andaya

Don't know if this is common but EVERYTIME I open my drivers side window and close it back up, I have this long smear of grease of some sort. It seems like my window hits or touches something when it in the open position. Does anyone get this?

Does anyone know a URL where I see a diagram of the front door panel, to probably to open it and clean it myself or fix.
Thanks
andaya

Chuck V

Had the same problem on my 99 ML. The dealer fixed it under warrenty.

greenm

Common problem. The "sticky" stuff on your window is actually the door insulation self-destructing. Dealer should be able to fix it. Also, you might want the dealer to fix all 4 doors, as the others will do the same thing in time.

andaya

What is that?

amb9800

Yeah - it's a known problem on ML's up to 2001 model year, especially darker-colored ones, in the sunlight usually, the heat builds up and the insulation starts melting, creating a smear/spot that is many times very hard to clean. Usually fixed by dealer - I've seen 2 ML's with the issue - both black one '99 and one '01.

Chuck V

You know your stuff!

DougWW

Actually it is not the insulation melting, but the adhesive they use to hold the insulation on to the door panel. A little acetone will remove it, but it will come back again when you put the window down again. Be careful when using acetone as it is very famable and the fumes can be explosive. Best to get it fixed, dealers are very familiar with the problem.

Doug W.

mbtech208

The new insulation pads are magnetic, so they won't peel away from the door shell anymore.

amb9800

Right - it's not the insulation - I must have gotten confused by the earlier replies. But anyway they say it's fixed for '02's and newer models.

andaya

Once I took off the door panel, I realize it wasn't the insulation pad, it was a piece of pad that's about 12" wide and 4 " height that stuck to the door. What was happening was that this pad had contact with the window sliding down. And everytime it did that, it left residue from the pad to the window, so that's why you get the glue smear. So all I did was cut the piece off , and BINGO...all done. I did both windows in 10 min.

So, if you have any problems like this, do it your self.

It's so easy.

andaya

tthorne

I have the same problem on my OO silver ML320. 8000 miles on it. thanks for the update

marineboy0

Andaya

How did you lever the panel off? I'd like to know to avoid damaging anything.

andaya

If you mean the wooden like handle, where you close the door from inside (handle). Just get a small screw driver and the wood piece pops out. Then there will be two screws. Ones you take the screws off, this is the easy part, just grab a corner of the door panel and start pulling them out. The thing is that the door panel is not screwed in to your door, they are popped in ( once you take one out you'l see what I'm talking about. Start from the bottom up, so this way you can lift up above the door opener.
And your in!
There is an installation plastic around your door, they are adhesive on one side but you can stick them back on the door after your done. Easy!

Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Hope this helps.

Andaya.
I'll do it for you for $25 :p joking

dwang

Just be careful when you are popping off the panel. The plastic "rivots" can break easily. I had to replace 4 of mine as they broke off when I popped the panel off. Go buy some from the dealer before you start with the panel (.25 cents each). Also, as a precaution, I usually disconnect my battery to avoid accidentally discharging the air bag. Wait 20 minutes after you disconnect the battery to start working on the door.


Dave

marineboy0

Andaya / dwang

I'll go give it a go. Thanks again.

marineboy0

Andaya
Job done. Did take me 45 min though to do all four ;-)

Thanks your advice was right on. My wife is looking forward to a smearless summer.

marineboy0

Hmm two weeks on.

Removing the adhesive backed insulation has cured the smear on the windows. (I had teh problem on all four windows of a black 1999 ML320. I sometimes also get the problem on the sunroof....but I am not going to try remove the liner!).

ANyway - new feedback. My wife now complains that the doors sound tinny when she shuts them. She will have to learn live with it. But it is pretty funny that the differnce between a pseudo expensive solid sounding thunk when shutting the door and a cheap tinny sound is just a piece of adhesive backed insulation....:p

dwang

If your door seems to sound tinny and you want that MB thud back, try using Dynamat. It's a sound deadning device mainly used to shield stereo speakers. It's widely available at stereo shops. And no, the black streaks will not come back!!


Dave

marineboy0

Dwang
Thanks
I'll look into it. Now that I know how to get into and out off the door panel - it should be easy. Good idea.

andaya

around the corner :p

The tinny sound is definitlybetter then the smear window. I will also look into installing the Dynmate, I didn't even realize that piece of installation I took off, was something that made the sound of the door, "Thung" instead of "tinny".

The funny thing is, one day walking out of my car at a plaza, I saw a parked ML320 and the window was all smeared. I wanted to just leave a note or something telling him/her that it's an easy fix :p and to go to www.mbworld.org. lol

And I just got my 10" sub woofer installed!! Summer, here I come!! All windows down baby!

Enjoy summer guys!!!!
Andaya

cgmike10

I had the same problem on my 2001ml.

All dealer did was simply wipe off the grease and give the car back. Now thats service. Lol.

It looked like i had bird shi*t on my window everytime i opened it. Anyway, I traded it in for the 2003 ml and now i have the esp bas light coming on every so often and a steering vibration.

Hate to say it, but my friend's X5 only needed an oil change at 5k miles.