Water in my trunk
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From: NS, Canada
2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
Water in my trunk
Just thought I would run this by you guys to see what you think. As you can see by the attached pictures I have water coming in around the plastic rivets for the plastic trim on both sides of the trunk. The car was in an accident and I think they reused some of the parts. Since these are one time use rivets I'm pretty sure that I'll just replace them and it will be fine. BUT... if you look at the images with the trunk gasket it looks as if the gasket was put over the plastic trim instead of under (it sort of overlaps the plastic) Maybe it is supposed to be like that. Could someone check their cars to see if the gasket installation looks exactly the same?
You can also see pooling water right at the bottom of the trunk opening. I think this is dripping down along the gasket.
You can also see pooling water right at the bottom of the trunk opening. I think this is dripping down along the gasket.
Last edited by lboudreau; Feb 26, 2011 at 06:35 PM.
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I had a leak in my Cavalier that I could never really find, so I just ended up drilling a hole in the spare tire well where it'd pool. lol.
I'll try to check my gasket tomorrow, but your pictures are a little hard to decipher.
I'll try to check my gasket tomorrow, but your pictures are a little hard to decipher.
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2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
Yeah not the best pics! I also don't want to drill any holes in my C55 
I do have the car going to the body shop to have the weld points redone but I wanted to trouble shoot this leak and solve it once and for all. I may get a new trunk gasket and the plastic trim that goes on the left and right side with new plastic rivets. Hopefully that will help.
I do have the car going to the body shop to have the weld points redone but I wanted to trouble shoot this leak and solve it once and for all. I may get a new trunk gasket and the plastic trim that goes on the left and right side with new plastic rivets. Hopefully that will help.
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Just thought I would run this by you guys to see what you think. As you can see by the attached pictures I have water coming in around the plastic rivets for the plastic trim on both sides of the trunk. The car was in an accident and I think they reused some of the parts. Since these are one time use rivets I'm pretty sure that I'll just replace them and it will be fine. BUT... if you look at the images with the trunk gasket it looks as if the gasket was put over the plastic trim instead of under (it sort of overlaps the plastic) Maybe it is supposed to be like that. Could someone check their cars to see if the gasket installation looks exactly the same?
You can also see pooling water right at the bottom of the trunk opening. I think this is dripping down along the gasket.
You can also see pooling water right at the bottom of the trunk opening. I think this is dripping down along the gasket.
To what extent was there accident damage?? If it was a hard rear-end hit (i.e. rear quarters, trunk and bumper/cover , I'd check the trim, gaskets, trunk alignment etc. See if you have photos of the accident damage and that'll give you a clue.
Sounds to me like there was a quarter replaced where they "cut" it off and re-welded or riveted a new one on?? See if there's an old copy of an estimate floating around. That'll tell you exactly what they did.
Last edited by Newzchspy; Feb 27, 2011 at 07:59 AM.
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From: NS, Canada
2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
To what extent was there accident damage?? If it was a hard rear-end hit (i.e. rear quarters, trunk and bumper/cover , I'd check the trim, gaskets, trunk alignment etc. See if you have photos of the accident damage and that'll give you a clue.
Sounds to me like there was a quarter replaced where they "cut" it off and re-welded or riveted a new one on?? See if there's an old copy of an estimate floating around. That'll tell you exactly what they did.
Sounds to me like there was a quarter replaced where they "cut" it off and re-welded or riveted a new one on?? See if there's an old copy of an estimate floating around. That'll tell you exactly what they did.
Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the estimate
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If you told me new bumper cover and supports, it wouldn't raise an eyebrow, BUT new quarters?? That had to be a BAD hit to the rear!!
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2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
Seriously?? That sounds like a bad rear-end hit. Two (2) new rear qtrs, trunk and probably bumper, support etc? Wow? Did you know this BEFORE purchasing the car??
If you told me new bumper cover and supports, it wouldn't raise an eyebrow, BUT new quarters?? That had to be a BAD hit to the rear!!
If you told me new bumper cover and supports, it wouldn't raise an eyebrow, BUT new quarters?? That had to be a BAD hit to the rear!!
Yes I knew about the hit before the purchase. But for 12 grand with 31K miles I couldn't say no. The car drives just like any other C55 I've driven. It has been inspected both by my Mercedes dealer and a Mercedes certified body shop and they both said the structure is perfectly fine. They just need to make adjustments to some body panels. Sub frame and all rear end suspension components have been replaced.
