Merc W124 TE wet interior
Discussion
I've got a chance to buy a low-miles 1995 E300TE estate with the 'old faithful' 3-litre diesel lump. Have just had a quick look over it with the owner's permission (he wasn't there but we know each other). It's got a little rust on the n/s wing, what a surprise etc, but otherwise it looks OK. The service history is all there and the price is right. I'm very tempted.
The one thing that is worrying me is the floors, which are all wet. The carpets on the boot walls are damp too.
I know it's tough to trace leaks but I was wondering if anybody might have any TE-generic thoughts as to what might be the cause? Looks to have been some attempts to mastic the upper edges of the boot side windows in the past but are there any drain holes and the like that are known for clogging up?
It's not got aircon so won't be a missing pipe from that.
I'm a bit paranoid about this having been stung by a Passat that needed an expensive new comfort ECU as a result of wet floors.
Thanks for any input.
The one thing that is worrying me is the floors, which are all wet. The carpets on the boot walls are damp too.
I know it's tough to trace leaks but I was wondering if anybody might have any TE-generic thoughts as to what might be the cause? Looks to have been some attempts to mastic the upper edges of the boot side windows in the past but are there any drain holes and the like that are known for clogging up?
It's not got aircon so won't be a missing pipe from that.
I'm a bit paranoid about this having been stung by a Passat that needed an expensive new comfort ECU as a result of wet floors.
Thanks for any input.
Edited by Blackpuddin on Friday 21st September 16:59
I'm not sure how it gets there, but water can get in up through the floor. Under the carpet you can see the floor is covered in sound deadening - I've seen that crack and water get in and wick up.
Plus sunroofs - they leak and with the vinyl headlining, it can trickle down to the floor through all sorts of routes...
Probably, I'd walk away from that, unless it's cheap and you will use it a lot (to dry it out) and garage it the rest of the time. Or you want it to be a labour of love.
Plus sunroofs - they leak and with the vinyl headlining, it can trickle down to the floor through all sorts of routes...
Probably, I'd walk away from that, unless it's cheap and you will use it a lot (to dry it out) and garage it the rest of the time. Or you want it to be a labour of love.
Having heard from me about this wetness problem the vendor has decided to keep the car, so the decision to buy or not to buy has been taken out of my hands. On one level I'm sorry because that could have been a 'forever car' for us, but on the other I'm relieved because I know from experience what a pain it can be tracing and curing water leaks.
Thanks for the input guys.
Thanks for the input guys.
Obviously it's academic now but.....
Now I'd hate to give erroneous advice but I have a hazy memory of Ed China (Wheeler Dealers) using a plumbers smoke bomb to find a leak in a car? Or did I imagine it?
Strip the interior seats carpet / soundproofing set the 'bomb' off & see where the smoke exits. If smoke can get through then so can water.
https://www.toolstation.com/search?search=smoke%20...
This is for discussion it IS NOT a recommendation!
PS It's better to dry off wet carpet in the car to avoid the danger of shrinkage.
Now I'd hate to give erroneous advice but I have a hazy memory of Ed China (Wheeler Dealers) using a plumbers smoke bomb to find a leak in a car? Or did I imagine it?
Strip the interior seats carpet / soundproofing set the 'bomb' off & see where the smoke exits. If smoke can get through then so can water.
https://www.toolstation.com/search?search=smoke%20...
This is for discussion it IS NOT a recommendation!
PS It's better to dry off wet carpet in the car to avoid the danger of shrinkage.
On my 124 TE, it had a repaired/replaced rear 1/4 panel in it's past.
Water comes in from some rust there, in to the rear foot well, then runs forward in to the front foo twell.
Will get fixed eventually.
Oh, and the electronics are all high up on the bulk head, so no issue like on later cars.
Water comes in from some rust there, in to the rear foot well, then runs forward in to the front foo twell.
Will get fixed eventually.
Oh, and the electronics are all high up on the bulk head, so no issue like on later cars.
Again it's academic but from memory there are drain holes that you can rod with media cable or flexible but non kinking wire, access is under the roof rails towards the boot.
It didn't completely resolve the damp carpets in the boot of my TE but improved it immeasurably although on cold mornings the windows would still be covered in condensation.
It didn't completely resolve the damp carpets in the boot of my TE but improved it immeasurably although on cold mornings the windows would still be covered in condensation.
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