2004 S430 4Matic tail light stays on and kills battery
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 33
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Ml500 S430 4Matic
Here is an update.
The body shop was 100% sure that the water was coming in from where the leaves were, under the hood, and not related to the accident or repair. So I put in a new insurance claim. The body shop then took out the seats and carpet and found that the water was actually coming in from the trunk area, because of a previous accident, that wasn't repaired correctly. I'm the 3rd owner and have had for 2.5 years, starting at 109 K miles. Has about 140 K now. They were able to research and find that the accident happened when the car had 27 K miles on it.
They are saying they don't want to repair the leak, since then they become responsible for any damage to electronics, going forward. They said that if someone else fixes the leak, they and the insurance company will cover replacing the SAM, minus my $750 deductible.
Strange situation, if this turns out to be true. Would think that insurance company would have to cover repairing the leak.
The body shop was 100% sure that the water was coming in from where the leaves were, under the hood, and not related to the accident or repair. So I put in a new insurance claim. The body shop then took out the seats and carpet and found that the water was actually coming in from the trunk area, because of a previous accident, that wasn't repaired correctly. I'm the 3rd owner and have had for 2.5 years, starting at 109 K miles. Has about 140 K now. They were able to research and find that the accident happened when the car had 27 K miles on it.
They are saying they don't want to repair the leak, since then they become responsible for any damage to electronics, going forward. They said that if someone else fixes the leak, they and the insurance company will cover replacing the SAM, minus my $750 deductible.
Strange situation, if this turns out to be true. Would think that insurance company would have to cover repairing the leak.
Last edited by Dritschel; Jan 6, 2015 at 10:27 PM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Ml500 S430 4Matic
Here is an update. I got the car back from the body shop yesterday. Now in addition to the rear driver side tail lights being on, the ABS and ESP message come on. The ABS light stays on. They said they the car didn't leak at all, while they had it.
The plan was for me to park it on my driveway, so it would be at the same slope and angle, as when I first noticed the leak. I knew it was going to rain today, so I agreed with the insurance company that, if it leaked again, I'd call a company they recommended, that specializes in leaks. They would try to determine whether the leak was due to the accident/body work or not. If related to the accident/body work, the repair including replacing the SAM would be covered under the original claim. If not, they would only cover replacing the SAM, under new claim, with $750 deductible.
After about 2 hours of rain, I went and checked the car. The rear passenger vanity mirror was leaking like a sieve. Water all over the seat. Floor soaked again. So I figured that the angle of the car had something to do with it. I moved it into the garage, and the water stiopped leaking from the mirror. I dried off the roof and got a spray bottle of water. I sprayed along the seal of the sun roof, and could see water leaking from the vanity mirror.
The plan was for me to park it on my driveway, so it would be at the same slope and angle, as when I first noticed the leak. I knew it was going to rain today, so I agreed with the insurance company that, if it leaked again, I'd call a company they recommended, that specializes in leaks. They would try to determine whether the leak was due to the accident/body work or not. If related to the accident/body work, the repair including replacing the SAM would be covered under the original claim. If not, they would only cover replacing the SAM, under new claim, with $750 deductible.
After about 2 hours of rain, I went and checked the car. The rear passenger vanity mirror was leaking like a sieve. Water all over the seat. Floor soaked again. So I figured that the angle of the car had something to do with it. I moved it into the garage, and the water stiopped leaking from the mirror. I dried off the roof and got a spray bottle of water. I sprayed along the seal of the sun roof, and could see water leaking from the vanity mirror.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Ml500 S430 4Matic
Used www.waterdoctors.com and the fixed the leak in 20 minutes, for $150. A small part of the seal, around the sunroof, came lose, and water was dripping, behind the seal and going right down through the vanity mirror.
Now, I'm wondering whether the seal came loose, from the accident, or if just a coincidence.
Now, I'm wondering whether the seal came loose, from the accident, or if just a coincidence.