The only thing is this water leak, and it is most likely because the trunk gasket had not been installed correctly.
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Checked for you and on both sides, the plastic sits on top of the rubber lip.
Welding quarter panels is pretty common, since it's the one part of the car that you can't swap out (bumper, fender, etc). In this case, it may have been a high hit (say from a lifted truck) that caused the trunk top to crunch but the frame was structurally sound. Regardless, I personally wouldn't buy a high end vehicle with re-welded panels, I'd only do that for econoboxes. In the end it's worth what it's worth to you, and $12k is a good deal to some.
Beware that you may have more problems than just a simple trunk seal, but good luck with your findings.
Welding quarter panels is pretty common, since it's the one part of the car that you can't swap out (bumper, fender, etc). In this case, it may have been a high hit (say from a lifted truck) that caused the trunk top to crunch but the frame was structurally sound. Regardless, I personally wouldn't buy a high end vehicle with re-welded panels, I'd only do that for econoboxes. In the end it's worth what it's worth to you, and $12k is a good deal to some.
Beware that you may have more problems than just a simple trunk seal, but good luck with your findings.
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Thread Starter
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From: NS, Canada
2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
Checked for you and on both sides, the plastic sits on top of the rubber lip.
Welding quarter panels is pretty common, since it's the one part of the car that you can't swap out (bumper, fender, etc). In this case, it may have been a high hit (say from a lifted truck) that caused the trunk top to crunch but the frame was structurally sound. Regardless, I personally wouldn't buy a high end vehicle with re-welded panels, I'd only do that for econoboxes. In the end it's worth what it's worth to you, and $12k is a good deal to some.
Beware that you may have more problems than just a simple trunk seal, but good luck with your findings.
Welding quarter panels is pretty common, since it's the one part of the car that you can't swap out (bumper, fender, etc). In this case, it may have been a high hit (say from a lifted truck) that caused the trunk top to crunch but the frame was structurally sound. Regardless, I personally wouldn't buy a high end vehicle with re-welded panels, I'd only do that for econoboxes. In the end it's worth what it's worth to you, and $12k is a good deal to some.
Beware that you may have more problems than just a simple trunk seal, but good luck with your findings.
I am with you in that I normally would not purchase a car that was rear ended. However, the Mercedes dealer that inspected it gave me a thumbs up, and two mechanics that I speak to regularly over there said that they wouldn't have hesitated to purchase the car.
You are right that it was a high hit since the rear diff and structure were untouched, but the quarters, trunk, and rear window were damaged. Funny though, the exhaust was replaced from the cats to the rear of the car.
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Right on, thanks Viper. So I guess that answers the question that they are installed incorrectly.
I am with you in that I normally would not purchase a car that was rear ended. However, the Mercedes dealer that inspected it gave me a thumbs up, and two mechanics that I speak to regularly over there said that they wouldn't have hesitated to purchase the car.
You are right that it was a high hit since the rear diff and structure were untouched, but the quarters, trunk, and rear window were damaged. Funny though, the exhaust was replaced from the cats to the rear of the car.
I am with you in that I normally would not purchase a car that was rear ended. However, the Mercedes dealer that inspected it gave me a thumbs up, and two mechanics that I speak to regularly over there said that they wouldn't have hesitated to purchase the car.
You are right that it was a high hit since the rear diff and structure were untouched, but the quarters, trunk, and rear window were damaged. Funny though, the exhaust was replaced from the cats to the rear of the car.
Where did you buy it from, dealer or private party?? Do you have the listing for it and did they disclose the prior accident??? (Not that it matters since you own it now).
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Don't know the facts, BUT it wasn't that HIGH if they also replaced the exhaust which is only about 12 inches from the ground or less. Veh was probably a "total loss meaning it got totalled by an insurer, sold to an auction and they sold it and someone rebuilt it. Similar to Mike's ( Hooley's ) car last year (C55 DynoComp). His was a front end hit, however. I'll bet you the bumper and cover were replaced, supports as well (wish I could see the estimate the adjuster wrote).
Where did you buy it from, dealer or private party?? Do you have the listing for it and did they disclose the prior accident??? (Not that it matters since you own it now).
Where did you buy it from, dealer or private party?? Do you have the listing for it and did they disclose the prior accident??? (Not that it matters since you own it now).
