Hardtop Rear Seal

[bluedipper]

I'm due to get my car back from the paint shop soon and I went to the trouble of buying a new rear hardtop seal.  This is the seal that rests between the rear of the hardtop and the body, just beneath the rear window.  I pulled the old seal off and disgarded it.  It was pretty flat and seems to be an off brand.  Now I don't know exactly how to install the new seal.  Glue?  I got the seal from Buds Benz but there was nothing with it to stick it onto the bottom of the old hardtop.  Also the seal has a V shape and I don't know if the concave part of the V should be concave in or out.  Any suggestions?

Chuck Gale
68 250SL

[DavidBrough]

Hi Chuck,

Not sure how the seal is held in place but the general principle with seals is the open end faces outwards. This ensures that any ingress from wind or water etc forces the seal open which increases the seal efficiency. I have my hardtop on the car at the moment but have checked my soft top which is wintering on the bed in the spare room ( don’t tell the wife though, she things it’s going back in the garage very soon). This has the open “V” of the seal facing out. I also notice that this seal fits into a channel and does not require any glue. Another thing to check is that you still have the small top hat seal that fits in the rear centre of the hard top to cover the soft top latch hole. If this is missing you will get lots of water in the soft top tray.

Good luck



David Brough
1969 280SL

[bluedipper]

No such "Channel" is apparent on my hard top.  Perhaps it's been removed.  The old seal was attached with what appeared to be an adhesive tape. I did notice a little clip at the far ends of the old seal.  Are there variations on attaching this seal by the year of the car?

Chuck

[DavidBrough]

Hi Chuck,

I would say that if there is no apparent fixing lip on the top side of the seal to fit into a retaining channel then it must be glued in place and a straight forward contact adhesive should suffice. I am sure that any seal retainer would be either screwed or riveted in place and as long as you don’t have any obvious holes to indicate that something is missing I would go ahead and glue it.

I think I have read somewhere that there are some minor differences between hardtops over time but I am not sure what they are.

Unfortunately I have the hardtop on my car at the moment but hopefully someone with one available to check may chip in here. If not, I should get chance to have a look at mine over the weekend.

Hope you get matters resolved.



David Brough
1969 280SL

[dwilli3038]

If any one has their top off I believe some posted pics will help as I also am strugling with the same issue. I am trying to find one to look at and if I do I will certainly take some pics

Daryl
'64 230 SL Buckeye Benz Scarlet interior and Grey top Serial # 508
'77 280SE

[ted280sl]

Chuck,
  I believe the rear hardtop seal is glued to the hardtop. Special glue is available at most auto parts stores for gluing rubber seals onto cars.
Regards,
Ted
1969 280SL