My 1985 300CD California car is now in New Orleans. When it rains (which is a lot), water leaks in the front - dripping down onto the emergency brake and also down the plastic behind the emergency brake (all the way to the back). I took it to a body shop and they told me to replace the windshield gasket. I did that and still have soaking wet carpet after the rain. It has gotten bad enough to have water sloshing around in the back seat. HELP.

Thanks,

Jenny

check the grommets where the speedo cable and such come through the firewall into the drivers footwell. Also check the cavity where the hood hinge folds into when the hood is closed, I've had leaves block the drain on it before and found it almost full of water. I've also had my rear floor completly full of water on the drivers side and since clearing out the blockage, It stays dry.

Just my $.02 worth

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Check your sunroof drains as well. I was looking at a 300SD with the same leak. I could tell it was coming from the windsheild because the trim had been removed and someone had used lots of sealent to try to stop it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ditto his $.02
Mine was the grommet for the cable.

cool, can I get my change then??

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Interesting subject!
I was shocked to find that a plugged drain hole under the hood can send water into the car to the extent that the rear foorwell is sloshing like a small lake. I now believe its what caused a serious water puddle to form in my 300D.

I just posted my experience regarding an autobody shop that I thought left a rear window open during one of the several rainstorms we have been having on the West coast. I just ran some water into the drain area near the hood hinge, and found it was plugged up. I now believe that one of the pieces of the cowl vent clips was lodged won there. I can't believe leaving the window open would have caused the puddle because the rear seat and the back of the front seat would be wet, and they weren't!
I usually give this area attention whenever I have the opportunity, using a blast from a water hose to keep it clear, this time I had to ram a coathanger wire down the opening several time (real hard!) to clear it. I really believe this autobody thing was a nightmare and further shows the level of unattentive and incompetent workers that abounds. I was told the shop fired the supervisor shortly after my car was "done" (keep in mind it was there from Dec. 15 through Feb 18 for work and rework and re-rework)
full story: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=836017#post836017

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I've been going down this path without success for almost two years now. Lilly (84 300D) leaks at the outer sides of both the left and right foot wells. A new windhsield gasket, sealing the new gasket and sealing some very promising holes in the hood hinge pockets have failed to solve the problem. I'm at wits end!

My solution was to buy a beater 87 300SDL to drive in the rain....

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I found a hole under the battery tray that caused leaking in the passenger side. I made a metal patch and riveted in with sealent and no more leaking.

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

The hole under the battery tray is the most common and usually the #1 source of passenger side water leaks. Next would be a/c drain leaking inside...

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Also take the cowl covers off and see if there is any rust pin holes around the seams. I had some and I sealed them up and it took care of the leak. And I had puddles in the back too, just on the left though. Before you take off the covers spray a hose just into the cowl cover and see if you get water coming in.

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-disav

99 E300 TURBODIESEL Astral Silver 282K - AMG brakes, suspension, monoblocks, speedo & interior - Full Load Maxed on IP by custom Speed Tuning USA Chip - T3/T4 Garrett - EGR/MAF delete
98 E300 TURBODIESEL Alexandrite Green on black leather 289K
95 E300 DIESEL Green Queen 267K SOLD
84 300D 216k SOLD
87 300D 299K #22 head - intercooler - full load adj. - 8sec 0-60mph - SOLD
76 300D 214K SOLD

midisav,
How do you take the cowl covers off? I want to do this for exactly the reason you describe, but I am afraid of breaking them. I pried them as hard as I dared from the outside, but they would not budge..

Mark
'84 300D

My battery tray is on the passenger side right up against the firewall. How do you find the hole (I have a similar passenger side leak)?

Hi Mark,
There is I think four plastic squares with a small plastic square in the center of each. You have to push the center square inward, which you will see is actually a long rectangle. Push them all the way in until they drop. You will be able to retrieve them. Then get a jewelers flat head screwdriver and lift out the bigger square retainer clips. The covers will then lift out after you have removed the wipers arms of course.

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-disav

99 E300 TURBODIESEL Astral Silver 282K - AMG brakes, suspension, monoblocks, speedo & interior - Full Load Maxed on IP by custom Speed Tuning USA Chip - T3/T4 Garrett - EGR/MAF delete
98 E300 TURBODIESEL Alexandrite Green on black leather 289K
95 E300 DIESEL Green Queen 267K SOLD
84 300D 216k SOLD
87 300D 299K #22 head - intercooler - full load adj. - 8sec 0-60mph - SOLD
76 300D 214K SOLD

Remove the battery from the tray. The tray is held in place with three (I think) bolts that will be visable after you remove the battery. Unscrew the bolts to remove the tray.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Seems we all have the same leaks on the 300D
1.dripping off the emegency brake. (cowl covers/firewall gromet/windshield/sun roof drain/hood drain leaves)
2.Passenger side floor outside and from behind plastic wall(Battery shelf/sun roof/ & Under battery hood drain leaves)
3.Windshield.

How about that spot behind the front tires, where the tire jack goes. This area might leak when underway, right?