Windscreen Washer Bottle - 230

Matt45

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Just wanted to pass on this useful bit of info to SL owners.
Topped up the Windscreen Washer Bottle yesterday until it brimmed. Water level went down and I had a leak under the front right wheel. The water actually runs down the inside of the wheel arch cover. Found out from my friendly MB mechanic that where the black filler tube in the engine bay meets the actual washer bottle there is no rubber seal and it's not bonded, so if you overfil the bottle it will leak out at the joint until it makes it's own level at the top. This is quite normal and is common on SLs and SLKs - nothing to worry about. The bottle has a 7 litre capacity and the warning message comes on at 2 litres so the best advice is when the light comes on add slightly less than 5 litres and it shouldn't overflow the joint. Various threads have been posted about splits in water bottles and drain plugs leaking. The R230 has no drain plug. Hope this stops any worries about hidden problems. Happy motoring.
 

television

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Thanks Matt I have also been there:D:D and had the wheel arch liner off to look. I take care now when filling
 

wiltsandy

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I had exactly the same thing happen when I topped up my SLK washer bottle and as I thought the bottle might be broken, pulled all the wheel arch liner out to check.

It's a daft idea if you ask me as there's actually a recess in the neck of the bottle that would take an o-ring to seal against the filler tube. I guess the accountants at MB over-ruled the engineers and told them to leave the o-ring out.

When I get some time I'm going to seal mine as I don't like the fact that the washer fliud runs down behind the liner and pools at the top of the inner sill.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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I had exactly the same thing happen when I topped up my SLK washer bottle and as I thought the bottle might be broken, pulled all the wheel arch liner out to check.

It's a daft idea if you ask me as there's actually a recess in the neck of the bottle that would take an o-ring to seal against the filler tube. I guess the accountants at MB over-ruled the engineers and told them to leave the o-ring out.

When I get some time I'm going to seal mine as I don't like the fact that the washer fliud runs down behind the liner and pools at the top of the inner sill.

I seldom if ever go out in the rain in my car, so an annual filling does last me
 

wiltsandy

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I seldom if ever go out in the rain in my car, so an annual filling does last me

You sound like our pilots - fair weather drivers! :lol: Doesn't the car sieze up if you only go out when it's not raining? :)
 

television

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You sound like our pilots - fair weather drivers! :lol: Doesn't the car sieze up if you only go out when it's not raining? :)

I do a fair mileage in it really, just so that I get the best out of it before I snuff it
 


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