What Do You Do After Driving in a Downpour

[Mark in KS]

Well, I've had my '67 230SL for just over two years and yesterday a sunny day turned into a bigtime downpour.  Until then, I've only driven my car on clear days with minimal chance of moisture.  It was a Colorado car all its life and has no rust.

So should I look anywhere for standing water that will wreak havoc, or should I just give her a bath today and dry off the excess?

[Douglas]

Lift up the mat in the trunk. Almost guaranteed there's water under there. Also, make sure to remove the spare and examine that corner of the trunk as well.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[rwmastel]

Mark,
Do a search on this site for "drain hole" and make sure you click on "match exact phrase".

- Doug is right, inspect the trunk closely.
- If your soft top was up when this happened, leave it up to dry.
- While it's up, open the rear window part and look in your soft top well for water.
- Look under the rear parcel shelf.
- Feel your all around your carpets, under the foot mats, and under the seats (slide them all the way forward).

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[J. Huber]

Maybe I should be the last to talk (since I too avoid getting my car wet, as it is already rust-striken)... but most of these cars can handle getting wet once in awhile if they are kept-up. I agree about checking those areas if only to see if your seals/drains are working properly.

James
63 230SL

[ChrisInNashville]

Mark, I feel your pain, from experience.   I took mine to work one sunny day...beautiful day...all day, until I get in the car to drive home and the heaven's opened!

But, this begs a question.   My problem is clearly the seal on the top cover and the seal around the trunk (which I'm about to replace).

If I replace these, is it reasonable to expect that I'll be watertight after that?

[Mark in KS]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.  I checked under the trunk mat in both corners and they were dry!  Additionally, I had the hardtop on, so the top lid seals were not challenged.  Now it needs a bath and I want to make sure the rocker panels & fenders are not compromised.  I think I'm "OK, so far"....).

[Bearcat]

also the seal that goes around the trunk (boot where we come from) is a water collector. I purposely never glued the seal in place as it means when water collects I just lift the rubber seal and wipe the water away. I nearly cried recently when I was caught out in rain a long way from home....know how you feel!

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by Mark in KS

Additionally, I had the hardtop on, so the top lid seals were not challenged.

I would remove the hard top and check to make sure.  Not only is there a seal around the lid for the compartment, but the 8 or so screws that hold the chrome trim down along the middle fo the lid (right where the rear of the hard top rests) have little rubber washers.  They are meant to keep water that runs under the chrome from getting into the soft top compartment lid itself, and then down into the compartment.  There is also a thin seal running the length of this chrome trim that may be dry and ineffective.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420