Author Topic: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????  (Read 2164 times)

Bracq-Broke

  • Inactive
  • Junior Level
  • USA, OR, Portland
  • Posts: 7
Hi all. I thought replacing headliner would be a weekend job. NOPE! Thanks to the technical manuals here i now know the procedure is 5 stars difficulty and the hardtop is now in a professional upholsters hands. I'm definitely replacing all the window and upper seals with MB original seals.

BUuuuttt.... my question here is in regards to that one lower seal along the rear bottom sitting against the car.

Of all the 7 seals the hardtop has, this on represents 80% the total cost of the other 6. Crazy. $800 or so from classic center and pelican parts etc.

However PP also has the URO equivalent. I've shied away from URO seals elsewhere but in this case it's $90 vs $800.
Being as this is a lower seal, i am considering saving some $ on this one and only this one.

Good idea? Bad Idea? have you had real direct experience with it? thanks.

Tom


$90 URO: https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/1137900083.htm?pn=113-790-00-83-INT
$800 MB: https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/1137900083.htm?pn=113-790-00-83-MBZ

(fwiw all the other hard top seals will all MB original... just asking about this one big ticket item above )

johnk

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Avon
  • Posts: 1150
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2022, 03:46:52 »
$90 vs $800 seems like a no brainer to me to at-least try it.
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
1968 Euro 280sl under restoration
2016 Jag F-Type R sold june 2021
1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS For sale
2008 E350
2007 GL 450
2019 BMW 540

Peter

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • Netherlands, North Brabant, Helmond
  • Posts: 452
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2022, 10:33:46 »
Very strange, I see that the official price in Europe is € 1.094,29. This looks like a mistake or day light robbery. Go for the less expensive one, its not a critical part.

Peter

Bracq-Broke

  • Inactive
  • Junior Level
  • USA, OR, Portland
  • Posts: 7
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2022, 17:20:51 »
Agree. I remember when i bought my car and needed a first pass at restoring, seeing the MB grill star being $1000 and thinking wow! well, i guess there are no copies since that's a brand mark, but also thinking come on, MB, you're basically just proving you've got us where you want us. I now have 2 Bracq designed cars (fully restored 280C and 230SL) and you know how it is i can't help it, but, for a rubber gasket that isn't that critical, i'm going to get off the ride for a moment, indulge in a URO seal for that one only, and for the others, i'll plunk down double-URO prices but still reasonable prices for the other seals. Thanks for the advice, solidarity and camaraderie Tom

Tomnistuff

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, Qc, Levis
  • Posts: 930
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2022, 03:58:33 »
I used a URO hardtop to body rear seal for my hardtop restoration.  It was about 1-1/2 inches too long but I solved the problen by shortening one of the two identical ends of the seal.  It required a little trimming and sanding before applying rubber glue and pinching the end in a bench vise and litting it cure for twenty-four hours (just to make sure).
Before shortening it, I was unable to convince it to follow the long u-shaped path while compressing it to be the right length.  After shortening it, it did not try expand out of its needed path. It followed the curved path without the need to expand.
I don't like having to modify something I have bought in order to make it work but in this case there was no choice.
If yours fits without shortening it, It should work even better than mine.
Tom Kizer
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

lowpad

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, CT, New Preston
  • Posts: 221
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2022, 08:33:58 »
My once piece of advice from replacing the same seal last winter is to invest in good adhesive and closely follow the instructions (IOW, give the glue a chance to "set." I used a MB-brand adhesive I bought on eBay that didn't seem all that different from contact cement. The classic 3M black weatherstrip adhesive might also work. Be patient -- and try not to create a mess (I used masking tape to protect the inside of the top)! I was able to make it work (with a factory part) and it's now much better.
1966 230SL (6/66 build)
French export
4-speed manual
158 Exterior / 040 Hardtop
2001 SLK230
1996 Porsche 993
1991 Acura NSX

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4708
Re: Okay to use one (and only one) URO seal on the hardtop????
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2022, 04:29:07 »
Agree. I remember when i bought my car and needed a first pass at restoring, seeing the MB grill star being $1000 and thinking wow! well, i guess there are no copies since that's a brand mark, but also thinking come on, MB, you're basically just proving you've got us where you want us. I now have 2 Bracq designed cars (fully restored 280C and 230SL) and you know how it is i can't help it, but, for a rubber gasket that isn't that critical, i'm going to get off the ride for a moment, indulge in a URO seal for that one only, and for the others, i'll plunk down double-URO prices but still reasonable prices for the other seals. Thanks for the advice, solidarity and camaraderie Tom
Any further news on this URO seal? Did you buy it and how well did it fit?
Thanks!
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)