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Water leak in trunk

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94K views 40 replies 14 participants last post by  Moaw1989  
#1 ·
If many of you don't look inside where your spare tire is, you may miss the leak that I have on mine. It goes below the plastic that holds the spare tire and onto the painted shelf surrounding it. You wouldn't know its leaking if you only open the trunk normally. I have it at the dealer and they are subbing it out to a body shop.

I'm also having the front lower control arms replaced since it has that steering wheel shimmy between 60 and 65 mph. Thanks to this forum, I knew there was an internal repair memo on this from Mercedes as far as I know.

The car has 39,000 miles on it and needs new tires soon. Its been great!
 
R
#5 ·
We have an 07 E350 with water leak in trunk. In our case the source of the water leak is on the left side of lid opening between the rubber seal and the outer part of the quarter panel. I think it is coming in from one of the black plastic "buttons" that are in the 'gutter' section of this area. The water comes in there runs toward real of car and down on the left rear inside. Then comes down along the left floor area and drips down inside to the compartment of spare tire. I still have not fixed but hope to tonight.
 
#7 ·
FYI: For leakage from spare wheel well mention DTB P-B-61.10/02 AUG03 the adhesive bead between the spare wheel well and the body may not be evenly applied and therefore not leak tight.

DIY: I can forward a copy with repair instructions – body sealant part #1686700093 (MBUSA $90 list / 72 net).
 
M
#8 · (Edited)
MY 2004 W211 E270 CDI.

Have the same issue as Pierre Louis' first post (water leak in the spare area), except unfortunately I am way off the warranty period.

I have identified the source to be the crease joint marked in pic below:

I attempted to remove the rear license plate panel to reveal what lies behind the joint, if the seal is broken etc., but could'nt remove it for the fear of breaking something. So as a temp measure have sealed the crease joint with a clear silicone sealant.

My queries:

1. Can someone help me with the removal procedure of the panel?

2. Also, is the DTB P-B-61.10/02 AUG 03 available on the net?

konigstiger said:
DIY: I can forward a copy with repair instructions – body sealant part #1686700093 (MBUSA $90 list / 72 net).
Click to expand...
Though I think your leak is from a different source, I would appreciate of you could forwad the same to me...Thanks konigstiger.

Thanks to all.
 

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#9 ·
I had my 06 E350 4M repaired 3 times for the water leak in the trunk, the water was accumulating by the spare tire.
The dealer stated after testing that the water was coming from above not below.
While I never got a straight answer from the dealer on the cause, the last fix included the replacement of the 3rd light which has a more robust lens seal (MB Bulletin) than the original and the tightening of the trunk closure. The effort to close the trunk is now higher... but it has not leaked in over a year.
 
M
#10 · (Edited)
kiblawi1 said:
...replacement of the 3rd light which has a more robust lens seal (MB Bulletin) than the original and the tightening of the trunk closure. The effort to close the trunk is now higher... but it has not leaked in over a year.
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention, I had also silicone sealed the border of the third brake light. No success with the leak, which then led me to investigate the creased joint.

Also, the inner panel behind the license plate is wet just under the creased joint, but not all the way upto the third brake light.

I poured water over the joint and sure enough it came through the inner panel. So its definately the rear panel to body seal which has worn.

Will have to remove it to inspect the seal and then do whatever is needed.

However, will try resetting the trunk close postion as suggested by you.

About your not getting a straight answer from the dealer...I asked my MB authorized dealer to gove me an estimate for a SBC Brake Flush and he said he could give it to me only after I showed him the car and he hooked t upto the DAS. Sounds odd, considering here i n India they change the oil every year (and not once in two years). I thought ht eleast they would be able to give me was an estimate cost for the oil and the labor, but no!!! So, nbow am looking at a way to do the flush my self.

Thanks.
 
M
#15 · (Edited)
I think I found the drain!

Hi Konigstiger,

Is this the drain you refer to?

I found it had been sealed with a round vinyl sheet (visible in pic in post #14 above) and thought MB would have sealed using a rubber locking seal rather than something simply stuck on.

