W111 door sill strips & door sill rubber: restoration buying guide
Anyone restoring a Mercedes fintail or another vehicle of the W111 model series soon notices: the big sheet-metal parts are often easier to find than the small rubber and interior parts. Door sill strips and door sill rubbers are among them. They are stressed every time you get in or out, age from UV light and moisture, and after decades are usually hardened or torn. This guide shows how to tell that a replacement is due and what to look for when buying.
How do you recognize wear or damage?
Door sill strips with a rubber covering protect the sill area in the door opening from abrasion and dirt and give a clean, finished look. The following findings are typical on cars of this age:
| Finding | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rubber hard, brittle or with fine cracks | Material aging – the covering no longer reliably protects the sill |
| Tread worn away, surface smooth | Heavy use; slippery entry and unsightly appearance |
| Rubber coming loose, edges lifting | Hold or adhesive bond has weakened – dirt and moisture can get underneath |
| Traces of rust under the strip | Moisture sat in the sill area for a long time – check and treat the substrate before installation |
| Door closes with difficulty or does not latch | Usually not a matter of the door sill strip but of the lock or latch – see Door closes with difficulty: check the latch (W116) |
Causes
Rubber ages even when the car is hardly driven. UV radiation, ozone, temperature changes and cleaning agents cause the plasticizers to escape; the material hardens, shrinks and cracks. Mechanical stress adds to this: every shoe that scrapes across the strip when getting in wears the profile down a little further. On a car that is 55 years old or more, the door sill rubbers are therefore often the first interior part that has to be replaced during a restoration – even if the rest of the equipment is still well preserved.
What to look for when buying
- Clarify the model series and version: The strips offered are listed for the W111. Since the W111 came in several body variants, have the fit for your car checked in advance using the VIN (chassis number).
- Genuine or aftermarket: Aftermarket rubber parts often differ from the original in profile, hardness and fit. Genuine stock from old inventory matches the look of the original build period.
- Condition and workmanship: Our strips are freshly cut from old genuine stock. Use the product photos to check whether the profile and edges meet your needs.
- Scope of delivery: The scope of delivery matches the picture in the listing. Clarify before ordering how many pieces you need for your car – 4 pcs are currently available.
- Prepare the substrate: When replacing the strip, check the sill area under the old one right away, and remove and preserve any rust before the new strip is mounted.
Solution
If the door sill rubbers are hardened, torn or detached, repair is not worthwhile – replacement is the clean solution. We offer genuine Mercedes-Benz door sill strips / door sill rubbers for the W111 , freshly cut from old genuine stock. Price: 149,00 € per listing (shop item 60240). No Mercedes part number is stored for this listing; we are happy to check the fit using your VIN (chassis number). You will find more parts under All spare parts.
Mercedes-Benz W111 door sill strips / door sill rubber – genuine
Fits W111 · freshly cut from old genuine stock · Item 60240
149,00 €
View offer →
Compatible vehicles
| Model series | Manufacturer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| W111 | Mercedes-Benz | according to the product data; please have the exact fit for your body variant checked by VIN (chassis number) |
The part is not listed for other model series. If you are also overhauling the engine bay of your W111, you will find useful tips in the guide W113/W111 water pump leaking – gasket set.
FAQ
Do the door sill strips fit every Mercedes W111?
The strips are listed for the W111 model series. Because the W111 came in different body variants, we check the fit for your car free of charge before purchase using the VIN (chassis number).
Is this genuine or aftermarket?
It is genuine Mercedes-Benz stock from old inventory that has been freshly cut. It is not aftermarket.
Can old, hardened door sill rubbers be restored?
Rubber care products improve the appearance in the short term but do not make aged, cracked material elastic again. With cracks, a worn-away profile or detached edges, replacement makes sense.
What's included in the scope of delivery?
The scope of delivery matches the picture in the listing. If you are unsure how many pieces you need for your car, ask us before ordering.
What should I watch for during installation?
After removing the old strip, check the sill area for rust and treat it before mounting. This prevents moisture from collecting under the new strip.
KFZTeile-Thot is a specialist business for tested and refurbished Mercedes parts with its own test benches and has over 1,000 positive eBay reviews. Not sure whether the door sill strips fit your W111? Call us at +49 179 8991069 (Mon–Fri 8 am–6 pm) or write to us via the contact form – we'll check fitment using your chassis number.