E63 Water in Trunk
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 88
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From: Atlanta
2009 E63, 1984 500SEL AMG, 1984 500SEC AMG Widebody
E63 Water in Trunk
2009 E63, 80k miles
Car has been well cared for by me and prior owners. However, discovered a fair amount of water in the trunk around the spare wheel well. Not a good thing to discover! I did many net searches and found some useful posts on this issue with the W211.
First, I replaced the two plastic side panels that flank the L/R trunk lid in the water channels outside the trunk lid seal - kind of shaped like hockey sticks. There are about 6 plastic rivet pins that hold these panels in place. They weren't very expensive and fairly easy to replace. Didn't help. What did fix my issue was replacing the seals for the tail lights. There are two seals - one large one for the perimeter of the tail light and a smaller oval one. IMO, the design of the tail light sealing edge and the seal itself are poor. If anyone replaces their seals like I did, you will put the new seal on and wonder if it is on correctly!
To replace the tail light seals, you have to take a good bit of the rear trunk paneling out. Also, on the Passenger side (US cars), there is a large vacuum tank behind the side carpet panel that has to be unbolted and moved (not removed) to access the last tail light fastener.
My advice to everyone with a W211 E55/63 is check your trunk area for water and replace your seals! There are banks of exposed fuses, the battery and other electrical connectors in the trunk. Water is not good in the trunk.
Al
Car has been well cared for by me and prior owners. However, discovered a fair amount of water in the trunk around the spare wheel well. Not a good thing to discover! I did many net searches and found some useful posts on this issue with the W211.
First, I replaced the two plastic side panels that flank the L/R trunk lid in the water channels outside the trunk lid seal - kind of shaped like hockey sticks. There are about 6 plastic rivet pins that hold these panels in place. They weren't very expensive and fairly easy to replace. Didn't help. What did fix my issue was replacing the seals for the tail lights. There are two seals - one large one for the perimeter of the tail light and a smaller oval one. IMO, the design of the tail light sealing edge and the seal itself are poor. If anyone replaces their seals like I did, you will put the new seal on and wonder if it is on correctly!
To replace the tail light seals, you have to take a good bit of the rear trunk paneling out. Also, on the Passenger side (US cars), there is a large vacuum tank behind the side carpet panel that has to be unbolted and moved (not removed) to access the last tail light fastener.
My advice to everyone with a W211 E55/63 is check your trunk area for water and replace your seals! There are banks of exposed fuses, the battery and other electrical connectors in the trunk. Water is not good in the trunk.
Al
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
The plastic trim panel that holds the license plate and is the rear face of the trunk lid has a foam seal at the top edge. That seal doesn't seal very well, and the drain that is at the bottom edge inside of the trunk lid has an open cell filter media that fills with dirt/dust, effectively blocking the drain. Remove the trim panel, install a thick double sided foam automotive triim tape in lieu of the foam seal at the top, clean the filter media at the lid drain, and button things back up.
If the double sided trim tape doesn't seal it, a bead of silicone caulk will.
If the double sided trim tape doesn't seal it, a bead of silicone caulk will.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Alexandria, VA
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
I had the same issue occur last year, and it was the seals around the rear tail lights that solved my water in trunk issue.
If you have water in your trunk, consider the age of your car, and it's most likely the tail light seals have gone bad.
If you have water in your trunk, consider the age of your car, and it's most likely the tail light seals have gone bad.
