sunroof rear drain tube location - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

harpua00 · #1 08-14-2009, 09:53 AM

Can anyone confirm for me where the rear sunroof drain tubes exit the car body on an '85 300D? I am assuming somewhere near the rear wheel wells but cannot find any exiting tubes. I've searched all over this forum and others for this info and keep coming up blank. I have a leak running down the rear, left roof pillar and I'm hoping it's just a clogged drain tube as opposed to a deteriorated tube but I can't even find the tube end to see if it's clean.

Thanks!

Jeremy5848 · #2 08-14-2009, 12:17 PM

EPC shows the rear drain going down somewhere in the rear wheel well area but isn't specific since it (EPC) is just a parts list. It might also drain to the vent behind the rear door.

Do you have this leak problem on both sides of the car? If the other side seems to be OK, try opening the sunroof fully, car on a slight upslope, pour water into the channel alongside the sunroof so it flows back, see where it drains out.

Chad300tdt · #3 08-14-2009, 12:28 PM

The rear sunroof drains go from the rear corners of the pan and drain out behind the rear side window trim. If you look there, you'll see the end of the rubber drain tube. To clear these drains, I remove the sunroof and push a snake up from the hose into the sunroof cavity where I can vacuum out any debris with an extension wand on my shop vac.

Cr from Texas · #4 08-14-2009, 03:52 PM

Look closely at that vent behind the window. The center black plastic piece has a tab or two that can be released to remove that piece. You can then clean whatever might be at the exit end of the drain.

The Gears · #5 08-14-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cr from Texas

Look closely at that vent behind the window. The center black plastic piece has a tab or two that can be released to remove that piece. You can then clean whatever might be at the exit end of the drain.

Can you let us know how to release the two tabs? A pic would be great

Jeremy5848 · #6 08-14-2009, 09:42 PM

There are three tabs that must be released to remove the "extra" strip of black plastic. Look into the gap between the body of the car (the C pillar) and the drip rail and you will see them. Use a bright flashlight or other source of illumination. With the three clips released (yes, it helps to have three hands) the black strip can be pulled out. Pull at the top of the strip, pivoting on the bottom, which has a tab stuck in the trim underneath, towards the rear of the car. Now you can see into the drain. I was not able to actually see the drain pipe coming from the sunroof but that is clearly where water from the sunroof must flow.

Jeremy

Cr from Texas · #7 08-14-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

There are three tabs that must be released to remove the "extra" strip of black plastic. Look into the gap between the body of the car (the C pillar) and the drip rail and you will see them. Use a bright flashlight or other source of illumination. With the three clips released (yes, it helps to have three hands) the black strip can be pulled out. Pull at the top of the strip, pivoting on the bottom, which has a tab stuck in the trim underneath, towards the rear of the car. Now you can see into the drain. I was not able to actually see the drain pipe coming from the sunroof but that is clearly where water from the sunroof must flow.

Jeremy

Thanks for helping with this explanation. It's been a few years and I can claim senior memory loss.

BTW: A picture from my car would have looked the same - same white 123.

The Gears · #8 08-16-2009, 02:05 PM

Thanks Jeremy. With a base piano sting I was able to get the crap out of the right drain.

Jeremy5848 · #9 08-16-2009, 02:28 PM

You're lucky to have a bass piano; most people don't. Even ours is only a baby grand.

280EZRider · #10 08-16-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

You're lucky to have a bass piano; most people don't. Even ours is only a baby grand.

What's a bass piano anyway? I think he meant "piano string from the bass side," or possibly "a big fat piano string." In any case, this is a great tool!

Jeremy5848 · #11 08-16-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 280EZRider

What's a bass piano anyway? I think he meant "piano string from the bass side," or possibly "a big fat piano string." In any case, this is a great tool!

That's a joke, son.

String trimmer string works good if you don't have a bass piano.

harpua00 · #12 08-17-2009, 10:13 AM

Thanks for this tips all. The black trim piece comes out exactly as Jeremy noted, however even with the trim piece removed there still is not enough room to see what's going on there, nor see the end of the tube to be able to guide a string up into it to clear it out.

So, I pulled off the trim piece on the interior C-pillar (just snaps off) and found that the headliner in that area can be pealed down just enough to peer up towards the back of the sunroof pan and voila, right there is the hose connection to the pan. Some of the headliner is tucked under the upper corner of the rear door seal and I was able to pull some of it out a bit near the c-pillar to get some more slack and then wedged my hand in and found where the tube connects to the rear pan drain......it's only 4-5 inches from the edge of the headliner and though I couldn't see while I had my hand up there it was easy to grab the tube and just pull/twist till is came loose. A bunch of little sticks and leafy mulch came pouring out from the pan drain and onto my head and then I blew out the hose to clear it out and more gunk poured out from the outside vents behind the rear door. I put the hose back on, tucked the edge of the liner back under the door seal and put the c-pillar interior trim back in place and the black vent cover back on the outside and done. Now, when I pour a cup of water into sunroof pan is comes pouring out both the front and rear drains and I'm hoping no more Titanic in the left rear footwell.

Jeremy5848 · #13 08-17-2009, 11:25 AM

Now you are the expert and are expected to spend the rest of your life glued to this board, ready to answer questions about what you just learned. Congratulations!

Jeremy