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  #1  
Old 11-08-2002, 03:01 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Genolier, Switzerland
Posts: 172
Another R129 Roof Leak Topic

Posted this in the Tech forum, but no suggestions received... I have put the hardtop on a few days ago, and this problem is worsening. Three years ago there was no leak. Two years ago there were a couple of drops. Last year a bit more, and a rain shower yesterday produced more drips than last year. The only thing I did was to put a thin coating of bathroom silicone sealer on the rubber at the top of the windscreen pillar. No luck. Maybe I need lots more sealer.

-------- Original topic ----------

Yet another roof leak topic. I have searched for the subject in all forums, and my particular version of the question has not been answered... I'll go though the situation and ask the question, as I will be putting the hardtop on in a couple of weeks.

Situation: 1990 R129 500SL, which has never had any of the seal mods done.

Problem: There is a hardtop leak, just behind the join with the A pillar, in heavy rain, on the right side only. With the soft top, there are never any leaks in any conditions.

Potenitial conclusion: I have looked at the MB documentation on the seal replacements. It seems to mainly concern the sealing around the windscreen. Given that there are never any soft top leaks, this cannot be the issue. The issue must be the seal at the top of the A pillar or nearby. The leak is very small indeed. The rubber on the roof side appears to be very good condition.

So... is the correct solution to use some sort of vaseline or silicone-type seal to improve the join? Should the rubber seal be replaced? Is there a way of increasing the pressure on the seal just on that side to get a better join? Other ideas?

Momo

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1990 500SL 65k km - until May 11 2004
2004 E320 4-Matic wagon
2004 CLK500 Cabrio from May 11 2004
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  #2  
Old 11-08-2002, 07:50 AM
Eddie Gilmartin's Avatar
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 183
I haven't put my hardtop on yet but I had the same problem last winter. I used Vaseline all along the top of the windscreen. I also pushed a thin wire down the drainage holes at the top of each A pillar, and followed up by blowing through with air. Worked.
I had a worse problem in the rear. I was getting puddles of water under the passenger seat, which prompted the electric seat to do it's own thing. Found two tiny drainage holes in the soft-top stowage compartment. They were blocked by dust, just dust!. Used the wire and air trick again and no further problems. I now regularly vacuum that compartment.
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'66 W100 600 SWB
'05 W463 G55K AMG
'91 W126 500SEL
'93 W463 300GDL
'84 W460 280GES
'83 W460 300GDL
'66 W111 220SEb Coupe
'58 W121 190
'58 W180 220S
Have previously owned '99 SL600, '99 ML320, '79 450SLC, '79 450SEL 6.9 x 2, '68 600, '91 190E 1.8, '90 190E 2.0, '85 190, '90 500SL, '92 500SEL, '97 E300Turbodiesel, '91 300D, '72 280S, '82 300D, '81 300SD, '85 230E, '56 220a and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.
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  #3  
Old 11-08-2002, 02:38 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Genolier, Switzerland
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Will do..

Aha! I hadn't thought of the simple fact that the hole could be blocked. I'll try this in the morning and let you know. First time I have ever hoped for rain.

Momo
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1990 500SL 65k km - until May 11 2004
2004 E320 4-Matic wagon
2004 CLK500 Cabrio from May 11 2004
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  #4  
Old 11-14-2002, 11:10 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Genolier, Switzerland
Posts: 172
Seems to work

Had a serious 15-minute storm this morning. I did the vaseline part of the solution, but did not clean out the drain hole. No drips this morning. I'm optimistic.

Momo

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1990 500SL 65k km - until May 11 2004
2004 E320 4-Matic wagon
2004 CLK500 Cabrio from May 11 2004
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