R231 Water Ingress

rexemper

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Your Mercedes
R230 SL500 - oh yeah!
Is that rubber bung in the bottom of the wheel well supposed to be a drain plug?

Yes it is. Many remove it completely when it gets bunged up. I removed mine to clear the build-up of leaves etc and found it difficult to get it back into place so just left it out (after advice from here).
 

Monday

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Your Mercedes
SL400 2016, CLS350 2020
Hi

Can anyone tell me if the R231 has the same water ingress problems as the R230 - I have a 2015 car.

Many thanks

No complaints on a 2016 car; it is garaged but has had some pretty wet journeys. I never had any leaks on the R230 (2007 SL350) either but did have the rear window/boot seal changed (by MBS) when it was reported as perished.

I think it is generally agreed that the R231 is a much better car than the R230 with many of the bugs fixed - although there are differing opinions about the styling. Discuss.
 

Motoman70

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Your Mercedes
2006 sl350 3.5
Been looking at SL350 leaks .i have a 12 plate with water behind rear passenger seat . Can’t c any roof leaks so after looking at forum I think maybe heater drain blocked .How do I get to drains to check please
Is it possible it is running to behind rear passenger seat without the front passenger footwell being wet. Many thanks
 

Motoman70

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2006 sl350 3.5
Posted message re wet floor behind passenger seat.i have been investigating further . I do not appear to have any roof or boot leaks, so am puzzled. I did see something on the forum about water getting in thro the heater. I looked under bonnet and took the air intake off and there was a couple of inches of water in box . Could this be getting to behind passenger seat the front foot well does not appear wet . Am really fed up with not being able to resolve this as it’s been going on for months. Any advice would be appreciated
 

Bay Leaf

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Stockport
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SL 350 R231 2013
I'm new to the marque Motoman. but I can't see how the water could travel from front to back without wetting the carpets unless it's traveling through the chassis somehow.
 

sl500amgsport

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SL500 2014
The R231 SL doesn't have rear seats it is a 2 seater only, are you sure you are posting in the correct place?

Mercedes SL500 R231
 

drmw

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Your Mercedes
M6 Cab - prior to that, SL63 AMG, A-M V8 Vantage, SL55, SL500 and many more
Posted message re wet floor behind passenger seat.i have been investigating further . I do not appear to have any roof or boot leaks, so am puzzled. I did see something on the forum about water getting in thro the heater. I looked under bonnet and took the air intake off and there was a couple of inches of water in box . Could this be getting to behind passenger seat the front foot well does not appear wet . Am really fed up with not being able to resolve this as it’s been going on for months. Any advice would be appreciated
Yes - the carpet is pretty thick
Check the rest of the forum - there are plenty of "how to clear heater box" on R230 / R231
 

flowrider

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Your Mercedes
SL500 (R230)
Posted message re wet floor behind passenger seat.i have been investigating further . I do not appear to have any roof or boot leaks, so am puzzled. I did see something on the forum about water getting in thro the heater. I looked under bonnet and took the air intake off and there was a couple of inches of water in box . Could this be getting to behind passenger seat the front foot well does not appear wet . Am really fed up with not being able to resolve this as it’s been going on for months. Any advice would be appreciated
The blocked air box drain won't be helping as water will get into the car if not cleared. The drain hole is a bugger to reach.
 

Bay Leaf

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SL 350 R231 2013
Any pictures on the air box drain would be helpful as I might check mine for leaves etc.
 

rexemper

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R230 SL500 - oh yeah!
Air box drain can be seen with the bonnet up - there is a plastic grill at the screen end of the bonnet, on the passenger side. If you look down through the grill, you can see if the box has water or anything else in it.
Clearing it requires taking the bung out of the bottom of the box - there is a how to on the forum somewhere.
 

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