M-Class (W164) Produced 2006-2011: ML280CDI, ML320CDI, ML420CDI, ML350, ML500, ML550

Water in my ML320

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Old Feb 7, 2021 | 05:48 PM
  #1  
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Water in my ML320

Hello can someone please advise me how to get the rain water swooshing around in my chassis out. I've been having a few issues and really do with some help..
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Old Feb 7, 2021 | 06:21 PM
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This is common on the W164. Try the search feature, this is addressed extensively.

Most common cause is failed taillamp gaskets.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 03:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Joejitzu
Hello can someone please advise me how to get the rain water swooshing around in my chassis out. I've been having a few issues and really do with some help..
Please, the first thing you must do is update your profile to include the year, model, is it gas, CDI or Blue and where you live, which tells us you have right or left hand drive.





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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 03:43 AM
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Where is the sloshing coming from, front or rear?
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 05:05 AM
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Originally Posted by chassis
This is common on the W164. Try the search feature, this is addressed extensively.

Most common cause is failed taillamp gaskets.
Thank you. I've done a search but can't seem to find anything on how to get the water out..
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Where is the sloshing coming from, front or rear?
Think it's getting in at the back and sloshing about all over..
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 05:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Please, the first thing you must do is update your profile to include the year, model, is it gas, CDI or Blue and where you live, which tells us you have right or left hand drive.



I'm from Ireland. I drive a 06 ml320 cdi with 110k on the clock.. Having some issues with the front sam and my gear selector due to the water. Would love some advice
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 06:32 AM
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Remove everything in the spare tire area and you will find water entry at the bottom of the floor.

At the bottom of the floor you will see 3 or 4 flat rubber seals. Remove them and the water will drain out, then reinstall them.

To insure that this will not happen again, replacement of the tail lamp is required.





Attached Files
File Type: pdf
File Type: pdf
File Type: pdf
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Rear ALL.PDF (136.7 KB, 221 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I Tail Lamp..pdf (87.6 KB, 459 views)
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 07:43 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Remove everything in the spare tire area and you will find water entry at the bottom of the floor.

At the bottom of the floor you will see 3 or 4 flat rubber seals. Remove them and the water will drain out, then reinstall them.

To insure that this will not happen again, replacement of the tail lamp is required.



Thank you. I drained water out of the spare tyre area.. There wasn't that much.. Seems to be more water stuck in the chassis.. Is there any drain holes in the chassis?
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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 04:44 AM
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You didn't even comment about replacing the tail lamp seals.

Check for water where the battery is installed.

Check for clogged water drain.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
Water Drain Clean.pdf (98.0 KB, 260 views)
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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 06:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
You didn't even comment about replacing the tail lamp seals.

Check for water where the battery is installed.

Check for clogged water drain.
Thank you again. I'm going to get the tail lamp seals done ASAP.. I'll have ago at the water drain today.. Thank you very much..
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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
You didn't even comment about replacing the tail lamp seals.

Check for water where the battery is installed.

Check for clogged water drain.
My Reed valve looks different

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Old Feb 11, 2021 | 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
You didn't even comment about replacing the tail lamp seals.

Check for water where the battery is installed.

Check for clogged water drain.
Think the water is swooshing about in my sills.. I've the water drain cleaned out at the front, new gaskets ordered for the rear lights and yes there is water up around the battery as well.. Need more advice please.
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Old Feb 11, 2021 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Joejitzu
Think the water is swooshing about in my sills.. I've the water drain cleaned out at the front, new gaskets ordered for the rear lights and yes there is water up around the battery as well.. Need more advice please.
Are you referring to the door sills? If so open the door and look under and clear the small holes of debris.

As for water in the battery storage area, you should remove the 4 bolts at the R/F seat and tilt it toward the front & then disconnect the NEGATIVE battery cable first & then the POSITIVE cable last. Then remove the small battery and then the SAM and anything else until you reach the bare floor.

Then see if there are drain holes. If not, then you have manually dry it out. If the SAM is wet, then you will have to remove the plastic covers and see if there is corrosion.

