Can anyone offer some advice on the replacement of the tailgate glass on a 1991 245? I came home one night to find the window shattered. This is the flush mount type rear widow. I have removed most of the glass, the interior trim and 3rd brake light. I have also removed the exterior rubber seal.

How best to remove the sticky black adhesive/sealant that holds the window in? What exactly is this stuff and where do I get some more of it to put hold the new window in? Several used auto parts places in the area have windows but require a deposit before they will try to remove one from their cars. I would rather not replace the whole tailgate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Dan

I have not done the rear glass on a wagon but have done the side cargo windows. The only thing I would add to the rope in technique is that I would go around the seal twice with the nylon cord. That will insure it does not pull out when you are almost done getting the inner lip of the seal in place.

Randy

It is butyl flex caulking.
Mineral Spirits,or Wax and grease Remover will work.
Scrape it to a thin residue with a plastic spatula,or wooded wedge first.
An automotive paint store will have it,and 'wax and grease'.
IPD has it for windshield replacement,if you are in the sticks.
Unfortuanately replacement of the lift-gate is quickest.
But the wires will need to be cut.

Replacement of the glass sourced from the JY is cheapest,
and once you pry the rubber seal back with a plastic bicycle tire
iron,and stuff small sticks to hold the gasket open the window
will push out bottom first.
DO NOT take the seal off the glass,treat it as a unit,and clean the
channel with the solvent and a green scotch brite, rags and sticks.
Wrap a 4mm or 3/16" nylon cord around the seal,draping out the
bottom.With a helper holding the window,pull the cord from
inside to flip the seal over the pinch weld. Connect defrost wires.
Hit the tip of the caulk tube with a hammer to flatten it,
cut it open and re goo.
Or pay the glass man to do the same thing with new stuff.
Good luck,please post back with questions and or results.
Ken

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69-145-S ; 71-145-S ; 72-145-E ; 72-1800-ES ; 87-245-DL

'91 Year model 240 may very well have the glue in style back glass and not the conventional glass that is held in with the bigger rubber moulding/gasket. I have done a couple of those and they had no glue or butyl type substance in there at all, just the rubber that you reinstall with the cord. Most of your glass shops are just going to glue that sucker back in with a bead of silicone. I did quite a few windshields while working for BMW and aside from cleaning up all of the old sealant it was just a matter of laying down a nice triangular shaped bead all the way around the perimeter of the glass and then with the aid of an assistant you lay the glass in the opening and hold it in place with tape until it dries. The thing that gets me is that the bone yard wants a deposit before they pull the glass, what are they saying that if they crack or break the glass tring to remove it that your deposit is forfeit!?!? Please tell me that isn't so.

mark

"The thing that gets me is that the bone yard wants a deposit before they pull the glass, what are they saying that if they crack or break the glass tring to remove it that your deposit is forfeit!?!? Please tell me that isn't so"

At one local self serve wrecking yard, you pay up front before you pull the glass. If you break it, it is on you. At another one, you pay up front before they pull the glass. If they break it, you money is refunded. I've got the refund when they damaged the glass.

I wouldn't pay up front at the risk of them damaging the glass at my expense.
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john

Yes, exactly. It is the larger, flush mount style window that is literally just held in place with this very stick black butyl tape/puddy that is in between the glass and the liftgate. No rubber seal that gets flipped over the pinch weld. There are a few metals clips that clip onto the pinch weld, but they are just held onto the window with the butyl tape. I think I have found several sources for the same kind of butyl tape that was used to hold the window in. I had wondered if I could use some other adhesive/sealant to put in in. After doing some searching it seems like urethane glue is pretty common for windshields these days. Which do you think would be best, butyl tape, silicone, or urethane glue. Or something else.

Thanks DC

Urethane will hard set it,and preclude the possibility
of reworking it,that is why Volvo uses Butyl flex Caulking.
Your choice,stick to the plan or enter uncharted waters.
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69-145-S ; 71-145-S ; 72-145-E ; 72-1800-ES ; 87-245-DL

Sorry I forgot to comment on the deposit for the window that the auto recycling places wanted. Yes, I guess it is in case it breaks when they are removing it. Yes, it does sound like a crappy deal to me. I guess the way they see it is that they are far less likely to be able to sell the tailgate without the glass than with the glass. Therefore they need to get some money out of the deal even if they are not able to get the glass out in one piece. I think in one case the deposit was only going to be $25 so it is probably worth in.

Thanks for the info everyone.

DC

That would be unusual. I would guess the deposit is to insure that you will in fact complete the purchase once they have invested the time in removing it from the tailgate. They probably won't have time to take it out while you wait and want to be sure you come back once it is out.

Randy