250sl car wash disaster

[rmmchl]

I drove through one of those high pressure water washes. I had to put on the gas and get out of there. It was like I was getting squirted with a water hose. Water was coming in from doors-windows-cracks. These cars are not water tight. They are not meant for these car washes. They did not have these in 1967. It's back to the gentle hand wash!

[DaveB]

I bet it was perfectly waterproof in '67. New rubber seals should get it watertight.

DaveB

[mdsalemi]

rmmchl (is that your name?)

When I picked up my car unrestored in 1999, with the hard top on, my ears popped when the door was closed, a sure indication of a near-airtight seal.

Of course, you have less seal with the soft top up, but it should still be pretty good.

Remember a touchless automatic wash has overlapping 100% coverage of water at about 1100 PSI, generally flowing at about 40 GPM.  This is a true test of any seal.  Even on conventional sedans you might get some leakage now and then.

My wash serves everything and everybody: I have seen a 1946 Buick go in last week.  Despite their rarity in the working class neighborhood where my wash is, I get some Mercedes sedans in there, once in a while an SL500.  Corvette convertibles, Camaro T-Tops, etc.  Most of them do OK, but nearly all the convertibles do have some leakage.  I have not seen it too severe, except for one lady this week with a Camaro convertible--leaked like a sieve.

Our 113's are small enough that they are easy to wash by hand, and given your experience I wouldn't go through any automatic again!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored