Should I call it a day and have #3 repaired or is there anything else I should check for?

Most likely the front wheel housing drain is clogged MBUSA released Service Campaign 2007010002 addressing this matter. If your 211.265 is within VIN range A364588 – A724985 call your dealer to run VMI (vehicle master inquiry) to see if there is any outstanding recall and/or service campaign work all of which never expire and are covered out of warranty with no out of pocket cost. PM your email address and I will send a copy of the SC which includes instructions if you prefer to DIY.

 

Yes please xavaolhouston@gmail.com

 

A shop near me claims that he has seen several cars with this problem. It is the clogged drains in the air box where the blower motor is. This screwed up a G class and two R class cars recently.

He says you can look throught the grill at the wipers and see the problem. There are open-able grilles you can reach through and pull out the muck by hand. When clogged, the water rises and overflows into the floorboards (sometimes even mucking up a brain box).

Good Luck,
Peter

 

I don't know how the G and R are but I cannot find the drain from the blower box from a 211:
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I would consider the explanation from post #2 more likely. Would be nice if the OP would come back and report how this was solved.

 

I called the dealer and there are no open recalls even though the VIN did match the range above. There were some leaves I removed from the corners of the windshield but it didn't appear to be enough to totally block water from draining. The only thing I can think of is the rubber seal around the bottom of the windshield. Any other ideas?

Thank you,

Ken

 

Again, did you check that the drain pipe is open? If you pour water to the water collector, does it drain well?

 

At the base of the windshield is a grille for fresh air entering the climate control system. Typically there are a few hatches that can open by hand.
Under this is an air box in which the blower is mounted. The bottom of the air box should have some water exits to allow water to escape. These may just be a collection of little flaps arranged in a circle like a heart valve or may look like a cows udder that will drain when squeezed. If crud gets through the grille above, then the drains may get clogged and the air box can overflow.

So... don't look at the leaves on top of the grille nor the drains at the fenders. Look into the grille and down into the dark air box.

Good Luck,
Peter

 

I had a very bad flood in my C280 a couple of years ago and this was rain water dripping in by the driver's side through the blower panel under the dash. The dealer said that my drain pipes were clogged. Is what you are describing also same in my car (if you know)? I want to clean my drain pipes and whatever else needs cleaning before this happens again.

Thanks

 

I took 3 pitchers of water and poured the first onto the drivers lower windshield area being careful to ensure all the water went onto the car. All the water drained out the bottom 6" or so behind the front wheel on the sill near the A-pillar. I then waited a couple of minutes while feeling under the dash and the floor...no water found. The 2nd pitcher was poured in the middle over to the passenger side lower windshield area and again all the water drained out except on the corresponding side via the drain pipe. A quick check inside the vehicle revealed no water in the floor of the driver's area. The 3rd pitcher was poured from behind the sunroof going forward across the entire width of the vehicle and water came out of both drain pipes on each side and even midway back the driver's side via a pencil sized hole in the skidplate. Yet again, no water inside the vehicle.
I think I'm down to waiting until it rains while driving to see if it's fixed but I've not really done anything other than remove a bunch of small leaves.
I was unable to locate the box underneath the grill area as in the previous post. I took a flashlight to look through but could not see any blockages.

 

OK, looks like your drain pipes are OK. Have you noticed if you get water when the car is parked or only when driving?

I remember there was a bulletin about a poorly placed seal at the bottom of the windshield but I thought it was in the middle area. Do you know if the windshield has been changed from your car?

 

I fund a Drain hose disconnected from fender hole on the other day in my 2004 E500.
Is ther a Drain hose in passenger side only or also in driver side as well?

 

Is there a Drain hose in passenger side only or also in driver side as well?

MB recommends removing drain nozzles installed at production to prevent clogging this may have already been performed on your vehicle drains are located in both driver & passenger wheel housings.

 

There is another water leak issue that affects some W211 models. I cannot remember where it exactly came but it needed fixing at the lower A-pillar area, perhaps konigstiger would be able to find some details?

 

Thank you konigstiger,
I could not locate the pipe on passenger side....
We are having once in a year size rainy week in SocAl.

I hope everyone drive safe!

 

Water Drains Cleaned

After being parked outdoors for 3 days with frequent rain, I found my drivers (RH) footwell waterlogged. Close inspection fololwing this thread showed the compartments below the bonnet vent to be full of water. I removed both drains and found them blocked with fine mud - as per pic. Car is 7 years old. A laborious but easy job to remove and clean. I replaced the the rubber drains having cut off the narrow tips - allowing easier throughflow. Thanks guys!

 

Water on the floor is often a result of a leaking moonroof

A moon roof cannot totally seal out rain water - so, it must allow the water to drain faster than it enters. This is done by small holes connected to drain hoses on the left and right side (you can see them when the roof is opened).
The hoese are routed down each A pillar. If you have a leak on the floor, it is very possible that water is overflowing on that side, and following the hose down the A pillar (on the outside of the hose), and ending up on the floor. I had this experience, and solved the problem by removing an oval shaped Elm seed that was lodged in the drain. I pulled out the seed - problem solved.

