My wife and I have a 2000 SLK 230 with about 43K miles. The car has 'lived' in Northern Virginia, Northern California, and now Kirkland, Washington. We have had the car meticuously maintained at authorized MB dealerships and the car has always been garaged/covered when not in use. We had no water problems with the car until we moved to Kirkland where, for a period of a few months, the car was outside as we were in a rental house with a garage full of everything else! During this period it was winter in Washington and we had the normal heavy rain, wind, etc.

We first noticed that we had a serious water problem when my wife thought the carpet behind the left front seat was 'damp'. Turned out that 'damp' was not the operative term. The entire floor pan of the car was soaked. When we took the car to the local MB dealer the service manager took an initial look for 'blocked drain holes' but told us that nothing was obvious and they would have to do a more thorough 'investigation. The 'investigation' turned into almost $900US of repairs as they took the seats and consol out, dried the carpets, took off the right footwell panel, etc., etc.

When we piced the car up we were told that the cause of the water had been "drains which were blocked with leaves and pine needles" and that they had "adjusted the roof." They also told us that there was some minor rust "starting under seals of top." As noted above we have always had the car inspected and maintained, washed regularly, except for Kirkland where it was winter and there were no obvious leaves around--and certainly no pine needles were our rental house is--and no one has ever commented upon, or told us we had a problem with, "blocked drains" or foreign articles that might cause drain problems.

When we (perhaps foolishly) asked the dealership to participate in the repairs as it was not clear whether the roof leak was the real culprit here, they stone-walled us (naturally), telling us that it was the blocked drains that had caused the problem. How blocked drains caused rust under the seals of the top is, frankly, beyond me. When we contacted MBUSA they told us that they had to rely on the dealer's representation. So we appear to be in a standoff at the moment.

We are not interested in starting a war here but we do believe that the problem was 'larger' than "blocked drains"--and we are frankly skepticle ofthe "blocked drains" story in the first place. Has anyone on the forum had similar water problems including rust around the top seal? If so, what was the cause determined to be? Thanks!

 

The drains around rear trunk block over a period of time and cause many problems. A big post on this on
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/foru...iew.asp?fid=26
If water gets into the boot and soaks the PSE unit many electrics cab play up. Check it out too. Next to jack in a foam box. Ensure its dry.

Bazzle

 

IMO, blocked drain is just a part of the problem.

how the water penetrate the inside of the car is the main cause!

since the car got regular service and inspection, the service center must recognise their own responsibility or mistake by doing careless job and overlooking such things.

first thing is to find out where the water comes from or how it gets into the car.

then kick their ****.