SL/R230: Damp / wet boot?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
Hi Graham,
My SL500 (R230) has been in the dealer for 5 days now to sort out the boot leak. They have admitted that I am not the first SL with a leaking boot into their dealership. They said that they are going to take up the issue with MB Germany.
When i took the car to the garage I had 3" of water sitting in the boot !
I will collect the car in the morning (Saturday) and have to see how it goes. I will keep in touch.
All the best Philip
My SL500 (R230) has been in the dealer for 5 days now to sort out the boot leak. They have admitted that I am not the first SL with a leaking boot into their dealership. They said that they are going to take up the issue with MB Germany.
When i took the car to the garage I had 3" of water sitting in the boot !
I will collect the car in the morning (Saturday) and have to see how it goes. I will keep in touch.
All the best Philip
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Philip
Over what sort of time did that 3 inches accumulate and do you think the water comes in while the car is standing or driving? My guess is that if the water was clean, it would be due to water leaking in around the boot lid, if it was dirty, it would due to water thrown up by the wheels getting in around the wheel arch liners and through some unsealed hole into the boot.
I am surprised there's no drain hole for water in the boot anyway. I'm sure I've seen drain pipes in the car which are there to drain off water which collects, and I'm wondering whether one of those pipes, specifically designed to collect water, is dumping it in your boot instead of on the road.
Interesting to they are going back to Germany, doesn't show much confidence for MB UK. Are you making them replace all the boot lining mats as well?
Let us know how it works out. At these they're not saying "They all do that, sir"
Over what sort of time did that 3 inches accumulate and do you think the water comes in while the car is standing or driving? My guess is that if the water was clean, it would be due to water leaking in around the boot lid, if it was dirty, it would due to water thrown up by the wheels getting in around the wheel arch liners and through some unsealed hole into the boot.
I am surprised there's no drain hole for water in the boot anyway. I'm sure I've seen drain pipes in the car which are there to drain off water which collects, and I'm wondering whether one of those pipes, specifically designed to collect water, is dumping it in your boot instead of on the road.
Interesting to they are going back to Germany, doesn't show much confidence for MB UK. Are you making them replace all the boot lining mats as well?
Let us know how it works out. At these they're not saying "They all do that, sir"
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
Please find attached a photo of my wet boot. This happened over two nights of rain. MB Dealer has had the car for a week now and returned it. They have adjusted the boot and seals and I am now just waiting for the rain.
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 GLK350 4MATIC
Was there any further water in the boot after they adjusted the seals? I've been getting a bit of moisture in my boot as well, but it has never accumulated to the levels described here.
Any other more recent feedback on this issue?
Any other more recent feedback on this issue?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
SL500 R230 Wet Boot
After my LHD Nov 2001 R230 model went to the garage it leaked water shortly after the repair. I then sold the car in 2002 for a new RHD model.
The new car has now covered 19,000 miles and is now 2.5 years old.
Over this Christmas period the car has been parked outside in the elements for 3 weeks without moving. When I returned from holiday I returned to a very wet boot (About 0.5" deep) The lower inner boot lining has now gone mouldy and the tool kit is rusty.
The car is in the dealers being repaired and should be ready in 3 days time. MB are aware of the seal and the dealer has said they are going to install the new design boot seal that has been out for 6 months.
In addition the boot edge has rubbed on the body work and the bare metal has rusted, therefore it needs a small respray job on the boot lid and gulley.
Has anyone else with an R230 had water leaking into their boot ?
The new car has now covered 19,000 miles and is now 2.5 years old.
Over this Christmas period the car has been parked outside in the elements for 3 weeks without moving. When I returned from holiday I returned to a very wet boot (About 0.5" deep) The lower inner boot lining has now gone mouldy and the tool kit is rusty.
The car is in the dealers being repaired and should be ready in 3 days time. MB are aware of the seal and the dealer has said they are going to install the new design boot seal that has been out for 6 months.
In addition the boot edge has rubbed on the body work and the bare metal has rusted, therefore it needs a small respray job on the boot lid and gulley.
Has anyone else with an R230 had water leaking into their boot ?
Last edited by PJMusgrave; Jan 19, 2005 at 07:31 PM.
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From: Memphis
SL500 and A-CLASS
Originally Posted by PJMusgrave
Has it stopped your boot leaking on your SL ?
I think someone mention on the forum that the Mercedes designed a new rubber seal around the trunk to stop the leaks. I believe that new rubber seal came out about 6 months ago.
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
Yes, the leaks have stop.
I think someone mention on the forum that the Mercedes designed a new rubber seal around the trunk to stop the leaks. I believe that new rubber seal came out about 6 months ago.
I think someone mention on the forum that the Mercedes designed a new rubber seal around the trunk to stop the leaks. I believe that new rubber seal came out about 6 months ago.
Our dealer has fitted new seals and had the car for two weeks during my holiday. Sadly the boot (Trunk) still leaks water. The car goes back to the dealers on 25/4/2005
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
The Car is now in the garage early as the central locking and roof has packed up. The service manager took a look and reackons its the water in the boot has caused the central locking pump to fail.