When reinstalling the main battery, POSITIVE cable first & NEGATIVE cable last.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Front #1.PDF (98.2 KB, 181 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Front #2.pdf (131.3 KB, 161 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Front #3.pdf (159.0 KB, 162 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Front #4.pdf (93.0 KB, 138 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I SAM Front #5.pdf (45.6 KB, 149 views)

Last edited by Maj. Dundee; Feb 11, 2021 at 02:21 PM.
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Are you referring to the door sills? If so open the door and look under and clear the small holes of debris.

As for water in the battery storage area, you should remove the 4 bolts at the R/F seat and tilt it toward the front & then disconnect the NEGATIVE battery cable first & then the POSITIVE cable last. Then remove the small battery and then the SAM and anything else until you reach the bare floor.

Then see if there are drain holes. If not, then you have manually dry it out. If the SAM is wet, then you will have to remove the plastic covers and see if there is corrosion.

When reinstalling the main battery, POSITIVE cable first & NEGATIVE cable last.
Thank you again.. I'd love to remove the carpets and seats to get the whole thing dryed properly.. Have you any information on removing the seats and carpet.. Tail light gaskets are ordered but they are going to be over a week.. They need to come from Germany..
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 11:45 AM
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I have already supplied you with instructions to remove the front SAM/ seat and there is no requirement to remove the carpet. Is your carpet wet?

Where do you live?

Last edited by Maj. Dundee; Feb 13, 2021 at 11:51 AM.
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
I have already supplied you with instructions to remove the front SAM/ seat and there is no requirement to remove the carpet. Is your carpet wet?

Where do you live?
My carpet doesn't Seem wet to me but I was advised to get it out and dry the jeep out by a mechanic at nitec in Northern Ireland where I live. They are merc specific mechanics.. I've also lost 2 or my rubber plugs from the boot floor.
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Joejitzu
My carpet doesn't Seem wet to me but I was advised to get it out and dry the jeep out by a mechanic at nitec in Northern Ireland where I live. They are merc specific mechanics.. I've also lost 2 or my rubber plugs from the boot floor.
If the carpets are not wet, why would you want to remove them?

If there is water where the battery is then you just have to remove the seat and take out both batteries and dry it out.
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 01:22 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
If the carpets are not wet, why would you want to remove them?

If there is water where the battery is then you just have to remove the seat and take out both batteries and dry it out.

This is the advice notes they give me
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Old Feb 13, 2021 | 01:57 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
If the carpets are not wet, why would you want to remove them?

If there is water where the battery is then you just have to remove the seat and take out both batteries and dry it out.
Nitec told me to get the leak in the back sorted out and to get the inside dryed out before they start putting new parts in..
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Old Feb 17, 2021 | 08:44 AM
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Still waiting on my tail light gaskets.. Had a look at the tail lights and can see that the old gaskets are letting in water.. Spoke with the guys at nitec and they told me that there are parts of the floor pan that can hold water and that's the reason they advised me to take the carpet out..
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Old Feb 17, 2021 | 08:32 PM
  #22  
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Here are the procedures.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
R&I Floor Covering Rear #1.pdf (93.0 KB, 119 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I Floor Covering Rear #2.pdf (133.7 KB, 146 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I Floor Covering Rear #3.pdf (69.9 KB, 118 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I Floor Covering Rear #4.pdf (70.3 KB, 110 views)
File Type: pdf
R&I Floor Covering Rear #5.pdf (70.2 KB, 140 views)
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Old Feb 18, 2021 | 11:50 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Here are the procedures.
Thank you again for your help.. Got my gaskets today.. Hope that's it sorted.. Does rain a lot in Ireland
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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 11:36 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Maj. Dundee
Remove everything in the spare tire area and you will find water entry at the bottom of the floor.

At the bottom of the floor you will see 3 or 4 flat rubber seals. Remove them and the water will drain out, then reinstall them.

To insure that this will not happen again, replacement of the tail lamp is required.



Under closer inspection it seems the water is coming in above the tail lights and dripping down.. Any ideas..
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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 12:22 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Joejitzu
Under closer inspection it seems the water is coming in above the tail lights and dripping down.. Any ideas..
What is the area above the tail light that is wet? Post a photo.
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