Author Topic: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection  (Read 7506 times)

mcreasy

  • Guest
Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« on: December 12, 2010, 22:46:10 »
I was wondering if there was a proper way to put on the rubber stripping for ding protection and if it needed to be glued in place? Thanks Mary 230sl "67"
« Last Edit: December 13, 2010, 20:36:42 by 280SL71 »

reggie

  • Associate Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • United Kingdom, England, Leeds
  • Posts: 257
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for dinge protection
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2010, 23:14:14 »
Mary, have a look at my photo's, Mine have metal strips, With rubber inserts, Dont think there mercedes part's though, I may be wrong.
Reg
1969 280 5 speed zf 180g

Jordan

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Jordan
  • Posts: 1428
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for dinge protection
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2010, 00:00:45 »
Hi Mary, no the strips do not need to be glued, and shouldn't be.  The rubber will probably be very stiff and a bugger to get into the slot.  Best to put the strips in some hot water to soften it up.  I had to reinsert the strips at the back end and the hot water really helped.  Fingers will probably get a little raw depending on how much you have to install.  You can try inserting one end and then sliding it in as you pull it along.  This didn't work for me however, as the screws got in the way.  Good luck.
Cheers
Marcus
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed

Garry

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Australia, Victoria, Kyneton and Brisbane Queensland
  • Posts: 5229
  • Audit Committee
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for dinge protection
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2010, 03:28:19 »
Like Marcus said, they should not be glued and heating them first is a big help.  They need to be cut to size, heated with boiling water or the like and then one side fitted in first (preferably the top) then with a very blunt instrument, like the back end of a small tea spoon, carefully press the lower edge in to the slot.  I used a screwdriver that i had that was very blunt and rounded so that it did not mark or damage the rubber. I think Millers and the Mercedes Centre in CA have the rubber in one long piece that you cut to size
It's a slow and labour intensive job but not necessarily hard if you are using new rubber and warm it first.
Garry
« Last Edit: December 13, 2010, 03:30:52 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Electric
2024 Volvo EX30 Electric

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4733
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2015, 05:31:38 »
I am reviving this topic because I need to install new strips and want to cut them correctly.
Should the ends of these rubber strips be cut at an angle or straight?
I have read somewhere that only the ends at the fender lips should be be angled but those in the center should be straight as shown in the photo.
Is that correct? Who knows the answer?
« Last Edit: July 09, 2015, 05:37:40 by 66andBlue »
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

49er

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, El Dorado Hills
  • Posts: 1426
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2015, 14:43:30 »
Hello Alfred, Here are pictures of mine. They are original.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4733
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2015, 16:05:59 »
Thanks John!
Please help me with orientation; are we looking at the strips on the driver site only?
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4190
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2015, 16:58:10 »
Alfred, I went to look at the ones on my 280 SL, and very difficult to get a good picture of. They appear to be formed to fit each section and not cut. Perhaps the original ones were a set but the replacement are from roll stock that need to be cut. I am around this week and next if you want to come take a look. Much easier.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

49er

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, El Dorado Hills
  • Posts: 1426
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2015, 19:49:49 »
Thanks John!
Please help me with orientation; are we looking at the strips on the driver site only?
Driver's side, front (1st picture) to back (last picture). I can get some close ups later on today.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7410
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2015, 05:11:07 »
Yes, the angles vary depending on the location. After cutting I use a bench mounted, cloth buffing wheel  and compound, on the angle cuts to soften the edges, giving it the original molded look.  Alfred, I saved all the original ones off your 230SL, so you could have a pattern for cutting the new ones.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4733
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2015, 05:46:46 »
Thanks Joe!
Since I do not have a cloth buffing wheel here I experimented with a heat gun and it seems to work also.
When the ends started to melt or kind of glace over I used my finger (wearing blue nitrile gloves) and smoothed the edges.
Here is a photo of my test piece.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

TJMart

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, NC, Matthews
  • Posts: 369
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2015, 19:26:55 »
I installed mine a few years back and remember to cut it a bit longer and compress the rubber as much as possible when installing it to prevent the rubber from shrinking with age and leaving a gap.

Good luck!

Tony
Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed

RobSirg

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Australia, Victoria, Melbourne
  • Posts: 568
Re: Rubber stripping on middle of side doors for ding protection
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2015, 23:34:18 »
Tony/Joe/Alfred,

Some great ideas here - I'll be sure to save this page when I get around to this job - one of the few enjoyable tasks I can do myself.

Interesting about the shrinkage with age - I was almost certain the strips on my blue car are original ( they are hard as a rock) but they are a little short all around. That might explain it.

Thanks again

Rob
1969 280SL Auto RHD 906G,  H'top 387H, Parchm't
1970 280SL Man. RHD Dark Red 542G, Bamboo MB Tex
1962 E Type Jag BRG with Tan
1974 White Alfa Spider 2000
2023 Range Rover
1982 280TE (my daily)
1967 Alfa Spider ("Duetto") Red
1977 Yellow 911 Targa
1991 Nissan Figaro
1959 190SL Black
1970 300SEL 3.5