85 380SL water puddles behind RH seat on floor

[hall]

This is a problem I've wrestled with for awhile. I finally spotted a small, missing rubber seal (roughly 2 in. square) that is attached to the outside of the chrome cap (facing the door) that fronts the soft top storage compartment. Actually purchased the part from MB for about $15. Now the hard part. The seal appears to require the chrome cap to come off to complete installation. Anyone know how to get the cap off? Thanks.

[hall]

Just to complete the story...

the cap came off very easily, and I completed the seal replacement for $15 + a tube of Permatex. I'm guessing the local dealer would have charged me $300.

[Eddie Gilmartin]

My two cents. I've just cured a similar puddle in my '90 R129 500SL. Problem seems to have been in the folding soft top storeage compartment. Two tiny drain holes almost out of sight underneath all the mechanicals. They were blocked with accumulated dust. Blew out with an air-line. In my car, just stop the folding action halfway and have a look in....

[maheath]

In the process of taking my soft top frame out, I dropped a nut down inside my car. Had to take the interior panel behind the driver's seat off to get the nut back. In the process, I noticed that the drain from the soft top storage area had a rubber hose that had worked it's way out of position and was draining into the back seat. Naturally, I put it back in the proper position.

Just another thing to consider.

[DaimlerChrysler]

Or you could be like me and never drive it in the snow or rain.....

[hall]

Even after the door seal was repaired, water leak continued. Finally, I decided that the soft top had shrunk to the point that the r/h boot lid seam was exposed. Its obvious when the l/h and r/h sides are compared- the r/h side of the soft top shrunk more and thus exposed that seam ( which according to my mechanic is NOT designed to take force of rainfall w/o leaking).

To test hthe theory, the softtop was folded into the boot, and the hard top installed. Never another drop of water in the car

. When I have the money, I will have the soft top replaced (its dry rotted anyway).

[Eddie Gilmartin]

All soft-tops leak. What is important is making sure the water can get out freely. Also park largely outdoors for air.

[maheath]

I beg to differ. My soft top doesn't leak. It was replaced a little over a year ago. I also replaced the hatch seal. Since then, I've never had water in my back seat. If water is getting past your hatch seal, then it needs to be replaced.

[ctaylor738]

Hey hall -

The position of the soft top can be adjusted after loosening the bolts that hold the frame to the floor of the storage compartment. You might be able to move it over enough to stop the leak. This adjustment is good for getting the vertical seal against the window to reduce wind noise.