I just ordered the same aftermarket part from stopshopanddrive. It should be here in 3 or 4 days. Please let me know if you ran into any problems with this part.
Just did my right side rear window regulator yesterday. Did the left side a couple of years ago. Great write up Ashman - thanks. I carry it with me in the trunk along with a couple of custom cut 2 x 4's to prop the window in the up position just in case I lose a regulator on the road somewhere.
I could not for the life of me get the rivets to work. I tried both the steel Mercedes rivets and the aluminum ones and they just kept breaking off without popping into place. Funny, because I was able to get the rivets to pop on the left side. So I just used small metric bolts with lock washers and lock nuts. Actually it will make my life easier next time I have to change it.
BTW I ordered the Mercedes part from Caliber Motors. Cost was $91 this time vs. $68 last time. Part is identical to the old one, so there is no reason to expect this one to last forever either.
One thing I will suggest to all users with airbags in the doors is to unplug the negative battery terminal before removing the window regulator or installing the new rivets.
The force required to install the new 1/4" rivets is quite high and may cause the airbag to go off in your face. Better to be safe than sorry.
I know this DIY has been around for a while and I'm just one of many who has benefited from your graciousness.
You asked how it can be improved. There was only one place where I hit a snag.
It's probably due to my ignorance, but in the step:
>Do the same process with the top two rivets and the entire regulator
>and motor will come out in a single piece.
>Make sure you unplug the motor's wiring harness before you pull the
>assembly out of the door.
The entire regulator doesn't just come out. It took me a few minutes to figure it out, but at this point, I had to remove the clip holding the part that goes into the glass support. You mentioned putting it back, but I think you may have forgotten about removing it.
hi
i just replaced mine cost £55 from the dealer followed ahmann description all went fine less then 30min very easy many thanks to ashman but the new window regulator locks no different from the old one i think MB should suply a modified one as i'm sure they aware of this problem (plastic fantastic!!!!!)
__________________ MERCEDES E300TD BLUE 1999 ESTATE RIGHT HAND DRIVE
I fixed one of mine and reinforced the other with a tight wrap of coat-hanger wire around the cables where they attach to the jaw. It's been like that for a year, although I don't use my rear windows very often.
I tried drilling them out, took me 10 minutes and a broken bit to go thru just 1.
Then I used this cold chisel (home depot), took me less than 1 minute to remove the other 3.
These are Home depot 3/16" 5mm rivets, they work perfectly.
Mechanic quoted me $328
Regulator on ebay $106 (I ordered before I found this page...
Rivet gun $17
Rivets(too small) $5
Rivets (3/16" 5mm) $6
Cold chisel $5
Saving money as a DIYer....PRICELESS.....
Thanks for the detailed, comprehensive breakdown of this all too common regulator failure. Mine(driver rear)just failed a couple of days ago on the way to the S.F. Zoo, luckily the window has remained in the upright position. Awesome job again, your thread will help me immensly!!!
my w124 has almost the same process of changing the regulator but uses screws. why in the world would mercedes switch over to rivets for w210 ? any particular reason ? more over can we use screws in place of rivets once we take the original rivets out ?
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