Water leaking through brake light

[Senator]

Hi all

I'm noticing my boot sometimes seems to be damp, and smells a bit musty. I've read that the middle brake light is a prime suspect for letting in water but what's the best way to deal with it, do I need to buy a new lens, or is the seal available separately? Is there a better fix?

Thanks

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Seal only comes with a new light. Only alternative is ditch the seal and use silicone sealant .

 

[Senator]

Just found a new lens on ebay, fingers crossed it does the trick

 

[Gbrowncls55]

just needs a new seal unless the lens is cracked. They do get rather brittle over time. unfortunately the seal only comes with the lamp but there are usually a lot on ebay. I did my wifes SL for about £50 I think. took about an hour as I remember.

 

[optimusprime]

Silicone sealants ok till you need to remove it at a later date . Silicone grease is much better

 

[Senator]

Silicone sealants ok till you need to remove it at a later date

That's what I was thinking, and I always seem to make a bit of a mess whenever I use sealants around the house, don't want to do the same to my bootlid!

 

[optimusprime]

The W124 i have may be nothing like yours , but i started by removing both my rear lights assemblies . The red outer lense on my W124 is removable once the rear bulb holder assembly is removed ,do this by taking off 2 knurled nuts off the rear . Now i found 6 small nuts and washers holding in the lense.Once these 6 nuts and washers are removed you can then remove the light lense and seal from the body . Wash the lense in soapy water, and wait till its dry Then use the silicone grease on the rubber seal before refitting them back in the car locking it up with the 6 washers and nuts . Then the bulb holder is fitted back in place locked up with the 2 nuts .

 

[Senator]

Thanks for the pointer, will investigate over the weekend

 

[optimusprime]

Good luck Senator .☮☮☮☮

 

[Senator]

Well I got the old lens off easily enough and there's definitely signs of crud at one end where water has been getting in....

BUT I just spent an hour trying to install the new lens and seal, and I just could not get it to clip in position!!! Is there a knack to doing this, or a special tool?

I've had to wrap a plastic sheet around the bootlid for tonight as it's lensless at the moment

 

[optimusprime]

Dont know without seeing the light you have .Did the seal come with the lense ? Wash the lense with a little washing up liquid and water to make it supple .If it is a new seal i wont need silicone sealer on it .