[W126 Coupe] Leaking Front end!

[Alexander Hochhausl]

Hi All,

This may help someone:

My experience may be unique, but I had an odd leakage problem (the car I
mean (89 560 SEC), not me) that my father had as well in his 90 350 SDL
(I think it is).

Leakage from what seemed to be the sun roof. I spent hours looking,
sealing, poking out drainage holes, etc - all for naught. The problem
was not when sitting parked, but when I drove, water would seep in,
coming down either by the windshield or the door trim. To make a long
story short, it turned out to be the exterior trim, that runs along the
sides of the windshield - where it comes over the top side of the car,
it was lifted off the roof, just slightly. Well it turns out (and I love
my MB's, and I am an engineer and German), that the brilliant German MB
engineers put holes in the top of the roof for the trim to plug into. So
trim becomes unplugged, hole leaks. (BTW - MB is still the only car I
know with the awesome oil-filter set-up. Why can't Ford and GM get this
so right?).

So my $1 solution was to gently lift up the trim just enough to fill the
hole with clear silicone. Then press back down and tape it down for ~ 24
hrs to let it cure. Problem solved.

The only issue I have otherwise is the trunk getting wet after periods
of hard rain. I know it's the pesky rear window seal- same problem as my
81 380 SLC - this is a rare but sweet running car BTW - why is it not on
the MB Classic List? There were not many made - certainly not many left

BTW I know I owe all you guys my plans for the 560 Supercharger Project.
I have been so busy at work, but I swear I'll get it out this year. 

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of Brad Cross
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 12:19 PM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: [W126 Coupe] Leaking Front end!

Hey guys, wonder if I can pick your brains.  Just bought a Merc 560SEC, 
lovely car, pretty good condition but definitely a fixer-upper!

Appart from the MOT test and service that I'm about to put her through,
the 
main problem is water: in that there seems to be a lot of it getting
into 
the car.  I originally thought it was that the previous owner had left 
windows open (the damp was the reason the car was cheap), but when I
drove 
it in the wet, it got much worse.  I thought it must be coming in
through 
the floor, and there must be a hole in the floorpan, but when I jacked
it up 
the whole undertray is completely intact (and in immaculate condition).

I am left thinking maybe it is the grill at the bottom of the windscreen
and 
it's coming in through the back of the dash?

Anyway, any ideas on what it is/what is needed to fix it/scale of the 
problem/cost to fix would be GREATLY appreciatied.  I spent last weekend

seriously scrubbing carpets, cleaning the interior of the car thoroughly

and, with the exception of the headlining (the re-lining of which is
this 
weekends task) the inside looks like new, I just need to fix the leak!

Oh, and the slide roof won't slide, just tilts, and the control doesn't
seem 
to want to make the roof slide.  Normal?

Info greatly appreciated!

Brad (London)

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