How is water getting into my Mercedes-Benz SLK?

I have a 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLK 200, which I bought last year for some much-needed fun after the first pandemic lockdown. Recently, I have noticed a large amount of water in the boot (spare wheel well) with the carpets soaking wet. After some head-scratching, I could only put it down to the high-pressure hose used by a car wash attendant in a supermarket car park a few days before.

However, for some weeks now it has been in the garage and not been out in bad weather or been washed. On checking the boot prior to releasing it from the garage for the warm weather I found the spare wheel covered in droplets of water. My only explanation could be severe condensation. Is this likely or a known issue?

Asked on 23 July 2021 by Muttley04

Answered by Dan Powell

Unlikely to be condensation, most likely a leak somewhere. The easiest way to find the source is to dry the boot out and then use a watering can or hose to pour water over the rear of the car (when the boot is shut) to find the ingress point. Check the two drains that lead from the lower edge of the rear windscreen to drains inside the boot (one on each side). If the rubber has perished or developed a hole then this may be the cause.

Tags: water ingress water leaks water drainage

Similar questions

My daughter's Audi A1 has damp in the driver's footwell but the door seals seem fine, what could be the cause?

My daughters Audi seems to be getting damp in the drivers foot well door seals seem fine, are there any known issues regarding this fault?

I can hear water in the sills of my car - how do I drain it?

I have a 2011 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi SRi and can hear water movement apparently coming from within the nearside sills? Is this possible, why is it there and how do I resolve this issue? Are there any...

Astra collecting water in the rear doors - is this a design fault?

I bought a Vauxhall Astra from my local dealer 12 months ago. I have taken it back to the garage three times over water leaks. The main problem is the rear doors, with water getting into the door panels....

Related models