DIY Locating and cleaning all of the drains in the W107 450SL

[xkeots]

Hi,

Can someone out there please tell me where all of the drain holes top and bottom are in the 450 SL? How do you clean them?
I called Mercedes and they said that there are 2 on the bottom of each rocker panel and that I should let a dealer clean them for me.........sorry
My holes in the rocker panels are real clogged as I tried to run a wire up them (no luck). I will try compressed air as it is supposed to be 50 here in NY tomorrow.
There has to be more than just those 2, I found one more in the gas filler box.

Thanks
Jack Miller
1980 450 SL
1989 560 SEC

[bconrad]

I went through the drains last year in my 72. Starting from the front working towards the back: VERY important drain in the lowest area of the engine bay behind the headlight in front of the wheel well. Next in the cavity where the shock attaches to the fender, one on either side of the mounting point. Next in line are the drains in blower box area. (Small cover above the firewall) You have found the drains rocker panel and the gas door. As memory serves there is also a drain in the convertable top well, lowest point towards the hinge for the top. Finally take your spare tire out to find the drain in the trunk. As for cleaning techniques: I used a small extended length drill bit and worked it in by hand, then used a .22 caliber gun cleaning brush. I'm restoring this car so I did a POR 15 treatment afterward to stop any rust. If the areas are really dirty the best way to find the drain is with a cup of water. See where the water settles and you can be sure the Mercedes engineers put a drain there to get rid of it. After your done repeat the process with the water to see how good of a job you did. Anyone know of any drains I missed?

[ptspringer]

I just checked the drains on my 1972 350 SL (4.5) as described above. I couldn't find any drains for the channel beams behind the headlights (in front of the wheel wells). Instead I found the channels filled with water.

Were drains added in later versions, and should I drill out drains for this area?

There doesn't seem to be any rust from the water which must have been pooled there, off and on, for the last 34 years.

Thanks,

Paul

[bconrad]

My car is a 72 4.5 as well. I wouldn't recomend drilling. Let me stop by the shop today and take a few pictures. I'll post them tonight or in the AM.

[ptspringer]

My former 1983 500 Sl had this same issue. I'd love to see the solution.

Thank you.

Paul

[bconrad]

Two pics of the drain on the drivers (left) side. The ignition box is removed so the location is easy to find from the top view. Second shot is from inside the wheel well. As you can see there is a tube that runs from the drain about one inch down. The easiest way to find it would appear to be from the wheel well side.

[bconrad]

Second pick: Wheel well.

[ptspringer]

on my 1972 350 SL. Thanks BConrad for assuring me that there was a drain to fix (there was). I'm not sure if the spot was the same one as in your pictures. I'll look for the drain tube you spoke of inside the wheel well. This one was forward of the wheel well in a seam. Just needed poking with a skewer. Both sides flow freely now.

Now I need to fix the places where it drains into places its not suppose to, like around the gas tank pipe into the truck.

Thanks for your help. One item crossed off.

Paul

[Walrus]

This topic was discussed not too long ago. I found a list of reputably all the drains, and copied the same to the post. Perhaps a quick search will re-locate the list?

Good Luck.

Edit: Never mind... It WAS this thread, DUH!?!? I gotta get a life... too many fora, too little time!

[playtime]

Hi..i've been seearching for a complete list of drains for my 79 450Sl.
'Walrus' mentioned a list posted here...can't seem to find it. Am i missing something?
Thanks,
Paul

[whunter]

Please review this and post suggested changes.
More pictures needed.


Locating and cleaning all of the drains in the W107 450SL
------------------------------------
Where are all of the drain holes top and bottom in the 450 SL?
How do you clean them?
Call Mercedes and they will say there are 2 on the bottom of each rocker panel and you should let a dealer clean them.
My holes in the rocker panels are real clogged as I tried to run a wire up them (no luck).
There has to be more than just those 2, I found one more in the gas filler box.


I went through the drains last year in my 72.
Starting from the front working towards the back:
VERY important drain in the lowest area of the engine bay behind the headlight in front of the wheel well. (A vacuum and compressed air work well here).
Next in the cavity where the shock attaches to the fender, one on either side of the mounting point. (Compressed air works well here).
Next in line are the drains in your blower box area, (Small cover above the firewall).
The gas door drain comes out in the wheel well.
There are two on the bottom of each rocker panel, (A vacuum and compressed air work well here, however a stiff plastic probe may be needed if the sludge is packed and hardened).
There is also a drain in the convertible top well, lowest point towards the hinge for the top.
Take your spare tire out to find the drain in the trunk. (A vacuum and compressed air a stiff plastic probe are generally needed here).
Suggested general cleaning techniques:
* A small-extended length drill bit worked gently by hand.
* A .22 caliber gun cleaning brush.
* Compressed air.
* A stiff plastic probe.
* A vacuum cleaner.