 

Our law firm has been contacted by numerous W-211 owners who have sustained damage to their vehicles as a result of these clogged drains. The problem is that owners are not made aware of these drains or the need to clean them until after it is usually too late. If your vehicle sustained water damage as a result of these clogged drains, please contact us at sunroofdrain-lawsuit.com as we may be able to help.

 

Water in Footwell

The Law Office of Robert L. Starr is investigating complaints of water leaking into the footwell of W211 E Class Mercedes vehicles. If you have any information regarding this condition, and you are willing to provide this information, please either email Robert L. Starr at starresq@hotmail.com, or call 818-225-9040, and leave a message for Robert Starr.

 

Rained today and driver's side floor flooded as I pulled away. Water came down over my feet. (RH Drive). Found a pool of water standing under main elect box next to hood hinge against firewall. No leaks around windscreen. Water comes through air vent on hood. No space to work so put a snorkel on a wet/dry vaccum cleaner and sucked out over 5 liters of dirty water. Can't find a drain. Any advice??

 

Boyles -How did you get to the drains?

 

How did you get to the drains?

Detach front fender liner at bottom rear by removing nut and two rivets then press to one side to reveal drain (same for driver & passenger side).

 

Thanks

 

i have this problems 3 days ago and yesterday I have: SBC H stop working; Cruise Control sometime don't works and ESP defective display in screen, Battery issues (red icon of battery)

Any suggestion please...

 

Update:
Here is the reason: Central gateway box damaged with water inside, replace new one: US$ 350 :surrender:

 

I hlso had electrical faults with red lights flashing all over the dash. Then dead - no ignition, battery flat overnight. It was all due to the blocked drains and 5" of water damed up under the right rear side under the hood as mentioned above. Sucked out 5 liters dirty water and all OK now. The main elect. cable join was under water.

 

Cracked hose from sunroof drain to pillar.

I had water pouring in on the pass side footwell last year. It happened on the drivers side last night for the first time. Thought it was clogged drains also. Turned out it was the rubber hose that comes from the sunroof drain to the A pillar. If you slide the sunroof open and pour some water in the track up front there is a drain hole on each front corner of the sunroof rail. If water gets the bottom of the A pillar wet and it runs down and drips out under the dash thats probably what it is. I have pics of how I fixed it with a piece of 1/2 copper tube and 2 hose clamps after cutting the old rubber hose off a bit. This piece of hose that they put in the cars is painted with the body and it gets brittle and splits where it slides on to the drain at the sunroof. You can get the new hose from the dealer but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it in the hole in the pillar. There is very limited room to work in the headliner and thats why I just spliced it and shoved it back on to the drain. I think the summer heat may cause it to split a little more and then the first rain that comes along you start getting water. I'll attach a pic if I can so you can see what I mean. The door molding, visor mounts, grab handle and the pillar cover had to come off so you can peel the headliner down enough to get in there to work on it.

 

Oh ya I had to loosen the B pillar cover where the seat belt height adjuster is also by undoing the clips. The A pillar cover is the worst and I think I wrecked 2 of the metal clips that hold it on so I'll have to go the dealer and get a couple. Ya have to pry on the outer side (toward the door) first to get it started. I'm sure when the do it they only use the clips once. The side curtain airbag Co2 cartridge is in there and they are tough to get back on. I was going to remove the overhead control panel to get the headliner to come down a little farther but I didn't end up doing it. This guy has a step by step for it and some other good videos. Welcome to the Model W211 E-Class!

The hose from the factory doesn't have a clamp on it where it slides on the drain. You can see that in the first pic. I don't know why they didn't. The drain is not round, its kind of oval shaped so there isn't a lot of room to put one on so I didn't. I was going to replace the piece of hose but it seemed to be in pretty decent shape after I cut it off past the split part. It's been working on the passenger side for a year now and I'm pretty sure this drivers side will be fine too. Hasn't rained again yet!

 

Just willing to post here to remind people to check this on their cars. I was not aware of this problem and found my car filled with 10cm of muddy water in the driver footwell and the rear driver footwell.

 

Attached.

 

This happened to my wagon. Turned out to be the roof rack forward mount leaking.

 

I just had this happen on my 2004 E320 (water leaking into driver footwell). I removed the long plastic cowl around the bottom of the windshield (had to remove wiper arms) and found a lot of leaf litter in there. Tried spraying it out and the cavity filled up with water. I then removed the driver's side tire and removed the fender shield (plastic 10mm nuts, two 8mm bolts underneath and two plastic rivets that you have to pry out). It looks like the drain hose had been removed and now the drain is just an oval hole in the body - it was blocked up. Flushed it out from top and bottom and no more leak. The passenger side was also blocked up. I removed the cabin air cleaner box and was able to fish a piece of clothesline down the drain hole on the fender side and then flush that out (without removing wheel and fender liner).