Rear Sunroof Yellowed and Sticky
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Joined: Apr 2023
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Mercedes gl450
Rear Sunroof Yellowed and Sticky
When I acquired my 2011 GL this past January, its rear sunroof was cloudy and a bit yellowish. The inside of the glass is clean. Upon climbing a ladder to inspect the sunroof from the outside, I discovered it was a fairly sticky (the rest of the roof was not). I suspect, given the yellowish tint, this was from an accumulation of tree sap from where the vehicle was frequently parked (although it seems odd only the rear sunroof would be sticky). I was able to use two different grease removers to eliminate the stickiness and yellowish tint. But, the glass remains cloudy. The cloudiness is uniform across the entire sunroof. I did check out another used 2011 GL and its rear sunroof was also cloudy.
So, is it supposed to be cloudy? If not, how do I get it clear again?
Thanks!
So, is it supposed to be cloudy? If not, how do I get it clear again?
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 628
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
When I acquired my 2011 GL this past January, its rear sunroof was cloudy and a bit yellowish. The inside of the glass is clean. Upon climbing a ladder to inspect the sunroof from the outside, I discovered it was a fairly sticky (the rest of the roof was not). I suspect, given the yellowish tint, this was from an accumulation of tree sap from where the vehicle was frequently parked (although it seems odd only the rear sunroof would be sticky). I was able to use two different grease removers to eliminate the stickiness and yellowish tint. But, the glass remains cloudy. The cloudiness is uniform across the entire sunroof. I did check out another used 2011 GL and its rear sunroof was also cloudy.
So, is it supposed to be cloudy? If not, how do I get it clear again?
Thanks!
So, is it supposed to be cloudy? If not, how do I get it clear again?
Thanks!
Mine is nearly always indoors, but if it were objectionably cloudy, polishing it would be so far down the list I'd get tired of hitting PgDn.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 314
Likes: 34
Mercedes gl450
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 314
Likes: 34
Mercedes gl450
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 314
Likes: 34
Mercedes gl450
I actually did see a post where a couple people (somewhat) fixed it, essentially following a paint repair routine, but with headlight UV sealant instead of paint. The thread is titled "Coating on rear glass roof panel?" But based on my experience with headlights, unless the hazing is very light, it would be a lot of work for only partial success and short life.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
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Mercedes gl450
@Elbeau Hey! Why not just paint over it? The thing is useless as a roof window, and it lets sunlight and heat into the cabin. I bet you could get a matching paint color from Repli-Color, and not only protect the Lexan from further degradation, but also make the cargo area more comfy for the doggos.
But I did contemplate your suggestion.
I might just test an area to see how bad it is. As Max pointed out, I don't want to make matters worse, so I won't put a lot of muscle into it. And if it's a no-go, I can live with it.
Incidentally, I have used paint from touch-up direct and it matched my Paladium Silver perfectly. Oddly, Mercedes touch up paint did not.
Last edited by Elbeau; Aug 16, 2023 at 06:40 PM.