Purchased from a dealer who had purchased from an auction. Clean title on the car so it wasn't a write off or a salvage. Obviously wasn't hit hard enough to scrap it. Like I said before, car drives great and is super tight and solid. It isn't my daily driver either so if it ends up needing work then fine. I also don't care if I need to spend 10K to get it where it used to be since I plan on keeping/collecting it.
But I would agree with you that seeing the original damage would be interesting to see!
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Don't know about the exact location of the hit. But the estimate was $24900.
Purchased from a dealer who had purchased from an auction. Clean title on the car so it wasn't a write off or a salvage. Obviously wasn't hit hard enough to scrap it. Like I said before, car drives great and is super tight and solid. It isn't my daily driver either so if it ends up needing work then fine. I also don't care if I need to spend 10K to get it where it used to be since I plan on keeping/collecting it.
But I would agree with you that seeing the original damage would be interesting to see!
Purchased from a dealer who had purchased from an auction. Clean title on the car so it wasn't a write off or a salvage. Obviously wasn't hit hard enough to scrap it. Like I said before, car drives great and is super tight and solid. It isn't my daily driver either so if it ends up needing work then fine. I also don't care if I need to spend 10K to get it where it used to be since I plan on keeping/collecting it.
But I would agree with you that seeing the original damage would be interesting to see!
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It went to auction because it was a Repo. The repair was done at 14500 miles and was driven for another 12000 miles before being taken back by the bank. Those records have been confirmed both by the DMV and my Mercedes dealer.
And I meant it would be a collectible to me. A 300SL is a real collectible but hey, none of us have that kind of cash laying around.
And I meant it would be a collectible to me. A 300SL is a real collectible but hey, none of us have that kind of cash laying around.
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Looks like you need a new rubber seal, and its supposed to go under the platic cover, this could be one area that you are getting water in the trunk. Check the plastic rivets that hold down the platic cover as well.
Here are a left and right shot of how mine looks.
Here are a left and right shot of how mine looks.
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You never know, the impact of the crash might have caused the exhaust or mufflers to fall or break off the hangers, hence why they might've gone ahead and replaced it. Doesn't necessarily mean they were hit....
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I'm going to get this trunk seal looked after this week and post an update.
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A $24,900 rear end hit? Sounds like the whole rear-end of the car was trashed?? I don't know but for $25 K, they could've got a nice used car!!
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But to total a car when it has 14000 miles, it would have to be some serious damage since it has to cross a certain percentage of what the car is worth. And when we are talking about a car that was $80k - $90K new in Canada, it makes sense that the insurance company fixed it rather than total it.
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I agree with you. But Maybe they were hit and then hit someone. When you start replacing things like front fenders, headlights, etc it can get expensive. And I believe that may have happened since one of the front fenders looks like an OEM replacement that was painted.
But to total a car when it has 14000 miles, it would have to be some serious damage since it has to cross a certain percentage of what the car is worth. And when we are talking about a car that was $80k - $90K new in Canada, it makes sense that the insurance company fixed it rather than total it.
But to total a car when it has 14000 miles, it would have to be some serious damage since it has to cross a certain percentage of what the car is worth. And when we are talking about a car that was $80k - $90K new in Canada, it makes sense that the insurance company fixed it rather than total it.
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2023 E53 AMG, 2024 EQE AMG SUV
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Don't forget when (I think) it was Car and Driver that tested a BMW 328 about 10 years ago and they lost it on a curve. They got the car to slow down in the grass and eventually tapped a twig of a tree in the front bumper/fender area at around 10 mph. When they got the damage estimate, it ended up being $29,000 in damage. For a $28,000 new car.
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MB revised the plugs for the panel where you have the leak. Although my screen shot (attached) doesn't specifically list the W203, I saved it because it was applicable.
Last edited by kjb55; Feb 28, 2011 at 08:16 PM. Reason: forgot the attachment
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Don't forget when (I think) it was Car and Driver that tested a BMW 328 about 10 years ago and they lost it on a curve. They got the car to slow down in the grass and eventually tapped a twig of a tree in the front bumper/fender area at around 10 mph. When they got the damage estimate, it ended up being $29,000 in damage. For a $28,000 new car.
I personally wouldn't buy a car with a $25 K hit (front and rear), but to each his own. In the US, it'll show up on CarFax etc as a wrecked car, thus ALWAYS affecting its resale value. So, you get it for cheap and sell it for cheap..........and the beat goes on!!
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Good find, those secure the body shell cover to the metal (body) below the body shell cover. The body shop may have used the old rivets when they replaced the shell cover.
