Any experience with Buds Benz seal kits?

[johnk]

If I get anything right with my complete renovation besides a shiny paint job its to replace all seals and rubbers with OEM rubbers and seals. Before I started the restoration the car ran great, look nice from ten feet away and had no rust. However nearly every seal and rubber was dried out and causing water and severe wind leakage.

All that said replacing all rubber is in the thousands of dollars. I was going to wait until I am farther with the restoration to order them, but I need to buy at least the soft-top hatch seal now to fit to the new lip I am fabricating. Anybody have experience with the Buds Benz seal kits? Seems they are about 20% cheaper than buying separately from them. Any other sources I should check first? I checked AutohousAZ but they do not carry the original hatch seal, just the repro.

Thanks Everyone,
JohnK

[66andBlue]

.... Anybody have experience with the Buds Benz seal kits? Seems they are about 20% cheaper than buying separately from them. Any other sources I should check first? I checked AutohousAZ but they do not carry the original hatch seal, just the repro. ....

John,
are you sure that the seal kit from Buds has only Mercedes parts?
For example, the hatch seal p/n 1137500177 costs about $260 from various MB dealers. You may get it a bit cheaper from Tom at the Classic Center.
Buds lists an "original" p/n O243-007A for only $159. Can they really get such a steep discount on true MP parts? 
You better call them and verify the price and the origin.
They also list a repro for p/n O243-007B for $69. You could get a URO part for $37.

Why do you insist on OEM ONLY parts? If you store the folding top once a month or more often most likely after 12 months the front part of the seal where the fabric rubs against will be damaged on both, the OEM and the repro.

[johnk]

Good points Alfred thank you. I was just following the common advice from this site  to buy reproduction for anything but the rubber seals. I will call Buds to verify they are all original MB parts. If not you just saved me from a huge headache.

I will go ahead and order A separate repro hatch seal now if I'm not going to buy a full set later that has one in it.

JohnK

[66andBlue]

John,
IMO, the only parts that justify the higher OEM price are the windshield gasket - because as of now no repro part has the 4 corners molded in - and the weatherstrip on the A-pillar because it needs the cloth cover in the channel where the glass slides up and down.

Take a look: http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/1137500177-MFG253.aspx - at this price you can buy a new one every two years!   

It may come as a surprise but A.P.A. - the company that makes URO parts - is also an OEM supplier:
A.P.A.'s OEM division currently supplies products to Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Saab and Mitsubishi, and is currently holding discussions with Porsche.
https://www.uroparts.com/uro/site/about

[johnk]

Perfect thanks Alfred. I am ordering this one right now!