 45-degree angle. Take care to protect interior panels and avoid cutting defroster lines on rear windows
This is what google said.
This is what google said.
