Cracked rubber seals and worn guide strips in the doors are a classic source of moisture on the 220 estate – when the window no longer runs cleanly and tightly, water runs down into the door and starts rust from the inside. On the 220 estate, several strips also differ from the sedan, which makes it important to match the right version to the door construction.
This group includes guide strips and guide channels that guide the side window, rubber seals and textile strips that seal against the window and frame, plus protective strips, piping and metal strips for the door edge and window frame. When restoring, a complete guide strip set is usually a natural starting point – if you replace a worn protective strip at the same time as the inner textile strip, the window regains both its seal and smooth travel.
Always check whether the rubber has hardened or shrunk; a seemingly intact strip may have lost its sealing effect and should be compared against the door's actual dimensions before fitting.