Or exterior clk500 a209 hood repair?
- Thread starter merc85
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The car has an elastic strap on either side. The job of this strap is to pull the water pocket in as the roof closes.
These straps break. I have the same issue on mine. I will take a picture for you to show exactly where the elastic straps are. I have not got around to fixing mines yet but have seen suggests to use safety pins, super glue etc.
These straps break. I have the same issue on mine. I will take a picture for you to show exactly where the elastic straps are. I have not got around to fixing mines yet but have seen suggests to use safety pins, super glue etc.
As a temporary measure, when closing the roof I always leave it open a little, this allows the water pocket to be tucked in by hand and then the roof can be fully closed. That way it is not damaging the trim and of course it looks a bit better tucked in properly.
OP
OP
I had a quick look yesterday, and indeed the elastic has broken both sides.
Hopefully this weekends job is my wife and I are going to attempt to stitch the elastic back together will try and get some pic's lol
Hopefully this weekends job is my wife and I are going to attempt to stitch the elastic back together will try and get some pic's lol
Look forward to the pics.
Beardz
Active Member
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- Merc E220 (S212) CDi SE Exec Estate & Merc CLK320 Cabrio A209
I have heard that some CLK owners have carefully cut out the water bags (silly name they are not there to hold water) to prevent this from happening. It doesn't appear to affect the hood in any way or its ability to keep water out.
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That puzzled me too. Wonder why they are there. Maybe they are there from the days that Mercedes over-engineered? (long gone sadly!)
If that's the case , I'll do that with mine as its started to push the plastic out!
- Joined
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- 9,605
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- Preston, Lancs
- Car
- S204 C220CDi Sport ED125 (Mr) Kia Picanto Domino 1.1 (Mrs)
Just got this reply from Rudeney on BenzWorld.org (really useful dedicated W209 section on there)
They do "hold" water. The canvas is not sealed around the side rear window. The glass and its frame just sit on the canvas. The water bags are the seal between the canvas and the sides of the glass frame. The reason that they are "bags" is because they expand and collapse as the top is opened and closed and the glass articulates. If you remove them, you will get water coming in around the glass. If they are broken, they can be replaced with a repair kit:
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/RearWindow.pdf
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/RepairWaterPocket.pdf
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/ReplaceWaterPocket.pdf
You don't really have to buy the official MBZ repair kit. There are aftermarket kits, and even a good vinyl repair kit would probably work. It's also not necessary to cut the old water bag out if it's just a tear - that can be repaired in place with the right material and adhesive.
Now, the the water bag is not properly folding in so that a bit of it sticks out between the glass and canvas, that is because one of the elastic straps that pulls it back in has broken or detached from the frame.
They do "hold" water. The canvas is not sealed around the side rear window. The glass and its frame just sit on the canvas. The water bags are the seal between the canvas and the sides of the glass frame. The reason that they are "bags" is because they expand and collapse as the top is opened and closed and the glass articulates. If you remove them, you will get water coming in around the glass. If they are broken, they can be replaced with a repair kit:
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/RearWindow.pdf
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/RepairWaterPocket.pdf
https://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/ReplaceWaterPocket.pdf
You don't really have to buy the official MBZ repair kit. There are aftermarket kits, and even a good vinyl repair kit would probably work. It's also not necessary to cut the old water bag out if it's just a tear - that can be repaired in place with the right material and adhesive.
Now, the the water bag is not properly folding in so that a bit of it sticks out between the glass and canvas, that is because one of the elastic straps that pulls it back in has broken or detached from the frame.
DavidJones57
New Member
Did you get the broken strap sorted
