Trunk gasket - aftermarket vs. OEM

[Douglas]

I just purchased what I assume is an aftermarket trunk gasket. Does anyone have any experience with the standard aftermarket piece and how it compares to the OEM piece? I know it's less money, but it also appears to be a bit too wide to fit perfectly in a Pagoda. Am I correct about this?

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[pkiefert]

uhh, whadya mean the "standard" aftermarket?  I bought one from a place in California, it could be an Asian copy for all I know. It does have the right rubber density and contour and approximately the same color as the original, but it's a bit blacker. All my original rubbers have that lightened/faded black rubber look.  I may have read on these forums that some originals had a greyish color. I just had to cut it for length. It was about half of the MB cost. I used 3M Weatherstrip to install.

[hauser]

Doug, from what I've read up on the weather strips is that there is usually an issue with with fitment especially the windshield. If too wide you are refering to lenghth I would cut one of the ends to make it smaller. If too wide meaning thicker I think once installed and trunk closed the rubber may be visible in the gap. This being the case your trunk lid may not be flush with the fenders. About 11 years ago Buds Benz was selling rubber kits. You may want to chek it out.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Douglas]

The gasket in my current Pagoda is, I believe, an aftermarket piece. It's a little too fat and has a wider lip around the perimeter than the gasket on my previous SL.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Benz Dr.]

It's easy to install the trunk seal incorrectly and wonder why the lid doesn't close very well. I think the repro trunk and door seals are OK but the windshield seal is junk. Unless they fixed the problem which is that the seal is too long and won't fit, I'll only sell originals.

I warned everyone about this quite a while back - it still stands.

Daniel G Caron

[George Davis]

I found it takes a little bit of fiddling to get the trunk seal in proper position under the metal lip.  Push it into the upper corner under the lip with your finger tips, then into the lower corner.  When it goes in right, you'll know it.  Once it's all in, it's a good idea to lubricate the contact surface with silicone.  If the lid/seal contact can't slide a bit, it can bunch up the seal and distort the lid at front center.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[n/a]

Some aftermarket weatherstripping is good, most if it isn't. When in doubt, get genuine MB at wholesale.

tom in CA

[Douglas]

I'm about to install the OEM gasket I recently purchased. (Thanks again, Tom Hanson.) I'm really glad I decided to do this since I noticed some surface rust forming underneath the old gasket after I removed it. So I have 2 questions for everyone, one regarding prep for installation and another regarding proper fit:

1. Will the glue adhere to that greyish rubber without any special pre-treatment? Do i have to use any kind of solvent to clean it first?

2. Should you be able to see some of the trunk gasket (especially up around the top of the lid) when the trunk is shut?

Thanks for your insight/advice.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[sammyr]

I used the original and it fits perfectly. Dont use aftermarket it never fits good. Watch out I heard silicone can rust the metal (Im not sure). I used some black adhesive that I got from a Benz shop special for the seals.

1969 MERCEDES 280SL
WHITE ON BLACK/ BLACK HARD TOP

[J. Huber]

Hi Douglas. When I redid my trunk gasket, I went with OEM. It struck me as scary to get it just right so I let my mechanic do it! (not really sure he did it perfect either but it keeps water out of the trunk!)

He used 3M adhesive. It comes in yellow and in black. Use the black if you can find it.

And in my case, a bit of the rubber is visible when the trunk is shut.

correction: The inner edge of the rubber appears a little higher than the outer. Make any sense? Again, not sure its done exactly right.

James
63 230SL

[hauser]

I had read posts on the ill fitting aftermarket windshield gasket. I figured that most likely this problem plagued all these non oem gaskets.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[71 pagoda]

Doug,
I just spoke to Wolfgang about this exact subject.  My car is at his shop now. He told me to go with original MB seal. He also said that most people put the seal in incorrectly.  The inside should be slightly higher. It should look like the rubber seal is  almost on its side but not quite that far. If this doesnt make sense, Call his for a better explaination.
Larry
White 71

[n/a]

Larry, come by for a visit when you pick up the car from wolfgang...I'm only a few miles away.

-Lewis

66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
67 saab sonett II #43 of 258
00 saab 9-3 viggen conv
02 saab 9-5 aero

[Ed Cave]

What is the approximate difference in price, aftermarket vs. genuine MB for these rubber pieces? Can't be that much, can it?

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[hauser]

When I had my 250sl ZF5 Buds Benz were selling complete rubber kits.  Don't know if they stil do but it seems you could save a few bucks that way.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[J. Huber]

The rubber kits are still available. I used Miller's and it was much more cost-effective than buying each piece individually (that was 98 but I assume it still is).  



James
63 230SL

[Ed Cave]

Does anyone know how much price difference there is in these original vs. aftermarket pieces?

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[hauser]

Ed as far as your car is concerned you should go all the way and get OEM.   You're going to wind up with one "S W E E T     R I D E"  Keep it that way.   Oh yeah!

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.