W211 E270 washer fluid leaking

[motocod]

Hi Folks,

I have a 2005 W211 E270, which has a leaky washer fluid issue. Seems like there could be some problems with rubber bungs failing on the tanks - just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this on a W211, and what the fix is? Looks like it might be tricky to get at - presumably behind the wheel well liner.

I get the low level warning, top it up using the convenient hose in the work car park, drive home, and the next morning I look out and see a trickle of water across the road! From what I can see it leaks into the undertray and then onto the ground on the offside.

Any tips or advice would be appreciated - thanks in advance!

Nik

 

[mioba]

Seems straight forward if your handy and got the tools.
Top bottle up, make a cup of tea, get a torch, find where its leaking from, replace failed part.
In bold is clearly your next steps.

 

[motocod]

Yes, I see how your logic has developed there, many thanks for stating the bleeding obvious!

I was mainly wondering if other W211 owners have had experience of this, in order that i can shortcut straight to the fix. Thanks for your reply

 

[moleskinmel]

Yes, I see how your logic has developed there, many thanks for stating the bleeding obvious!

I was mainly wondering if other W211 owners have had experience of this, in order that i can shortcut straight to the fix. Thanks for your reply

I had a similar thing on my ML. Turned out to be a headlamp washer ram seal.

 

[Denis O]

My R230 did it. Replacement of both headlamp washers sorted the problem.

 

[motocod]

I get the feeling those would be tricky to replace - I wonder if that would require removal of the bumper?

 

[brandwooddixon]

Had the issue on a W210 - the washer ram is replaced from behind the bumper, but access is from below, there being no need to remove the bumper only a piece of trim that is also used to access the foglamps.
I don't suppose that a W211 is much different.
To be honest as mine failed due to ice forming and cracking it I just put a hose clamp in place until such time as I could fix it.

 

[motocod]

Thank you Chris, I appreciate your reply. Sounds like it might be a case of ferreting around underneath to check out the washer. As it happens I need to spend some time polishing my headlamps anyway, so that'll be another job for me to look at in due course.

 

[LostKiwi]

Had the issue on a W210 - the washer ram is replaced from behind the bumper, but access is from below, there being no need to remove the bumper only a piece of trim that is also used to access the foglamps.
I don't suppose that a W211 is much different.
To be honest as mine failed due to ice forming and cracking it I just put a hose clamp in place until such time as I could fix it.

Was that a pre or post facelift 210? Pretty sure the post facelift needs the bumper removed.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Pre-face lift, but it'll only take a minute or two to check.

 

[motocod]

Just to close off this thread, I fixed my leak issue by lubricating the headlamp washers. I'd seen a video showing how you can open the little flap in the bumper and pull out the headlamp washer manually - I did this, and gave it a good spray of lubricant, and that's solved the problem. So presumably some muck had got in there. Problem solved - really quick and easy fix!

 

[brandwooddixon]

Glad that you sorted it.
Mine had cracked after freezing one winter, since then I've always made sure that when I add more concentrate to my washer tank in the winter I ensure that the headlamps get a good few squirts to run it through.