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The cost of replacing the rusted amplifier and the radio module in the left side trunk well made me nuts!
I have been reading what I could about water intrusion issues on many threads.
There is a serious design flaw in using trim fasteners to hold the "drip trays" that channel the water between the fender and the trunk lid seal.
HERE IS AN EASY TEST to see if you have leaks at these fasteners and it does not involve removal of anything.
Open the trunk lid. Each of the trim fasteners is in a little recessed well. Using a cup of water and a straw (place the straw in the cup, cover the top end with your finger so the water stays in the straw) carefully fill each well.
The one(s) that are leaking will quickly wick the water into the trunk!
Because I had access to the trim clip removal tools, I pulled the clips and sealed each hole with silicone, reinstalling the clips while the sealant was still wet. I am sure that they could be sealed without removing the clips, just by carefully siliconing the tops.
chance picture of what you are talking about? I am actually getting water in my spare tire area. Hoping your fix will help me.
Sorry, long since sold the car.
I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the original post.
Each of the clips is located in a recess and the recess is NOT waterproof. Either fill each recess with silicone or pull the clips, fill the recess with silicone, and reinsert the clips. Do them all if you do not want to seek out the one(s) that are leaking.
‘16 Mercedes GLE450 amg,’15 Mercedes gla, coupe,’07 Mercedes w221,’12 Audi A
Thank you, I am getting small amount of water in the spare tire area. I have also read it could be the rear sunroof drains.
Originally Posted by mrmgrybrd
Sorry, long since sold the car.
I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the original post.
Each of the clips is located in a recess and the recess is NOT waterproof. Either fill each recess with silicone or pull the clips, fill the recess with silicone, and reinsert the clips. Do them all if you do not want to seek out the one(s) that are leaking.
Sorry, long since sold the car.
I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the original post.
Each of the clips is located in a recess and the recess is NOT waterproof. Either fill each recess with silicone or pull the clips, fill the recess with silicone, and reinsert the clips. Do them all if you do not want to seek out the one(s) that are leaking.
It is also easily a leak between the trim and the car body. One of the very expensive clips or rivets especially cannot be pushed too deep in. If you do the plastic trim separates from the body and you will have a leak.
I cannot take picture as if I press a rivet too deep it will ruin it. But the one critical one is clad to the bend where the trim turns down if I remember correctly.
Those rivets are very expensive. My dealer parts asked $18 a piece but they gave me discount and sold them for $11 a piece.
I got the new rivets as I replaced the trim on both sides and when installing the trims accidentally pressed on the trim more than I should and saw how it separated from the body opening a gap.
You can test yourself but you may ruin the rivet doing it.
and that gentlemen is why you don't have auto trunk release - many Mercedes are designed to hold copious quantities of water that deliberately roll off the lid when you open it and fall directly towards where they locate a lot of electronic modules
if its wet 9 out of 10 times I want to open my boot - I have to wipe it clean then open and hold a cupped hand at the end of the chrome trim on each end of the boot lid
my fathers E class has the same magic trick - except they go one better - it has a delay on the water funnelling out - so you think its OK, then 30 seconds later at least half a cup of water pours on the the nav and amp unit - remember criminal not idiots
they carefully did the geometry so the drips that shouldn't roll off the boot lid fall PERFECTLY in the gap of the hinge holes - to avoid the instantaneous spark fest, inside of the trim totally out of sight are buckets either side that to fill with damp soggy water about 1 litre each and this allows the failure modes to develop after the warranty ends
The pins are originally watertight, but the rubber membrane is really thin and degrades very quickly. Under ware they're perfect, but these cars are getting on for20 years old and most everything at that point becomes a service item.
I don't believe that bit external to the boot seal is the reason for water in the boot
the massive air vents on the rear wings behind the bumper can let in shed loads - and water run off from an open boot lid past the hinges are the main drivers
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
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