Hi Group,

I have a 1983 280CE Coupe that has recently started letting in water during
heavy rainfall.

The water appears to be entering the interior on the left hand rear side
pillar, immediately behind the rear window. I've noticed that there are what
appears to be vents on the outside of the bodywork at the same location,
behind the chrome trim.

Could this be where the water is getting in, or might it be some other
location? ....... sunroof drain .... ?

Any advice would be appreciated

I found a water leak? too - 240D - the water is in the trunk, passenger's
side, and
when I took a towel and absorbed it.. I saw a little hole and the water was
bubbling
up through it into the car. It wasn't coming from on top of the car, but
from underneath!
Maybe it ran from the top at some time and was gathered there then came
through?
How can I locate the source of this? Does the AC 'drain' go back through
that area?
We've had an enormous amount of rain lately. The water is all out now and
no more
is bubbling into the trunk passenger's side .. but I need to find the
source. Any ideas?
TIA.

Helen


"Rob. Smith" <r.j.smith (AT) dl (DOT) ac.uk> wrote

"Rob. Smith" <r.j.smith (AT) dl (DOT) ac.uk> wrote

Will investigate further and pull the lining and sunroof as a last resort if
I can't find any other cause.

I had a new rear screen seal put on my car as I had water ingress in
the boot from 'somewhere'.
When the screen guy popped the window out, he didn't disconnect the
heater connections. End result, I got a 2nd hand screen and did the
job again myself, but I watched how he did it, so it was easy
(especially with a new screen seal).

I digress
What I did note when the guy had my screen out was a small hole on the
LHS bottom of the screen recess. This was effectively under the rubber
seal of the screen. It looked like the place where 3 panels met. It
was not a corrosion hole, in fact it looked like it had been there
from day 1. I thought at the time it was a drain hole. There was only
1 hole though.
Any way, despite the new seal, next time it rained, I got water in the
boot. So since I wanted to fit this 2nd hand screen (with working
demister) and I'd watched how you did the job, I popped it out and
filled the hole (less than 1/4 inch dia) with chemical metal glue (hey
it was a quick job and my dinner was getting cold).
Any way, I now have a perfectly dry trunk.

If you don't want to pop the screen, get one of these auto windscreen
places to gun seal the old rubber (between the body and the seal).
That may just get the leak for you, if you reckon its from the screen
seal. You might be able to do it yourself with a corking gun and some
clear silicone seal from the DIY store. You'll need to do all 4 sides
remember, since capilarity may draw in water even along the bottom
edge.
Some careful applications of water at various points may tell you for
certain where its getting in.

........... Rob.

"Helen" <@abuse.roman.gov> wrote:

Thanks Rob. I spoke with a mechanic. He said it could be the
exterior rubber gasket (my terms) around the
rear window. He said he had a car and had that replaced but
it still leaked. After replacing it twice with no
success in stopping the water coming he said he learned that
they had ordered the wrong part and the ill fit
was causing the problem. He said he order one from MB and put
it on himself and has had no leaks since.
He's a mechanic not a body man but suggested that he would
order the part for me and the shop across the
street from him does body work - where he sends his jobs. The
mechanic is an independent MB with years
of experience. BTW, I am concerned about rust. With the
water getting in from who knows where, and running
under the car and then coming into the trunk/boot area, how
could I find out if it has caused rust? I didn't see
any, but I haven't crawled under it to look either. TIA

