W169 A Class roof or windscreen leak

[Alan M]

Hi. I have been to view an a class I am thinking of buying, but there is one thing putting me off. There were a couple of damp patches between the roof liner and the trim on the A and B post - photos attached.
Has anybody seen anything similar? Could it just need the windscreen resealing or is there a seam on the roof beneath the plastic trim?

 

[Koolvin]

I think those marks are most probably from where the owner has tried to clean any grubby stains. I know this as it happened to me (not as bad as that tho) The steam cleaner resolved my issue.

What A class are you looking to buy? Specs/Year ?

 

[MickyP64]

What’s the year of manufacture?...From my experience if it’s a pre-2007 W169 model (I don’t know much about the W168) be sure to check for rust at the seam seals along the bottom edges of the doors and tailgate. Also check for signs of rust around the seam sealer at the top of the suspension turrets in the engine bay. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/153178-rust-diy-dealer.html

If it’s a CVT (Autotronic) gearbox be aware that these can have problems with the speed sensors located within the valve body...if that goes then it’s £1000 for a whole new valve body (or £800 for a recon from MB) plus labour on top. Mine went, but luckily it was covered by dealership warranty.

 

[Alan M]

Just an update. Didn't buy the one in photos. Found a 2007 A180 cdi CVT in Black with sports pack, 17" alloys, Sports 1/2 leather interior, PDC, auto dimming mirror and electric folding mirrors with just 38k on the clock.
SWMBO is well chuffed with it.

 

[Alan M]

There is a company that will now rebuild the ECU for £195+VAT with lifetime warranty. So that didn't put me off the CVT. A new clutch in a manual would probably cost more.

 

[MickyP64]

Yes luckily there are more companies/individuals around now that seem to be able to do this so there’s some comfort in that. I’m told that the new valve bodies have a ‘product enhancement’ that relates to the speed sensors, which I guess (or hope) means that they’re a little more robust than the older ones…I count myself lucky we were able to get a replacement on warranty.

Sounds like a nice car by the way, ours is black too, I think they look great in black… Avantgarde by the sounds of it?...We went for the A200 Turbo which I think is really an A200 Avantgarde with a turbo strapped on…goes like a rocket!…But we only really use it to do the shopping in

Some people don’t like the CVT but we really quite like it…the smoothest acceleration and no gear changes…Ours does produce quite a strange low level whine though, which can annoy me if I notice it, though above 20MPH I can’t really hear it…

Good luck with it and enjoy it…

 

[Alan M]

Yes luckily there are more companies/individuals around now that seem to be able to do this so there’s some comfort in that. I’m told that the new valve bodies have a ‘product enhancement’ that relates to the speed sensors, which I guess (or hope) means that they’re a little more robust than the older ones…I count myself lucky we were able to get a replacement on warranty.

Sounds like a nice car by the way, ours is black too, I think they look great in black… Avantgarde by the sounds of it?...We went for the A200 Turbo which I think is really an A200 Avantgarde with a turbo strapped on…goes like a rocket!…But we only really use it to do the shopping in

Some people don’t like the CVT but we really quite like it…the smoothest acceleration and no gear changes…Ours does produce quite a strange low level whine though, which can annoy me if I notice it, though above 20MPH I can’t really hear it…

Good luck with it and enjoy it…

Thanks. It is a lovely car. I often try to pinch it in preference to my SL. It is indeed the aventgarde with the sports pack. We also have a slight whirring that's only noticeable at lower speed I suspect it maybe the idler wheel on the serpentine belt. A quite common problem with the A class. Not an expensive job, but awkward to get to. We did think of a petrol A200 turbo, but wanted better economy. But they are quick!!