It worked on mine but there again mine originally came off due to the heat in France, Hovercrafter's well be a different problem maybe due to it sticking to the door pillar rubber.
PS mine was a black car at the time & used to get very hot to the touch, rather like the hair dryer had been on it.
Called a MB dealer. Was quoted $15.xx CAD a piece for the sticker. So $16 isn't that bad. He didn't quote labor though saying he has never do it before. I know it is possible to DIY. I fear the finish work won't be as nice as them.
I notice there is a chrome molding piece just at the bottom of the window. Any idea of how to remove it? Is it difficult and cause damage if DIY?
Replacing the foil is easy, the chrome waist trim pulls up, the window seal can be pulled away from the replacement area (leaving the rest of the seal in place). Getting the foil to fit correctly and bubble free is a different matter.
The first modification the factory came up with was a different glue and a phenomenally expensive adhesive cleaner. Now modified seals.
I don't think it is heat related. A lot of my driving is on uneven country lanes and the chassis/suspension works a lot. I think the doors move fractionally and the action of the rear door seal works away gently at the foil rucking it up into ridges which eventually peel off.
Different MB organisations have had a go at this so mostly I don't think it is a dealer problem. I am not the only one with this irritation, a dealer let slip that there have been other cases of multiple replacements. The fact that there are mods coming through now would underline this.
It shouldn't have happened but it did. I was washing the car. The front rims are more difficult to clean than the rear ones because of those caliber that block the access to half of the rim. I have to move the car so the rim rotate away from the caliber . I didn't look and open the front door. The edge where the black pillar panel hit the wooden edge of the garage door. Now the edge of the front pillar panel is damaged. The damage is about 1 cm.
Should I go to my dealer and have it fixed/replaced? How much do you think it'll cost?
Hi jtcb
Just had two of the "decorative foil" (dealer's name for them) today under warranty. I asked about the cost and was quoted $10 or $15 for the parts. They said the job would take at least 2 or 3 hours to complete the install. I was not charged anything but I believe they charged MB Canada the 3 hours labour.
I think that I would try a window tinting place for the install or buy a few and experiment yourself. The parts are cheap so you have nothing to lose!
Good Luck
Bill
If you find a way to do it please report back as I think we will all have the problem sooner or later.
No It is not cutting it or metal to metal but lifting it off, wether the rubber sticks to the trim or the rubber pushes the trim off due to tight clearances between trim & the door who knows but it is strange that it is not happening to everybodies Bs. Mine only happened (on my last B) in very hot weather it started wrinkling on the door edge and then began peeling back at the edge of the trim, but hovercrafter's doesn't seem heat related it's most weird.
Bill, was the replacement due to factory problem (pilling) or carelessness like me? Was it a single door replacement or more? I wonder if they'll replace mine for free (part and labor) as I am still under warranty, although I caused the problem.
Hi jctb
The defect was on the car when we received it (a demo). The mechanic thought that one foil came loose and stuck to the other door causing both to have some damage. He was only guessing so it could have been anything that caused the damage. Go to the dealer and say the foil is damaged and admit nothing. "Nothing to lose and Everything to Gain".
The damage on ours was at the top and not near any rubber weather stripping and door clearances are not tight.
Yes If the job takes as long as Bill has been told about 2-3 hours you could be facing an expensive labour charge (M/B charge in the UK about £ 100 per hour I hear) If they are not prepared to do it gratis then get a quote first you may find that a body repair shop would do it for you cheaper and possibly better as they are doing this sort of thing all the time.
to complete the install. I was not charged anything but I believe they charged MB Canada the 3 hours labour.
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