Helen


"Rob. Smith" <r.j.smith (AT) dl (DOT) ac.uk> wrote

: I had a new rear screen seal put on my car as I had water
ingress in
: the boot from 'somewhere'.
: When the screen guy popped the window out, he didn't
disconnect the
: heater connections. End result, I got a 2nd hand screen and
did the
: job again myself, but I watched how he did it, so it was
easy
: (especially with a new screen seal).
:
: I digress
: What I did note when the guy had my screen out was a small
hole on the
: LHS bottom of the screen recess. This was effectively under
the rubber
: seal of the screen. It looked like the place where 3 panels
met. It
: was not a corrosion hole, in fact it looked like it had been
there
: from day 1. I thought at the time it was a drain hole. There
was only
: 1 hole though.
: Any way, despite the new seal, next time it rained, I got
water in the
: boot. So since I wanted to fit this 2nd hand screen (with
working
: demister) and I'd watched how you did the job, I popped it
out and
: filled the hole (less than 1/4 inch dia) with chemical metal
glue (hey
: it was a quick job and my dinner was getting cold).
: Any way, I now have a perfectly dry trunk.
:
: If you don't want to pop the screen, get one of these auto
windscreen
: places to gun seal the old rubber (between the body and the
seal).
: That may just get the leak for you, if you reckon its from
the screen
: seal. You might be able to do it yourself with a corking gun
and some
: clear silicone seal from the DIY store. You'll need to do
all 4 sides
: remember, since capilarity may draw in water even along the
bottom
: edge.
: Some careful applications of water at various points may
tell you for
: certain where its getting in.
:
: .......... Rob.
:
: "Helen" <@abuse.roman.gov> wrote:
:
: >I found a water leak? too - 240D - the water is in the
trunk, passenger's
: >side, and
: >when I took a towel and absorbed it.. I saw a little hole
and the water was
: >bubbling
: >up through it into the car. It wasn't coming from on top
of the car, but
: >from underneath!
: >Maybe it ran from the top at some time and was gathered
there then came
: >through?
: >How can I locate the source of this? Does the AC 'drain'
go back through
: >that area?
: >We've had an enormous amount of rain lately. The water is
all out now and
: >no more
: >is bubbling into the trunk passenger's side .. but I need
to find the
: >source. Any ideas?
: >TIA.
: >
: >Helen
: >
: >
: >"Rob. Smith" <r.j.smith (AT) dl (DOT) ac.uk> wrote in message
: >news:7c51hvg0s08vi9p1dhaddc4b7ht99ipl8t (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
: >> The sunroof drain is most likely. Sorry.
: >>
: >> The drain tubes corrode off the roof mechanism. You'll
need to check
: >> carefully. Open the roof and use a pinlight to see down
(you may need
: >> to stand in the roof aperture). See if you can get a feel
for the
: >> condition of the tube at the corner.
: >> If it looks poor, your going to have to pull down the
head lining for
: >> access. That'll mean popping the rear screen (since the
roof lining is
: >> held in by the top of the screen seal). Most everything
else comes off
: >> straightforwardly (screws) or is tucked behind the push
on door seal
: >> edges. The rear screen comes out easy, once you know the
tricks.
: >> You'll need to unfasten some of the roof mechansim down
and get the
: >> name of a tame welder to re-manfacture a new tube stub
onto the roof
: >> frame, and then you can push the drain tube back on.
: >> You may be able to use one of these 'chemical metal' type
glues to do
: >> the work yourself. I've found them very good. You'll need
to
: >> paint/protect your job.
: >>
: >> Fasten it all back up and your done.
: >>
: >> This is a few evenings job though.
: >>
: >> ......... Rob.
: >> "Anyhow" <have (AT) awinfield (DOT) com> wrote:
: >>
: >> >Hi Group,
: >> >
: >> >I have a 1983 280CE Coupe that has recently started
letting in water
: >during
: >> >heavy rainfall.
: >> >
: >> >The water appears to be entering the interior on the
left hand rear side
: >> >pillar, immediately behind the rear window. I've noticed
that there are
: >what
: >> >appears to be vents on the outside of the bodywork at
the same location,
: >> >behind the chrome trim.
: >> >
: >> >Could this be where the water is getting in, or might it
be some other
: >> >location? ....... sunroof drain .... ?
: >> >
: >> >Any advice would be appreciated
: >> >
: >>
:


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"Anyhow" <have (AT) awinfield (DOT) com> wrote

Found it!!!!

The bedding compound between the chrome window surrounds and the rear pillar
had deteriorated and was letting water in. Applied new compound, appears to
be successful.