PJMusgrave

Have any other SL (R230) drivers have had water leaking into their lower boot area during this winter ?

PJMusgrave

My SL500 Boot

blueSL

Is it just the lower (empty wheel well) that's affected? If the boot lid itself was leaking, I'd expect the main boot to get wet. If the water is just collecting in the bottom, it seems to me the water is coming in off the road, or else the drain pipes are leaking or not installed.

With a roof like the SLs or a conventional sun roof, it's difficult to seal them completely, so the approach has to be to concede that water is going to leak in, channel it where you want it to go and then drain it way. I once had a Porsche 944 where water leaking into the roof was being dumped inside the car because a drain tube had a hole in it.

If the same happened to me, (and because I have zero confidence in dealers being able to fix a problem like this), i'd remove as much of the boot interior as possible and then play a hose on the car to see where the water is appearing from.

SL Boy

BlueSL - I remember you (and I think several others) saying some time ago that when you opened the boot lid after a rain shower the water ran off the front edge and into the boot. My car was November 2002 production and this doesnt happen so I guess they have fixed problem by using a new design boot seal. The seal actually does look quite bulky with a deep channel.

Might be worth you checking out with dealer - if you can bear to!

PJMusgrave

The dealer packed out the boot seal to sit higher and adjusted the boot to make a tighter fit. So far 4 days on the boot is dry, hopefully they sorted it out. I will keep you informed of any change.

All the best
Philip

ano0oj

good thing they fixed it

PJMusgrave

It's been a few months now and so far the boot has stayed dry.

Has anyone else had wet boot problems on the New shape R230 SL ?

Our local MB Dealer said that off the record they have had a few SL R230's with the same problems ?

Regards,
PJMusgrave

ano0oj

been wondering this for a while, where is the boot in the car???, im stupid

blueSL

Two nations divided by a common language...

boot = trunk
bonnet = hood
wing = fender
petrol = gas
silencer = muffler
anti-roll bar = anti-sway bar
shock absorber = shock

ano0oj

ahhh, thanks for all the explaining bluesl!

ano0oj

PJMusgrave

Well the bad weather has started again in the UK. The boot (trunk in USA) has leaked water again !!. This time the lower boot had 3" of water in the bottom.

The car has gone to the dealers recently and they carried out a free of charge inspection (as warranty). I phoned them on 5/12/2003 to say that the boot still leaks.

The dealer has said they are sorry but as the car is now 2 years and 1 month old it is out of warranty and the repair would be chargeable at a rough price of £800.00 + VAT

Are any other drivers of SL R230 having the same problems ?

johnroden

PJMusgrave,

Isn't that covered under the 4 year warranty?

dswildfire

we are spoiled in the US with out std 4 year warranties. in europe it is 1-2 years.

blueSL

I thought the cars had a three year warranty here in the UK? Or is yours an import?

Whatever, you've already had the problem addressed under warranty so I wouldn't take any of this garbage from the dealer. They didn't fix it properly the first time, so now you're giving them another chance to get their act together and do it properly.

Just what were they proposing to do for their £800 ($1400) plus tax. Fit a few shims and hope for the best?

PJMusgrave

Dear BlueSL,

My car is a UK car that was imported in the UK in Nov 2001 prior to the April 2002 Launch of the SL R230. As far as Mercedes is concerned it has 2 years warranty.

PJMusgrave

The UK Dealer has decided to have another look at this under warranty. I will keep you informed

pdxxer

I am expecting my SL 500 AMG Sport anyday now.. I am appalled to read these reports.. I own two Lexus (LX 470 and LS 430).. I would never expect such a problem in a Lexus (or another japanese vehicle such Acura). Also the MB dealers seem to have an attitude... inflexible to say the least. I called the local dealer to see if they would help me go through some of the techical gizmos.... (my car is being shipped from another city through another dealer).. the answer BIG FAT NO!

I chose the SL 500 over the SC 430.. The guys at Lexus treat you like you are their only customer no matter where you bought the car. I just hope I made the right decision.. I am also surprised to see that MB would lag behind Lexus in introducing more modern technologies such as Bluetooth and DVD navigation. Way to go German Engineering.. I am waiting to be impressed!!!!!!! Otherwise its gonna go on the block to be sold!

blueSL

The attitude of MB dealers seems to be world-wide, born of an arrogance that the product sells itself and they just don't have to bother. The US, Germany and the UK are their three biggest markets and I've seen bad press about dealers for all three countries.

Actually, it goes beyond Mercedes. I find Porsche salesmen equally obnoxious because, at the end of the day, if you don't buy a car, someone else will, so why should they care? Anytime you're in a situation where demand exceeds supply, you're going to get this sort of attitude. Lexus are hungry, keen to succeed, I happen not to like their products but there's no disputing the quality of what they do.

Back in the 70's and 80's there used to be the expression in the computer industry "No-one ever got fired for choosing IBM". That was when jokes abounded about IBM salesmen who were basically ignorant order-takers. Then, Intel/Bill Gates/Steve Jobs and the rest established a new world order and gave IBM a bloody nose. Maybe Lexus will, one day, manage to do the same to Mercedes.

If Mercedes were not so arrogant, they'd wonder why they are so far down in the JD power and other consumer surveys and it's not because they're serving up the wrong coffee and cookies at the dealership. Their problems are much more deep-rooted than that. To every Mercedes salesmen, I say: Drop the Attitude, you're only a car salesman...

Mustard

Very well said, BlueSL, and I sure hope they read your comments - not that many will change.

Its the one thing I really hate about MBUK - the attitude of their sales staff. Arrogance beyond belief....

Mind you - I've just written a letter to the MD of my local BMW dealership complaining about their attitude. They have not had a single order from me because they just can't be bothered. Long lead times, no interest in getting me a new 5-Series or my wife's current 3-series. Quoted impossible delivery times on a new X5 when I could have halved it with a few phone calls. Wouldn't deal with my imported BMW - not even to trade it for two new cars.

When the recession comes where will they all be?

PJMusgrave

The car went into the garage and it after one week it leaked again. The car was a SL500 R230 LHD Nov 2001 production. I have since sold the car and now have a SL500 R230 RHD April 2002 Production.

My second SL has also leaked water in the boot (Trunk USA) and it has recenty been in the dealers for 6 days. It's now back and I am waiting for the rain. The dealer said that MB changed the trunk seals for the third time (6 months ago) and hopefully it will sort out the problem.

Today, I was with a friend. He said that his mate has just bought a SL55 and is really feed up with it as he has had water leaking into his boot.

Surely we can't be the only 2 people with SL boot (Trunk) problems ?

03SilverSL

I noticed the carpet on the bottom of my trunk was wet from rain after I had the car a few months. The dealer was able to adjust the trunk lid, and that was over a year ago and so far it hasn't leaked again.

tiggerfink

My dealer replaced all the rubber seals around my trunk. That fix the leak. I think there is a serivice notice on the leak around the trunk.