MB Glass Question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Phillytwotank · #1 09-10-2014, 04:14 PM

hey you guys,

Parked my coupe under a tree and a big walnut fell and cracked the rear windshield. I cried.

The damage looks like almost like a perfect * and it hasn't gotten any bigger since this happened two or so weeks ago. i'm going back and forth between weather i should try to fix it or just live with it.

The way i see it, there are a few options

1.Looks like the glass and seal are available but, sad to say, i'm not really trying to spend $1000+ on the old girl

2. looks like there is a used glass in way low state SC for $125 (condition unknown at this point) and a new seal from MB for $200. Installation i could probably tackle myself, having experience with the front glass a few years back.

3. What's up with those cracked auto glass repair places? is that an option for this type of break?

All advice, opinions and comments are welcome

P

leathermang · #2 09-10-2014, 04:44 PM

Well , with no picture ....
Those people who pull a vacuum and let a type of resin go into the crack... are often paid for by the insurance companies... so I assume some of them work just fine...
they are not very expensive....and do not do any harm or keep you from replacing it afterwards... so I would check them out...

uberwasser · #3 09-10-2014, 04:46 PM

It's worth calling a few chip/crack repair places. Generally, the word is that if the damage will fit inside the space taken up by a dollar bill it can be repaired. However, I've only ever heard of this service being done on front windshields. I'm not sure if there may be a reason that they don't do this repair on rear windshields.

Phillytwotank · #4 09-10-2014, 05:32 PM

I've called a couple auto glass repair places and got the same story from both.

Them:What yearmakeandmodle?
Me: MB w123, its on the rear windshield
Them: rear windshields are tempered glass. we only work on laminated glass windshields.

Is the back windshield of my coupe laminated glass? it is the original MB made in west germany sigla brand glass and it has the BS kitemark on it.

Hard to get a picture of the crack but you can kinda see it in this one.

TheDon · #5 09-10-2014, 06:33 PM

Laminated glass is primarily used on the windshield so it doesn't shatter into dangerous shards and slice you to bits in an accident. The rest of the glass is tempered and when struck will break into a million tiny semi harmless pieces and once you get a chip or a crack in it...forget about it the glass is toast.

Phillytwotank · #6 09-10-2014, 09:16 PM

Yeeaah. That what I was thinking.

Had a couple different people suggest that I put some kind of tape,sticker,tint in it to try to keep it from spreading.

For all the trouble that it's worth to get it fixed I'd rather just roll with it. My biggest fear,however, is that freezing temperatures will cause it to crack much more.

One thing that comes to mind as an idea to kinda seal it up and keep it from spreading is to mask it off and spray it with some kind of clear.

Your thoughts?

cooljjay · #7 09-10-2014, 09:38 PM

WOW you must have really pee'd off the neighborhood squirrel

Nothing can be done, soon it will just shatter...

Junkman · #8 09-11-2014, 12:19 AM

See whether one of the glass places will sell & install the rear window. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Alternatively (also??) ind an old school glass man. The local independent bodyshop will have some friends. Ask him what he would charge to R&R if you find the glass & seal. Ask what gotchas there might be.

My friend that can do anything with metal doesn't do glass installs - he gets his friend that does them every day to do it.

charmalu · #9 09-11-2014, 04:08 AM

Iam pretty sure the Coupe rear glass in laminated like the 126 rear glass is.

If you look close, the defroster wires are inside the glass.

The W123 Sedans have Tempered Glass.

If it is tempered, you wouldn`t have the Star Crack. Tempered turns into a jillion little pieces.

Charlie

funola · #10 09-11-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Iam pretty sure the Coupe rear glass in laminated like the 126 rear glass is.

If you look close, the defroster wires are inside the glass.

The W123 Sedans have Tempered Glass.

If it is tempered, you wouldn`t have the Star Crack. Tempered turns into a jillion little pieces.

Charlie

That makes a lot of sense charlie if the defroster is laminated. Don't know about the CD but the w123 sedan rear windshield is NA aftermarket-dealer only.

DieselPaul · #11 09-11-2014, 11:23 AM

They sell DIY windshield crack resin kits at like napa for around $10. We used one on my girlfriends $600 190D 3 years ago and the star has not spread through 3 winters and summers. May be worth trying as a way to prevent it from spreading while you look for a used rear window.

Phillytwotank · #12 09-11-2014, 12:14 PM

Dang JJay killing me softly.

Charlie,funola: That is exactly what i'm wondering. I had a rear side glass break soon after i got the car 10 years ago and i still find lil glass nuggets in there. To me, that illustrates the difference between the tempered glass used on the sides and what would be laminated glass used on the front and back. I would like to get a solid answer just for my own piece of mind mainly. I got such a certain NO from both of the glass repair places. Without even seeing the crack or really knowing what kind of car i was talking about they are saying " all back windshields are tempered glass and unrepairable by our method". Really makes me feel like they are full of it.

I agree that replacement is the only best option. I'm just at a point with this car that i can't bring myself to put another $125 minimum for a used glass + four hour drive to get that glass + $200 for the seal + Hours of labor and stress to get it swapped into this car.

Call it $400. That is $400 that i would much rather spend on a new to me w124 diesel before i would want to put it in this car.

I think i would rather take my chances trying to seal it, repair it somehow to keep it from spreading and just ride till if explodes or i'm ready for the next one. Whichever comes first.

Me and my brother used one of those DIY crack/chip deals on his car windshield a short time ago. I don't think that could work on this crack.

MBeige · #13 09-11-2014, 04:19 PM

Mine says nothing about tempered or laminated, then again I don't know what the codes mean. See original large file.

Sekurit
ESG-H
E1 43R-001057
E-00068
DOT27 M520 A52
TF BS 857

I do recall the Top Gear episode when they smashed the rear windshield of a W123 for the South Africa special, the glass broke into a million tiny pieces.

Same thing with a different Top Gear America episode where they used an '85 300D and also broke the rear glass to "save weight"

scottmcphee · #14 09-11-2014, 05:58 PM

Most rear glass of any MB in the junkyard is in perfect condition. What do they want for one?

Phillytwotank · #15 09-11-2014, 06:06 PM

I do have a fair respect for the abilities of top gear to smash a car and I had a MB knowledgeable body/paint man tell me today that it is laminated. So, idk

Once again as always, all glass on the w123 coupe is coupe specific.
So, that seriously limits the JY score potential. I've never to this day, after 10 years of looking, found a JY coupe.

Any leads?