Sl R230 Rear window seal help needed....

[flowrider]

Funny how some people get so used to using electronic keys they forget they also have a mechanical key.

 

[H1 NPW]

Well, that just shows my level of muppetry... tried the key in the boot, no joy, went round to the passenger door, no keyhole, didn't think to look at the drivers door....

So, it's a sorry sight in there... water is obviously getting in places apart from the one place I had identified. Top of the battery is fairly wet, but there isn't a pool in the spare wheel-well so hopefully not catastrophic. Just in the process of drying it out, then taking it round to a friend who's useful with a multimeter...

Another friend has offered me the use of his garage for a while so after all your encouragement, I've decided to do the seal myself

I shall keep you posted!

 

[Philedge]

Before you start stripping the seals off Id double check all the drains are clear along the trough at the bottom of the rear screen- there's 4 of them. Until the boot is dry Id also remove the bung in the bottom of the spare wheel well so you wont get a build up of water. Personnally Id not keep the PSE pump in a bag as it keeps the pump and its electronics permanently damp if any water is in there. If you think water is getting in anywhere near the roof/PSE pumps put a sheet of plastic over the top to shed water to the sides but dont fully enclose them

Have fun with the seals

And dont forget to free of the boot mechanical lock

 

[H1 NPW]

So, rear window seal is off
I now have a lot of questions! - I'll just deal with my first question in this post as I'm running short on time before I go to work...
The metal strip beneath the window has a small amount of surface rust on it - do you think I should go to the trouble of rubbing down and spraying with paint?

 

[H1 NPW]

attempting to post some photos... having some difficulty fingers crossed they'll be some attached to this post... or it could be a load of HTML code....

 

[H1 NPW]

Can someone give me a steer please!?

 

[peterws1957]

So, rear window seal is off
I now have a lot of questions! - I'll just deal with my first question in this post as I'm running short on time before I go to work...
The metal strip beneath the window has a small amount of surface rust on it - do you think I should go to the trouble of rubbing down and spraying with paint?

The rust will not get better, so best to treat now while the seal is off. I'm not a great fan of rust converters so I'd be cleaning all the rust off (watching that you don't scratch the glass- mask the bottom bit off), and spraying with an acid etch primer such as UPOL. You could then simply paint with gloss or matt black, if you don't want to bother colour matching. So yes def. worth doing now.

 

[LostKiwi]

attempting to post some photos... having some difficulty fingers crossed they'll be some attached to this post... or it could be a load of HTML code....

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To post pictures just hit the upload a file button then select full size image after it uploads.

 

[Blobcat]

Can someone give me a steer please!?

 

[H1 NPW]

Thank you!

 

[peterws1957]

Yep having seen the pics you need to sort the rust. It does look as though someone has been in there previously but not done a particularly good job.

 

[H1 NPW]

Hi Peterws1957

Yes, I would agree about someone having a stab at it previously - only one bead of silicon plus the MB double sided tape, I suspect.
Thanks for your advice on the rust - I pretty much thought the same, so that tomorrow's job!

So my next question is - do you think the seal looks out of shape in this photo? it's the same at both ends. If it's not clear, its the end of the channel that the metal strip sits in.

 

[H1 NPW]

About 6 inches cleaned, another 30 to do!

 

[00slk]

Yep, the cleaning part is the most time consuming boring bit in this process.
Good on you doing it yourself, you can learn a lot about the r230 and save a fortune

 

[Blobcat]

Yep, the cleaning part is the most time consuming boring bit in this process.
Good on you doing it yourself, you can learn a lot about the r230 and save a fortune

Unfortunately you don’t save anything you just don’t spend a fortune

 

[00slk]

Unfortunately you don’t save anything you just don’t spend a fortune

Well that's double dutch.....................

 

[peterws1957]

Hi Peterws1957

Yes, I would agree about someone having a stab at it previously - only one bead of silicon plus the MB double sided tape, I suspect.
Thanks for your advice on the rust - I pretty much thought the same, so that tomorrow's job!

So my next question is - do you think the seal looks out of shape in this photo? it's the same at both ends. If it's not clear, its the end of the channel that the metal strip sits in.

View attachment 50820

Seal looks ok to me. What are you using to clean the seal with- it looks pretty effective.

 

[H1 NPW]

I just wanted to say thank you for the advice and encouragement to all that contributed to this thread. After yesterday's downpour, I can confirm that the seal is 100% watertight

I rubbed the metal strip down and gave it 3 coats of smooth black Hammerite. Used petrol to clean the rubber. Followed Malcolm's instructions, used the Loctite sealant and saved a lot of £.
Fortunately, none of the seals looked out of shape and the c pillar seals looked good so didn't need to do anything with them.

Now onto the rattling roof.....

 

[John Laidlaw]

I just wanted to say thank you for the advice and encouragement to all that contributed to this thread. After yesterday's downpour, I can confirm that the seal is 100% watertight

I rubbed the metal strip down and gave it 3 coats of smooth black Hammerite. Used petrol to clean the rubber. Followed Malcolm's instructions, used the Loctite sealant and saved a lot of £.
Fortunately, none of the seals looked out of shape and the c pillar seals looked good so didn't need to do anything with them.

Now onto the rattling roof.....

They all do that sir

 

[SL63 Mark]

Just FYI as it hasn't been mentioned (I think) there are two concertina drain tubes that run from the rear window channel down into the rear wheel wells, inside the top left and right corners of the boot. This can be disconnected/displaced, and can cause water to back up and leak out, or just pour into the boot.

I always check mine every now and then.