If the areas are really dirty the best way to find the drain is with a cup of water, see where the water settles and you can be sure the Mercedes engineers put a drain there to get rid of it.
After your done repeat the process with the water to see how good of a job you did.

[BenzToy]

Originally Posted by whunter

Please review this and post suggested changes.
More pictures needed.


Locating and cleaning all of the drains in the W107 450SL
------------------------------------
Where are all of the drain holes top and bottom in the 450 SL?
How do you clean them?
Call Mercedes and they will say there are 2 on the bottom of each rocker panel and you should let a dealer clean them.
My holes in the rocker panels are real clogged as I tried to run a wire up them (no luck).
There has to be more than just those 2, I found one more in the gas filler box.


I went through the drains last year in my 72.
Starting from the front working towards the back:
VERY important drain in the lowest area of the engine bay behind the headlight in front of the wheel well. (A vacuum and compressed air work well here).
Next in the cavity where the shock attaches to the fender, one on either side of the mounting point. (Compressed air works well here).
Next in line are the drains in your blower box area, (Small cover above the firewall).
The gas door drain comes out in the wheel well.
There are two on the bottom of each rocker panel, (A vacuum and compressed air work well here, however a stiff plastic probe may be needed if the sludge is packed and hardened).
There is also a drain in the convertible top well, lowest point towards the hinge for the top.
Take your spare tire out to find the drain in the trunk. (A vacuum and compressed air a stiff plastic probe are generally needed here).
Suggested general cleaning techniques:
* A small-extended length drill bit worked gently by hand.
* A .22 caliber gun cleaning brush.
* Compressed air.
* A stiff plastic probe.
* A vacuum cleaner.

If the areas are really dirty the best way to find the drain is with a cup of water, see where the water settles and you can be sure the Mercedes engineers put a drain there to get rid of it.
After your done repeat the process with the water to see how good of a job you did.

Size of drill bit? 1/8"? (?mm)
Any rubber to damage with the bit or brush?
Air?or vac? from top or bottom? (dumb question)
pics would be nice, lots and lots of pics

[Noeljb]

While my feet were draped over the passenger headrest, and my head nesseled very uncomforably in the floorboard, I found a drain line hose from the A/C through the transmission hump. I also found a nipple for another drain hose (which was missing) to another gromited hole in the trans hump. I found a single hose on the driver side. All this accessable only after removing center console.

I also found a missing drain hose from the bottom of my radio antenna through a hole in the trunk

[playtime]

i've just had the blower box done and cleaned out the drains there (pic attached). That fixed 50% front leaks.
However heater hoses(i think they're heater ones!) coming thru the bulkhead aren't sealing properly, and we can see a previous temporary 'sealant' fix around that area...poke around a bit and more water comes in there. Now the question is not jus about the seal, but how water is getting there, as the hose also runs thru another seal in the engine compartment, by the blower. I don't have a pic of it, but if u remove the blower cover u can see a low rim that runs across the car under the grille vents. It would seem this is to guide small amounts of water to the sides, where it would run down the inside the fender, and drain ultimately into the sill area and out that way. ok..except the little rim appears to trap water too, thus creating rust holes..that has happend in my car and can created a lot of little areas for water to run inside the cabin or onto hoses...with inevitable results. I'll try get a good pic of it...probably would've saved a thousand words in this case

Please note..this is just my experience..and i certainly don't claim to superior knowledge..other cases maybe different.
However i'm now on the 3rd welder, body specialist, after the first never tried and the 2nd gave up! The current one is doing great so far..but i've determined to learn my car inside out in the process. In this country (M'sia) knowing where the water's going is not optional

I've also attached a pic of one side drain in the softtop compartment plus rusty metal where the rubber fits..which was allowing water to enter.
All of these were completely blocked in my car...and probably had been for years

Please forgive low res PDA pics.
Cheers,
Paul

[playtime]

One more pic of the drains inside the front fenders (wings)

As far as i can ascertain, the one on the vertical panel releases water that comes from the grilled vents in front of windscreen. Most of that water will enter the second drain hole on the horizontal surface in front of door...and then exit the drains in sills.

That vertical panel looks good now(!)..but both sides had rusted towards the front, not becos the drain there was actually blocked, but i suspect because either
a) there was crap inside that trapped some water, or
b) a previous owner had ritually (or for a long period of time) parked the car sloping downhill, outside..thus allowing water to sit in the fwd section.

Just a theory

Paul