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Removal and Replacement of the windshield - 116 280SE

Started by polymathman, 17 December 2015, 02:31 PM

ptashek

Well, that may explain why that brand new MB seal I got this year did not fit in the exact same way.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Harv

Quote from: UTn_boy on 21 May 2016, 08:47 PM
I may have already mentioned this, but MBNA and URO have gotten together to sign an agreement for URO to start making rubber seals of the NA market, for both old and new cars.  By international law, Mercedes has to contract out a certain percentage of their manufacturing.  Why they chose URO is beyond me.  Why could they not have used Meyle or FEBI here in the U.S.?  This is all so damned disconcerting.

If URO is making things in China, then that's why. China has some law that a percentage of parts must be made in China if you want to sell your products there. People freak out where they see OEM Mercedes parts with 'Made in China' on them but that's how it has to be done if they want to sell cars in China.
1980 300SD
1983 240D
2000 E55 AMG
2002 G500

daantjie

Yup and with 1 out of 2 new S Classes being sold is into the Chinese market it is easy to see the math here.
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

rumb

I think I  read somewhere they make a lot of parts in Thailand.

They now make a broad range of parts for MB
http://www.uroparts.com/uro/site/products/mercedes-benz

'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

UTn_boy

To my understanding, URO parts is based out of California.  Honestly, they're the typical cliche` American company that is outsourcing to China.  The thing is, the Chinese are very capable of making goo products, but there is more money in making parts the cheap way, so there's that math, too. 

Speaking of the new MB seals, I had one put away for my 450 in the event that the URO seal didn't work out.  Since the URO seal was junk, I started putting the MB seal on only to find that it had separated at the vulcanized joint.  A brand new seal total garbage now.  I can't win for losing.  :/
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

Zaxxon

I hope that the one that I just a few weeks ago got from the classic center isn't garbage too - I'll let you know probably next weekend when I'll do my windshield...
---
Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

rumb

UTn_boy,

I have lately had a running conversation with URO concerning quality of their parts. They have offered to give you a new seal in exchange for your feedback. You should be able to contact Justin at sales@uroparts.com, or let me know and I can send them your email.


This is in response to me sending him your post about the windshield seal:
>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks for letting us know of the issue!  I believe he was detailed enough to get my engineers started on looking into this, but it would be helpful to get an introduction if he's willing to help us.  Then we can send him a revised seal to show him that we're not just good at PR as some have suggested. J

Justin

Customer Support
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

ptashek

Quote from: rumb on 23 May 2016, 01:33 PM
Thanks for letting us know of the issue!  I believe he was detailed enough to get my engineers started on looking into this, but it would be helpful to get an introduction if he's willing to help us.  Then we can send him a revised seal to show him that we're not just good at PR as some have suggested. J

That's actually pretty good. I'd take them up on that offer, and maybe something good for us all will come out of it.
If I were sure the first OEM seal I got from MB was made by URO, I'd happily donate it to the cause as well.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

polymathman

Has anybody got a cross-section photo or drawing of this seal to show the difference?
190sl 1957 rusting away
250S 1968 long gone
280SE 1976 got hit, parts
280SE 1979 running fine
C320 4Matic 2005 for wife -Mercedes after MIT

ptashek

The new one has an additional outer lip, which goes over the trim, as marked. It's also thicker.
Drawing not to scale...

What happened in my case, is that the lip curled outwards and just refused to stay put, no matter what.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

UTn_boy

Zaxxon, any part you buy from the classic center will be the same thing you'd get from a dealership.  So the chances of getting what I, and a few others got, are pretty good. 

RUMB, thank you for doing that leg work.  I've actually had contact with Justin at URO parts regarding a sunroof seal.  I went through the trouble of ordering one from Mercedes, cut both it and the URO one in half to show a cross section of the two.  My point was to show URO that their sunroof seals profiles were way out in left field.  They were very nice and very thankful.  They even sent another sunroof seal to me at no cost, but it was the same as the first one.  I thanked them for their kindness and just threw my hands up in the air afterward. It's a lost cause, it seems.  Tell Justin to get back in touch with me if they're serious about making this right.  Otherwise, I'm not interested in helping out anymore. 

1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

Zaxxon

Quote from: UTn_boy on 24 May 2016, 03:33 PM
Zaxxon, any part you buy from the classic center will be the same thing you'd get from a dealership.  So the chances of getting what I, and a few others got, are pretty good.

Sounds like a fun weekend ahead - so in all reality, it's a gamble. There really isn't a seal on the market that is pretty certain to lay down and work right, unless one happens to come across an old style OEM seal then...
---
Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

UTn_boy

At this point in time, I would have to agree. 

So here's an update.  I received another new seal from Mercedes today.  I put it on the glass, installed the trim, worked a rope in, put sealant around the perimeter of the glass opening, set the glass in, and started pulling the rope to set the seal.  As soon as I worked my way to the lower corners, the damned vulcanized joint in the lower center of the seal had separated......That's the same thing that happened to the last one.  So now I have to order a THIRD seal.  What the hell is going on?!?!  I'm so agitated I can't see straight. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

rumb

Here's the most recent email I received from URO:

I just wanted to get back to you with our engineering department's findings so you know your email didn't fall on deaf ears.  Our engineering dept. was actually already working on this particular seal.  As a result we had a new production sample with the necessary corrections already made and pending engineering approval.  It was approved for production today and all our old inventory will be scrapped.  Our new production run will hopefully be available in around 120 days and I'd be happy to send the gentleman on the w116 forum a free sample.


Justin
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

Peter

Well that's a win, at least they are listening to you and acting on the advice, lets hope this new seal works. Top job.