Anyone out there from the Cleveland OH area that is willing to show a friend of mine where the common leak spots are in his W123? Getting real tired of water! Will pay a small fee for discovering the source(s). He had some area around a grommet repaired I believe near the firewall.

I can't come round to show you but look in these places

1) Windscreen rubber - I was amazed to see the amount of dirt in my old rubber when I removed it - water must have been percolating through the crud and past the seal for my leak...

2) Bonnet / hood hinge pocket areas - http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/body-repair-restoration/286079-w123-hood-bonnet-spring-pocket-refurbishment.html

Look at the end of this thread too to see the result of leaks at the front - outer sides of footwell rusting...

3) Sunroof drains - rubber hoses run down inside front pillars - if these are leaking you'll likely see water staining on the headliner

4) Bulkead / firewall between engine bay and cabin has a trough that holds windscreen wiper motor and air intake for heater. The drains for this area are funny shaped rubber things that are just behind the front anti-rollbar

5) Bulkhead area under the battery tray. Remove battery and tray to investigate this bit.

These are the most common areas. However, don't discount rust and holes...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Don't overlook the small drain-hole that is directly under the hood hinge pin in the pocket. You need to poke there with a piece of wire to find it!

There is also plastic funnel glued under the wiper that catches and funnels water from the slit under the wiper to the trough. It fell off on mine!

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Beagle

Those drains are a pain - I've tried to describe their positions in this picture

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Is tehre a way for water to flow from the sunroof to the rear window channel? I get water coming from under the window in the trunk and the window is sealed well.

there is a rubber tube attached to the rear sunroof drain that is routed in the c pillar and if it's torn, or the rear drain is rusted out, it'll leak in that area.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

thx for quick feedback - I will pass info along