I presume its not supposed to be sealed shut and have removed the vinyl "seal" as you can see in the pic below.

Is this the drain hole you refer to?
 

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M
#18 · (Edited)
No success

Unfortunately, nothing has worked. The leak still persists and I have not removed the silicone sealant yet.

So currently at a complete loss...

UPDATE:

Under the rear bumper (fender) I found a metal part (probably the fender mount) bolted onto the bodythat has been bolted only on the left side (looking for the rear). The right side has a hole but the bolt is missing. I figure water could find its way into this hole and into the spare wheel.

Will look into it and post pics etc. accordingly.
 
M
#19 ·
Hopefully this time...

Looking around the area mentioned in post above led me to remove the trunk rubber seal and I found that the right side collar onto which the seal sits (where the leak was more pronounced) was about half an inch inset ie. it seems to have been rear ended and the collar had gone into the trunk. All this hidden on account of the rubber seal. The bumper must have been replaced and this very minor re alignment probably over looked as there is absoulutely no sign of damage to the inner metal box struts etc.

Proceeded to re align by comparing to the left side with a malet and wood. Managed to to all this without damaging the paint :).

Pics below are self explanatory.
 

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M
#20 ·
Something new!

The process of the last post was unsuccessful. So a bit further investigation by pouring water (in buckets) over the boot reveals that water is trickling from under the boot seal (between the seal and body), possibly finding its way in along the seal. Removing the seal reveals that the factory sealant between the boot seal and body is ragged or non existent. (Possibly a result of the rear end repair by PO)

Proceeded to remove the entire boot seal and "fill" with silicone sealant and press it back in (as in pic below).

Finger's crossed...
 

Attachments

#39 ·
Mohnish said:
Something new!

The process of the last post was unsuccessful. So a bit further investigation by pouring water (in buckets) over the boot reveals that water is trickling from under the boot seal (between the seal and body), possibly finding its way in along the seal. Removing the seal reveals that the factory sealant between the boot seal and body is ragged or non existent. (Possibly a result of the rear end repair by PO)

Proceeded to remove the entire boot seal and "fill" with silicone sealant and press it back in (as in pic below).

Finger's crossed...
Click to expand...
Hey .. I just having the same problem and assymetrical rear end like yours .. what happened to yours at the end?
 
M
#21 · (Edited)
Success !!!

Success finally :thumbsup:

It seems it was a combination of three things that possibly resulted from being rear ended and a poor repair job (during POship). Fortunately all sorted now.

A brief recap for any one who finds themselves in a similar situation.

Refer Post # 15 : The drain had been plugged shut with a piece of vinyl. Removal resulted in the trunk lining behind the number plate remaining dry.

Refer Post # 19 : The right side trunk rubber seal collar had been pushed about a half inch inwards. Realignment resulted in the area above the platic trim (the lock seat) remaining dry.

Refer Post # 20 : Sealing the rubber trunk seal with silicone sealant and refitting resulted in the area under the plastic trim (the lock seat) remaining dry.

As always, Thanks to Konigstiger.

Hope this helps someone in future. :)
 
#40 ·
Mohnish said:
Success !!!

Success finally đź‘Ť

It seems it was a combination of three things that possibly resulted from being rear ended and a poor repair job (during POship). Fortunately all sorted now.

A brief recap for any one who finds themselves in a similar situation.

Refer Post # 15 : The drain had been plugged shut with a piece of vinyl. Removal resulted in the trunk lining behind the number plate remaining dry.

Refer Post # 19 : The right side trunk rubber seal collar had been pushed about a half inch inwards. Realignment resulted in the area above the platic trim (the lock seat) remaining dry.

Refer Post # 20 : Sealing the rubber trunk seal with silicone sealant and refitting resulted in the area under the plastic trim (the lock seat) remaining dry.

As always, Thanks to Konigstiger.

