SL-Class (R231) 2013 on: Discussion on the SL550

SL/R231: Water in the Trunk

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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 02:05 PM
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SL500
Water in the Trunk

Forumites,Originally posted this in the wrong place . . . . .apologiesThe ecstasy of ownership of my 2003 SL500 has dampened with the 1st heavy rain since I bought my car!The trunk was dry, now it isn't.My problem is that I don't really understand how the water is getting in.Let me try to be clear, following a night of heavy rain;With the trunk closed & the trunk separator in position, it was the left hand side of the trunk carpet and the left side of the trunk separator which were wet.Ah ha thought I, trunk seal. Contact dealer, get it fixed, easy.I removed the carpet and have dried it out.I pat dried the carpet with more towel.I have put a rubber boot liner in.I have made and installed a waterproof cover of the air pump assemblyI then closed the trunk divider and covered it with a large old towel, now used for all things automotive.The following morning I chamoised the boot lid, rear window and rear wings to remove all the water.On opening the trunk, only the left hand side of the towel was wet, not the carpet, not my waterproof coverI carefully checked the complete trunk seal, and the area below the rear window, for signs of water; nothing.This confused me!The only water in the trunk was on the divider. How can this be?It is no where near any potential leak point that is obvious to meAny suggestions, as always, gratefully received.John
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Janner
Forumites,Originally posted this in the wrong place . . . . .apologiesThe ecstasy of ownership of my 2003 SL500 has dampened with the 1st heavy rain since I bought my car!The trunk was dry, now it isn't.My problem is that I don't really understand how the water is getting in.Let me try to be clear, following a night of heavy rain;With the trunk closed & the trunk separator in position, it was the left hand side of the trunk carpet and the left side of the trunk separator which were wet.Ah ha thought I, trunk seal. Contact dealer, get it fixed, easy.I removed the carpet and have dried it out.I pat dried the carpet with more towel.I have put a rubber boot liner in.I have made and installed a waterproof cover of the air pump assemblyI then closed the trunk divider and covered it with a large old towel, now used for all things automotive.The following morning I chamoised the boot lid, rear window and rear wings to remove all the water.On opening the trunk, only the left hand side of the towel was wet, not the carpet, not my waterproof coverI carefully checked the complete trunk seal, and the area below the rear window, for signs of water; nothing.This confused me!The only water in the trunk was on the divider. How can this be?It is no where near any potential leak point that is obvious to meAny suggestions, as always, gratefully received.John
Congrats on your car!
Unfortunately, this is still posted in the wrong forum. 2003 SL500 is a R230 SL. Good luck!
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 03:08 PM
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Thanks
I'll redo it
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:04 PM
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2013 SL550 (Lux Sport), 2006 CL55 AMG (Muscle). S550 (Wife's Sedan)
Beware of water damage to the Battery Control Module which is located in the trunk area of the 230. Those modules are a known fire hazard because they can short out and cause trunk fires. (Read about it in the 230 forum). It happened to me when I has a 230 and since mine was parked in the garage,my house would have caught on fire too had I not caught it in time. (My 230 was a total loss).
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