Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Hello..
I am looking to purchase a 1999 slk230 with 70000kms (approx 48000 miles, I think) and the dealer has been nice enough to let me take it for a couple of days to test out (!!)

Fully in love! Wantitwantitwantit...needitneeditneedit!

But I have noticed that there is a slow leak at the passenger side window seal. It has been raining heavily for the day, and a few drops have accumulated on the seat.

Does anyone have some experience/input to share? Thanks!

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Tell the dealer you'll "buy it today" if he fixes the leak you found. He shouldn't expect you to buy a '99 car that leaks water though the roof. It doesn't sound like a serious problem. They may be able to fix it while you wait for delivery. At worse, you may have to wait for a part to be shipped.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Heavy rain or driving rain will more than likely penetrate any seal. Especially the way the windows are designed for the SLK. Just make sure the rubber window seals are not ripped or dirty. Unfortuantely when I approached the dealer with the same problem, they just reset my window because it was apparently raising less than a millimeter more than it was supposed to. I personally think they really didn't do anything, because it still leaks in heavy rain.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Hey, meiday - Don't believe the previous poster. That's the most ridiculous statement I've heard in awhile. We're not talking about a '60s-era four-door Chevrolet soft top sedan. A '99 SLK roof should not leak water. If it does, it can be repaired. If it can't, then something happened to it (like it's been in an accident and improperly repaired). Just don't use it as a submarine.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Thanks for the good feedback!

I'll be taking it back to the dealer tomorrow to have the two items looked at (roof leak / possible evaporator hose leak).

These seem like potentially minor problems (fingers crossed!) - so hopefully we'll be able to resolve it!

Let you know how it all works out!

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Hi, My SLK leaked at Drivers window just above the mirror support triangle. Just needed to ajust the window up a fraction. Take off door trim to access adjustment.\

Cheers

Graham

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

I also have an SLK that leaks on the passenger side. I've had the window adjusted three times, but it still leaks. The dealership recommended replacing all of the seals for $600. I declined. Any other ideas?

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

I get a drip in the seal where it meets the a pillar. My seals are soft and not distorted. I think it is really a design issue. Do you get air noise form your leak spot when driving? If not, I would not replace the seals.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Assuming the windows are properly adjusted and the seals are in excellent shape, make sure the seals are clean. Do this my using an all-purpose cleaner and clean them gently but thoroughly. When they dry completely, wipe on a very, very light coat of silicone lubricant to keep them from drying out.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Yes they can leak a few drops in real heavy rain. Just wipe seals clean and keep a small towel in door pocket. Most water comes in when you open the door.
The design could of been better.
Mine does it on occaison. No adj needed and seal in good nick. Not really a bother, may be to Lug nut though. I wonder how he fixed his??

Bazzle

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

Mine has never leaked. No fix was necessary. If mine did leak, it would bother me for sure.

I've had leaky seals on other cars, though. It's usually from dried out and cracked seals, assuming all adjustments are proper. If the seals are in good shape, a little silicone makes them seal better and may stop the leak.

There's isn't anything you can do about getting dripped on when you open the door... except wipe it up with a towel. But that's not a leaky seal problem.

The cars we're talking about shouldn't leak.

RE: Slow Roof leak - Passenger Side
 

What Baz is talking about is a small pocket in the seal which holds ten or so drops of water and drips into the car if disturbed or will over flow during heavy rain while wind driven (that's a mouth full). Water seems to blow into this pocket and does not happen when you wash the car. My drip is the same thing. Very annoying. I'm not sure whether your SL600 has similar seals since we have the vario roof.

Beware of the leaks (plural). My wife's 1998 SLK230 leaks on the driver side. Also the rubber seal at the roof is leaking rain. Roof folding mechanism uses hydraulic pumps and they started leaking too.

Later SLK models' windows retract half an inch when opening the door, and closes after the door is shut resulting in better windows to rubber seal. I would buy later year models that has this feature. The problem with 1998 model is that when you adjust the windows tigher in upward position, the window does not closes well when closing the door (it jams on the outer part of the rubber seal). Because of this many of the newer cars have the roll-down-windows when opening/closing of the doors.

Be on the look out for the following
 

My wife's 1998 SLK230 had the following issues:
a. Headliner came off. $100 to redo it, not bad
b. Started leak rain through the rubber seal between windshield pillar and hard top roof.
c. Started leaking hydraulic fluid from the pump inside the hard top -- need to redo headliner when this is fixed. I understand that hard top retractor has several pumps and to replace all of the will run $2000.