I had the rear window gasket replaced last summer to stop water leaks in the trunk. I thought that would stop it, but I still have water leaking into the trunk. After a good rain, I can open the trunk and find water in the wheelwells. It is not accumulating, but the carpet is very very damp. Anyone here know what this could be? I've looked, and cannot find a probable source for the leak.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Four possibilities that I can think of ...
The rear glass gasket.... did they use MB sealant when they put it in like the manual calls for ?
The trunk seal.
The air vent behind the rear door glass on the body.. hidden behind the rail.
The holes holding the horizontal chrome strip on the body.

I thought the air vents behind the rail were the drains for the sunroof...

If this isn't the case, where do they go? I'm hunting trunk leak issues, as well.

Thanks.

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J.B. Hebert

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Current Vehicles:
'76 Ford Bronco
'78 Volvo 262C Bertone V8
'80 Alpina B7 Turbo Coupe (For Sale)
'94 Ford Explorer
'95 Mercedes E300D Sportline+

Another source for water intrusion into the trunk is the taillight area. On my SDL, water would run down the trunk lid drain (channel on the outside of the rubber gasket) on to the left taillight. There was a gap in the seal between the taillight assembly and the sheet metal. It allowed some of the water that drained on top of the taillight to leak inside. It pooled in the left well. Bending the sheet metal cured it. HTH.

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D. Blake
86 300SDL 340K (for sale)
83 300SD 205K (gone)
06 Chevy K3500 LBZ CCLB 50K
94 Chevy K2500 6.5L TD 250K (gone)

I have the vents but no sunroof.... I am just trying to list possibilities... I know someone said the sunroof leaking and clogged could rust the inside of the front pillars...

1. Just had my rear glass gasket replaced with MB gasket and the dealer swore on a stack of invoices that the SD rear did not use sealant. The glass shop where I had the gasket installed did a piss poor job of installing so that the gasket did not properly seal at the left upper corner. So now the thing still leaks (just a few drops now onto the top of my plastic emergency box instead of a flood). But after seeing the seal and the installation process, no sealant required on SD.

2. New trunk seal installed about 2 weeks ago to rule that out (no change--still drips).

3. Try spending the night in the trunk with a flashlight to see where it is coming from and good luck

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1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead

For my car..... the 123 Factory shop manual shows using the MB sealant.... and gives a part number...
I think this number has been posted when this was discussed before... and lots of others have claimed MB did not call for sealant... so don't feel lonely....

"So now the thing still leaks","no sealant required on SD"
Haven't you made my case for using sealant for me ?

No, I explained that the installer screwed up the install and I will have it redone when I can get another day off.

Have you actually seen a w126 gasket. Have you seen one being installed. Where exactly would you put the sealant if you were installing one? From what I saw, any attempt to use sealant to get this in place would be hopeless.

On the w126, the front windshield is "glued in" but I have found no specs for sealant on the rear glass. I'll be happy to change my opinion if someone will show me a w126 manual that calls for sealant on the rear glass.

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1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead

Step 11 or step 12 of job # 67-200 states, "install MB sealing compound".

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Joe,

I'm going thru the same thing right now except I'm getting quite a bit of water in the left side ONLY. Until I can fix it, I've pulled out the carpeting *stuff* on that side and pulled the little drain plug so now water can at least drain and not build-up.

What I plan on doing, since the leak is SO fast, is climb into the trunk with a flashlight and have someone else use a water hose to try and create the leak while I look to see where it's coming from.

So far, just looking in there, I can't find ANY place that the water is originating. It seems like it's simply dripping from directly overhead from the trunk lid or something.

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Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

I went the same thing you are, Re & re window ect The fix was very simple. The horizontal decorative piece between the rear doors and the rear window has two screws into the body, both were leaking allowing water into the trunk dripping onto the plastic over the wheel wells. The plastic piece in the strip will pop out exposing the fastening screws. Remove, apply silicone seal and reinstall.
Fixed.

I'm having a similar problem on the passenger side only, but it's both water and Diesel.

I'm believing I have somehow caused the fuel tank overflow to become disconnected, allowing the drain to just drain into the wheelwell.

One of these days I'm going to have some time to verify and fix.

I only get the water after a gully washer.....mild rain not a big deal. I believe it goes around the fuel filler door and into the drain hole.

Just my thoughts.....not sure about the drivers side..

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1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

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I found the source of the leak. It's coming from the tail lights. Maybe instead of bending the sheet metal(since I don't know what sheet metal you're refering to), I can use some sort of sealant? Looks like I have a little fixing to do this weekend.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

A foam strip as used for house door or RV door sealing will also work. You only need it along the top edge. Glad you found it. It took me a while too!

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D. Blake
86 300SDL 340K (for sale)
83 300SD 205K (gone)
06 Chevy K3500 LBZ CCLB 50K
94 Chevy K2500 6.5L TD 250K (gone)