123 Owner CHECK your tail lights
 

I opened the trunk today to get some auditing gear out and found a tiny dribble of water at the base of one of the tail light housings after driving through a monster storm. The leak was very difficult to detect due to the tiny "dribble stream". Upon pulling the fender liners I found a small puddle on each side. It looks like this was the first time it ever happened. It was like new behind there. No rust, stains or peeling paint. Anyway...

I pulled the hose out and hit the back of the car around the tail lights, top of the trunk and bumper and found that both tail lights would dribble a little water out the bottom if hit directly with water.

So, I pulled both tail light housings, both pieces of trim, removed the seals from the housings, cleaned the algae from the seals and openings on the car. I then installed the seals backwards (upside down) and re-installed and re-torqued.

Leak fixed!

thats a very common leak point on the W123's. I don't remember what I did to fix it but they don't leak now.

rubber doesn`t last for ever. I replaced mine about 10 yrs ago with new one`s. I guess they are still available.

Charlie

You didn't fix the leak, but instead put a band aid over it. The proper fix is new seals. Like the other poster said, it's still old rubber.