Perma-Fog on rear windshield

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fishlegs - 17 Jul 2006 17:22 GMT

I've recently purchased a 1978 MB 300D, and lately I've noticed a
permanent state of fogginess at the bottom of the rear windshield. The
rear windshield leaks. I have ordered windshield gaskets and will be
replacing both the front and back ones soon, but was curious if I need
to think about replacing the whole back windshield because water may be
trapped between the glass and laminate.

Will this problem go away if I take out the windshield, let it dry out,
and put it back in with a new gasket?

If not and I decide that I can live with the fog, will I need to worry
about it contributing to rust around the windshield seal?

Also, am I correct in assuming that I will need to remove the
windshields when I replace the gaskets?

Thanks,
erik

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Martin Joseph - 17 Jul 2006 18:50 GMT

> I've recently purchased a 1978 MB 300D, and lately I've noticed a
> permanent state of fogginess at the bottom of the rear windshield. The
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Also, am I correct in assuming that I will need to remove the
> windshields when I replace the gaskets?

You need to replace the glass also.

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Richard Sexton - 17 Jul 2006 19:02 GMT

>I've recently purchased a 1978 MB 300D, and lately I've noticed a
>permanent state of fogginess at the bottom of the rear windshield. The
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Also, am I correct in assuming that I will need to remove the
>windshields when I replace the gaskets?

Welcome to one of Mercedes dirty little secrets.

The fogginess is delaminatin of the layers of glass and plastic. Throw
the old one away and get a new good one from a scrapyard with NO
fogginess whatsoever. They do exist. Be picky.

You have to remove the windscreen to replace the gasket.

Most people end up breaking the rear windscreen when removing it. Fact
of life.

Left unchecked, water gets in the trunk and rots the trunk floor, which
is the first place you look for rust in an old MB when inspecting it.

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Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
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Tiger - 18 Jul 2006 01:53 GMT

Ditto.

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fishlegs - 18 Jul 2006 14:58 GMT

Thanks for the help, I'll replace the windshield as soon as my new
gaskets arrive. Fortunately, the gasket leaks haven't resulted in any
apparent rusting in the trunk or rear footwells. Hopefully I won't
discover any major rust damage beneath the old gaskets.

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Richard Sexton - 20 Jul 2006 02:24 GMT

>Thanks for the help, I'll replace the windshield as soon as my new
>gaskets arrive. Fortunately, the gasket leaks haven't resulted in any
>apparent rusting in the trunk or rear footwells. Hopefully I won't
>discover any major rust damage beneath the old gaskets.

It's too late for you but what can be done at the first sign of
trouble is get some very runny liquid silicone sealant from
an automotice store, made for this purpose and put some between
the glass and the gasket, on a dry day. It'll seal up the leak.

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