I get the car back at the end of next week.
I get the car back at the end of next week.
.
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From: Maryland
2003 SL500
My '03 R230 is still in the shop for the fourth time with a leaking trunk. They said they replaced the gaskets on two occaisions, and this time they pulled up a new '05 and saw that the overlaps of the gasket was not installed properly and they changed it to be like the new car! I guess they don't have an istruction manual to install the gasket!
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From: Tallahassee, Florida
2006 SL600, 2001 S500, 1996 SL320
Comes down to
It always comes down to the quality of the dealership and more importantly the mechanic working on your vehicle. Getting rid of the goofball ones, would dramatically improve the ownership experience with our autos.
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From: Maryland
2003 SL500
Unbelievable, but true!
Well, I picked up my '03 sl500 today for the leaking trunk...for the fourth time...and they said they got it! They washed the car right before I got there and the service writer brought it around for me. It was 80 degrees out so I wanted to put the top down. The trunk separator was not in place so when I opened the trunk to do that, lo and behold the trunk was wet on both sides from the quick car wash! The writer was apalled and brought out two of the "mechanics" to look at it. They tried to blame everything from opening the trunk with water on it to a leaking third brake light! they decided to order a complete set of gaskets and have me bring it back when they arrive. When I got home I decided to investigate the matter more scientifically, i.e. pour water carefully on various parts of the trunk and look to see if it leaked. Only after my fourth location did it leak! It is the center gasket, and when I pour water down the window, it goes under the gasket and promptly comes out both sides of the gasket near the outlet tubes! The gasket is not glued properly. What a bunch of rocket scientists!! 
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
I agree the quality of the technician working on the car is paramount. You need to fight your way through the service receptionists (would you do that job if you were any good?) and the service managers who are past it to find someone who really knows the cars.
With my F355, I go to an after-market specialist who provides me with much better service and brings much better product knowledge to the party than any main dealership.
With my F355, I go to an after-market specialist who provides me with much better service and brings much better product knowledge to the party than any main dealership.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Diego
2003 SL
Tigger, I have an 03 sk Designo ... no leaks at all, and my seals look similar to yours in the picture you posted in another forum.
One trick: keep the seals soft and pliable with armorall type stuff, and the big one, I leave the trunk open and top down in the garage most of the time. Keeps the seals from taking a "set" in the compressed state.
Never any leaks and we had record rainfall in Southern California.
A mechanic told me to leave the windows down in the garage to keep window seals from taking a set, followed his advice from years ago on all my vehicles.
Looks like the center rubber seal on the lower edge near the rear window is not pressing tightly enough on the 2 seal sections on either side.
Regards, Greg
One trick: keep the seals soft and pliable with armorall type stuff, and the big one, I leave the trunk open and top down in the garage most of the time. Keeps the seals from taking a "set" in the compressed state.
Never any leaks and we had record rainfall in Southern California.
A mechanic told me to leave the windows down in the garage to keep window seals from taking a set, followed his advice from years ago on all my vehicles.
Looks like the center rubber seal on the lower edge near the rear window is not pressing tightly enough on the 2 seal sections on either side.
Regards, Greg
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From: West Sussex
SL500 (New 2002 Shape)
My SL500 was at the garage for two weeks in April 05 with the dealer trying to repair the water leak. This morning the boot collected 1" of water from last nights rain.
I phoned MB UK Head Office and moaned about the boot leak problems. They said we will get the dealer to phone me. I phoned the dealer and they said that they have done all they can and don't know what to do next.
I am not sure how to deal with this problem as MB UK are not interested and and the local MB Dealer can't fix the problem.
I phoned MB UK Head Office and moaned about the boot leak problems. They said we will get the dealer to phone me. I phoned the dealer and they said that they have done all they can and don't know what to do next.
I am not sure how to deal with this problem as MB UK are not interested and and the local MB Dealer can't fix the problem.
Last edited by PJMusgrave; May 24, 2005 at 06:03 PM.
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Your experience of calling Mercedes mirrors mine; you just get through to a Call Centre somewhere where the people know little and care less.
You have to take the toughest line with the dealer. Your contract is with them, not Mercedes. If the problem cannot be fixed by them, only they can escalate through Mercedes to get it fixed. Product quality is right up on their agenda so you just have to shout long enough and hard enough to get it fixed.
Tony, you don't seem to me to be the sort of guy who will be fobbed off by some cretinous service advisor, do nothing but talk to the dealer principal.
You have to take the toughest line with the dealer. Your contract is with them, not Mercedes. If the problem cannot be fixed by them, only they can escalate through Mercedes to get it fixed. Product quality is right up on their agenda so you just have to shout long enough and hard enough to get it fixed.
Tony, you don't seem to me to be the sort of guy who will be fobbed off by some cretinous service advisor, do nothing but talk to the dealer principal.
