Leak in rear of 1999 E class estate

[davidjt]

I have a 7 seat option E430 estate - recently purchased and very pleased with until I discovered water in the footwell of the backward facing seats. A real mess with mould everywhere and a wet carpet. Garage has taken a look and cant find water coming in around the door or rear windows and is now proposing to strip the bumper off to search for a leak from underneath. Any other advice on suggestions/common problems in this area would be very much appreciated.

Best regards

Dave

UK

 

[andy_k]

my number one suspect would be the rear screen wash.

The feed for it runs over the top of the back door via the hinges and they are prone to developing leaks.

Not easy to diagnose as the water doesn't settle where it lands, but try sitting in the rear whilst somebody else presses the washer to see if that causes any dripping.

Andy K

 

[dieselman]

Check the seals around the rear light clusters. They can leak water in when washed or it rains.

 

[NormanB]

Agree the point about tailgate wash line.

The following should not apply to your 'young' vehicle but the estates are generally renowned for leaky side windows - they normally leak into the respective wheel arch wells at either side - but I suppose it may be possible for some form of wicking to be taking place if a carpeted trim is near the leak and it is then finding its way to the lowest point - sorry not explained too well.

Leaky side windows are easy to spot this time of year!

 

[Freddy]

Leaky estate

See my post a while back where i had a leak i thought from the sunroof. The water was coming down the C post making the seat belts mouldy but only materialised under the back seat and in the luggage load space . If it was serious enough it would collect in the rear seat well.
The actual source of the leak was the roof bars where, i guess, from the factory the sealing washers were never fitted to the bolts (as i doubt the rail had ever been off).Be worth checking any dampness at bottom of C post just behind rear seat back. Fiddly job but has solved the problem.

Freddy[/quote]