Hey folks,

Quick question here, although I think I already know the answer. During rainstorms, my driver's side front carpet gets soaked, with some of it soaking the driver's rear carpet as well. The water "flows" in three places:

*Drips down the e-brake lever, onto the E-brake pedal, and onto the carpet.
*Drips down the leftmost edge of the plastic "foot rest" in the back left of the driver's footwell.
*Drips down somewhere(?) and soaks the side-carpeting behind the e-brake area (but before the footrest area). Hard to explain, I'll try and get a photo later if I can.. but it's still pouring out, so that may prove difficult.

I'm guessing it's the windshield seal, right? I tried sticking some silicone under the gasket (I know, I'm an idiot.. I'll have them peel it up when they put the new seal in, if that's the case).. but it didn't do anything. The trunk leaks quite a bit into the side pocket areas, too.. leading me to believe that the rear windshield seal is totally shot, as well.

Am I right in my assumption? Are my seals shot, or am I dealing with an entirely different kind of beast? How much do you reckon it'd cost for having both seals replaced?

Thanks, guys!

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(Oo{=|=}oO) 1983 MB 300D USA, 212,000mi. 80's yellow/white. "Gunther"
(Oo{=|=}oO) 1984 MB 300D Euro, Turbo Added in Germany, 186,000mi [SOLD] Missing her dearly.
(Oo{=|=}oO) 1984 MB 300D USA Turbodiesel, 269,000mi. [SOLD]

every time i've had a leak it was from a hole in the bodywork somewhere- a hole I looked at and said "it can't be that hole"

trunk hinge pocket area, sunroof drains etc...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Front windshield seal - I think you are exactly correct there.

The rear seal is probably shot too. Theres a small drain for the windshield seal on the drivers side of the trunk. Look up underneath and youll see a little hole, no more than a few mm's wide. If the water is coming from there, then you have your answer. You can also remove your rear hat rack and youll know pretty fast what the deal is.

dd

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I'm with dieseldan on this, I have an 85 wagon and I am 99% sure it is the windshield gasket. The reason I am sure is that I have ruled out everything else, and with a NEW gasket, I can SEE and feel the water coming under the glass during a highway drive in pouring rain. For the first few months, it seemd the new gasket fixed the leak, then it came back little by little. The MB manual says that the corners and sides should be caulked after a new gasket install. Differing opinions here about that, I think MB is right, at least for my car. Just bought some and plan to do the job when it gets hot and dry and I have the time.

You should do the following anyway and on a regular basis.

Clear out and clean the hood hinge cubbies, and seal everything that looks like a seam back there. Clear and clean the drain holes (2 per side) in the negine compartment. Pull the plastic cowl covers and clear and clean those and their drain tubes. Pour water in your sunroof drains and check that it is all going out where it should. If you suspect rust up there, pull apart your sunroof and repair it; someone had major rustout there at the top, do a search and you can find pics.

You can take your chances and just replace your seals. Don't just caulk them unless you don't want to spring the cash now; you will eventually end up replacing the seals. They get brittle with age, and they will never seal properly.

Let us know what works. There are dry 123 MB'ers and there are the rest of us.

I remove my carpets regularly to dry them out.

Grrrr....

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Peter
1985 300TD 4-speed 212K
1992 400E 343K
2001 E320 72K