Hope this helps someone in future. :)
Click to expand...
I have a trunk leak , I think it is the same as number 20. I attached a pic , do you think if I fell sealant into the seal will solve it ? Thanks
 

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N
#24 ·
Mercedes w211 trunk Leak

Hi mate i hade the same problem then the drain had been plugged shut with a piece of vinyl. Removal resulted in the trunk lining behind the number plate remaining dry.
This is a small hole at the bottom of the trunk and the left hand side,
I dont have any water in the lid but there is still a leak and water gets inside
I will remove the plastic black gutters on both side of the trunk and reseal it will have an update next week.
 
N
#26 ·
W211 Trunk Leak

Thanks Mohnish,

This weekend I spent some time fixing my car trunk leak,
I removed the back lights removed the boot seal and the plastic trims on both sides, cleaned every thing, fixed back the lights, (Left hand rear light had water in it) fixed back the rubber seal and the plastic trim on the top side of the boot.

Will see when it rains hope this has fiexed all the problem.

Haroon
 
N
#27 ·
W211 trunk leak, Please Help

Guys good morning,

I carried out some work on my car, reseated the seals, removed the plastic gutter on both side cleaned them then reseated them using silicone to close the gaps where the plastic clips went in, removed the trunk lining of the boot lid checked every thing was ok, it was dry inside the boot lid.

I did the work over the last weekend but there was still water in the trunk.

The water is coming down to the rear left tail light, it goes in to the tail light fills up, once full it pours down from the back of tail light in to the trunk,

Guys need more advise what to do as this is getting on my nerves now.

Please advise
Thank you very much
Haroon
 
#28 · (Edited)
netwalla said:
The water is coming down to the rear left tail light, it goes in to the tail light fills up, once full it pours down from the back of tail light in to the trunk
Click to expand...
Expansion rivets can deform and/or crack if removed/reinstalled and as such sealing action fails, check plastic rivets along side between rubber weather strip and body. These rivets are designed for one time use.
 
M
#31 ·
leaking water outside the car when i shut down the trunk door

Hello guys . i have a w211 2004 and it is leaking water from the trunk when it rains or i wash it . the trunk is dry and there is no water inside the car , but it leaks to outside when i shut down the trunk , near the trunk door handle and the plates . what should i do .....
 
N
#32 ·
211 trunk leak

I had a leak with my w211 and the result at the end was to replace the rubber seal on the left tl light which fixed the problem.

I think you should take the inside lining of the boot off, remove the number plate place tape over the number plate holes, close the boot and pour water again to see axactly where the water is comming from.

Once verified then there are always to fix it.
Haroon
 
M
#33 ·
thanks haroon

I did open the closed drain in the trunk door , the leak is exactly in the middle of the trunk door , it has nothing in in the middle eg rubber or seal , it is open and water is leaking from the trunk door esp when i close it . the lights are and plate are under the trunk door and they are not leaking , and if so , how would it transmitt water to the trunk door . they are separated ... :surrender:










netwalla said:
I had a leak with my w211 and the result at the end was to replace the rubber seal on the left tl light which fixed the problem.

I think you should take the inside lining of the boot off, remove the number plate place tape over the number plate holes, close the boot and pour water again to see axactly where the water is comming from.

Once verified then there are always to fix it.
Haroon
Click to expand...
 
B
#36 ·
Water leak to boot CLS 320

Hi Netwalla,

I have a similar problem with a leak to left hand side of boot, it appears to be coming from the left wing joint inside of the boot, is the joint sealed in yours? mine appears to be unsealed at the joint.

Also has anyone upgraded to Philips X-treme light bulbs and has there been a significant difference, I do not have Zenon and the originals are rubbish!

Otherwise love the CDI but I do have problems with the Sat Nav which does not allow me to put a full postcode in, is there an upgrade anyone knows of.
::
 
T
#37 ·
Hi everyone,
New guy here, W211 320 CDI - 2003

I am also having some water in the trunk, it seems that the water is coming in through the panel behind the licence plate, so I removed the rubber seal just like you said it.
I am trying to remove this panel but thread of the side bolts is rounded, so I can't unwind it.
2615357


Any ideas?

I installed the backup camera about 6 monts ago in to the right licence plate light, so I would like to check the situacion behind this panel with the water canals, but I can't remove it.

Thank you in advance.:)
 
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