I have a 1983 300CD which I typically don't drive when it is wet out. However, over the weekend, I was on a long drive with rain and wet roads. The floor on both sides in the front near the wheel wells got wet. I have cleaned what I thought were the drains by the hood hinges, two on each side. Is there something else that I can do.

The car does not have any rust at this time and I want to keep it that way, also I don't like to get the carpet wet on the interior. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Jfenn.

Take one of those gallon juggs and pour some water
on each bottom corner of the windshield on the out side
of the glass.

The rubber gasket around the glass dries and shrinks
over time, this will allow water to run in between the
glass and the gasket.

After pouring water on the corners, look inside the
car, in the same area if you have water coming in
you found the cause.

The best and only way to fix is to replace the rubber.

Louis.

another possible cause on the passenger side could be that you battery has coroded out the fire wall. to check remove the battery and look behind it next to the fire wall. if that is bad you will need to clean it up and then seal the hole. hth
MADSEN

There are a few places, besides the w/s seal that are also prone to leaking in rainwater. Check under the hood by both front hood hinges. There is a hole in the channel there where the water is supposed to drain out. It gets clogged and the water runs back into your floorboards.
Also there rainwater does run down the front of the firewall. Have seen where those miserable black rubber plugs, where the vacuum lines and the wiring runs through, get dislodged and will leak a lot of water in.
Then there are the sunroof drains, and the rear window seal, both of which can put enough water into the cabin to get the front floorboards full or water. Don't overlook clearing the trunk drains either. They require regular and frequent cleaning, or you will see water coming into the rear floorboards, adn soon enough it will be under your feet.
Have fun.

Same car (well ok a sedan). Hood hindge "pockets" and under the battery were the worst offenders. The windshield gasket leaked a little too. I sealed the widshield gasket, patched the hole under the battery and inside the hindge pockets. I also now that I know better, keep all the drains clear. The carpets stay dry now. You probaly already have rust. Take out the carpets and check the floors carefully. If not too bad, POR15 can save them.

If it's coming in through your windshield seal, here's an easy fix that worked beautifully for me.
Do a search either here or on the 'net for Creeping Crack Cure to find your best price.

Many auto glass places don't want to go near W123 windshield seals. I've run into a few that either refuse or won't be held responsible. It's nt as easy as today's "drop and glue" style of windshields. Ours is a big rubber seal with chrome trim that's tricky to prevent from bending unless you've got an old pro doing it.
If on the other hand your seal is very dryrotted, better to find a good autoglass place in your area based on a reference and have them do it.
Fastlane sells the seal, but the one who puts it in may not accept you supplying the part.
Here's one source from another thread.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/Parent.asp?product=140830x&dept%5Fid=1

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."