Thanks for sharing and saving us a lot of time to find the leaking spot 🙏

Great Video! Very helpful!! Had water entering from both the left and right. I read that mercedes made tailght gaskets thar had adhesive on the wrong side. This was true with both of my tailights. The old gasket seals had adhesive facing the tailight and not the vehicle body. The new seals I bought had the correct adhesive placement. It's interesting that Mercedes never recalled these seals. Can cause damage to the rear sam, liftgate pump, and tailght electrical connections.

@philipsgarage

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped. Its pretty crazy to see how many fellow owners actually have so many issues with the water entry on these cars. I agree they should have probably recalled them. I'm sure some people have taken the cars to the dealers to fix all the issues the water has caused and had to pay alot if they aren't familiar with what to look for.

@bracko9081

2 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage I think I read that they had recalls on 2009 but not in previous years. They know the problem began before 09'. I believe total damage for me includes liftgate pump and rear sam. That's got to be at $3k+ in costs! I think someone from mbworld forum recommended your video to me. I haven't done the alcohol soak yet, but will try it cuz I don't know how to solder. Thanks soo much for replying back! Will let you know if the alcohol soak works for me too!!

Ohh man... what a pain in the butt to do all that work... but its good that you found out eventually and fixed it! I found your vid bc my w164 500 stopped lock/unlocking. The key is fine, but maybe water leaked to the rear (I washed the car on last day it worked). Fuses are good, but maybe a locking unit has become wet or faulty.. That unit should be in the trunk door, but without the key working I cant open it... (mine doesnt work electric) so that could be a problem... Your ML63 is nice! I like the modern lights too... maybe buy them some day.

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I hope it helps. My biggest gripe with the car early on was all the weird electrical issues. Since doing this it’s been a lot better. Running the icarsoft definitely helps identify what can be going on. I usually will go into a specific module and see exactly what it’s complaining about. Might be worth getting one, mine paid for itself first use.

@explorinlearnindoing5462

3 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage Thanks! Yes thats a good idea. Better than driving to and paying the garage for every message. Strange thing is: a few hours ago it starter working and lock/unlocking again... after a few days of not working. A fix all by it self, nice but strange!!... I washed the car last time I drove it, so tes probably a water issue!... Well I found out because of your video, so a big thanks! very helpful!!... With your vid I will try to find and stop the leak. 👌 Greatings from The Netherlands 👍

@bachojavelidze1042

5 ай бұрын

@@explorinlearnindoing5462 hello, i have flooded my sam block (front one, under the front passenger seat) after that my lock/unlock doesnt work with key and i have to use bluetus (driver side) to lock and unlock the key, how did you fixed your problem ?

Hello I hear water sloshing in the rear some where when I drive. I opened the trunk where the spare wheel was and saw there is some water there. I opened the drains to get it out in the spare wheel section. I still here the water sloshing when I drive. Where can it be? Today I put some water in the sunroof and to my findings I see water coming down from the headliner on the driver side where the seatbelt upper Pillar B I think its called. Not where you actually lock it but where you pull from. so it looks like an issue with the sunroof rear hose. Any idea where the water is? I hear the sloshing and I want to get it out of my car for now then try to open up the headliner. Any assistance would be appreciated it.

I have a 2010 ML 350 with the exact issue. Drains are definitely not clogged yet water is seeping down from sunroof drain. How hard was it to take down the headliner?? Really wish you could make a video showing that as I need to take it apart . Thanks so much as your video was right on point. Mine is dripping in exact location as yours!!

Hello @Philip M , before you dismount everything your car was able to start, please? or you just got the ignition? thanks in advance for your answer.

@philipsgarage

15 күн бұрын

Hello Vira, that is correct everything was able to start. The main issue was alot of abnormal electrical issues and codes that would come up on the scanner. Let me know if you have any other questions, take care.

@vira2264

15 күн бұрын

@@philipsgarage Thanks a lot for your reply! I think my issue is caused by another component... when I turn the key I have the ignition but no crank and on the dashboard it keep beeping and say 'drive to workshop without changing gear" + SRS. Did you had something similar; please?

@philipsgarage

15 күн бұрын

@@vira2264 I have not ran into that before. I would recommend maybe checking your battery voltage, if you have a jump pack maybe try to start it with that connected. Its possible you don't have enough battery to crank the car. Could be a bad battery or that your alternator wasn't charging it enough the last time it was driven. If your battery is still good I would recommend pulling codes off the car with a scanner if you have one. If not icarsoft is a good scanner for about $100 which can go into specific modules on the car to see whats being reported and do can the live data. Could also possibly be the starter in your case.

Great video. Does this apply also for w164 without the sunroof feature? How has been the reliability of those aftermarket taillights? Thanks

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

It wouldn't apply for one without the Sunroof. The sunroofs in general on cars complicate things with issues that can come up with the sunroof itself and the drains that can flood the car. I had a faulty sunroof flood my BMW in the past. You just want to make sure the seals on the rear are good so it doesn't leak from other spots. The most common issue is the taillight seals. I've been very happy with the new taillights on the car, I might make a vid to go over them. It really updates the car and makes it look modern. They are straight forward to install. However on some of the factory OEM lights the light output was weak from the factory, so the dealers fitted a extra connector with a ground to give it more light output. When you install these if you have that, you are going to have to repin the original connector which can be tough to do.

@ad166bt

3 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage Thank you for the detailed response. Yes i have been monitoring the tail light seals as they are a known problem but mine has been dry and no issue so far. Also i am aware of the upgraded tail light harness and will install them soon on mine. For sure these tail lights you have installed make it look awesome and much more modern.

@0xCatalyst

3 жыл бұрын

@@ad166bt I have the same problem with my W164, I don't have sunroof and my SAM Module is beyond repair. I'm searching to buy a new one now.

@ad166bt

3 жыл бұрын

@@0xCatalyst As far as I know even the dealer does not sell brand new SAMs anymore but only reconditioned. I have not had such an issue for 3 years that I have owned the car because I have replaced the rear tail light deals as a preventative maintenance. Make sure to replace those after fixing the rear SAM.

@0xCatalyst

3 жыл бұрын

@@ad166bt Thank you Albi! I'll make sure to deal with the leak alongside the new SAM.

What also happens the black caulking that seals the collector tray to rails fails you need to drop headliner and drop rails down so you can remove clean and re install collector trays with new silicone on both tray and rail mating surfaces inspect hose for cracks if ok remove hoses 4 to be exact and apply silicone around inlet and re connect the let dry run water inside reconnected trays this will fix leaks for good sometimes the sam cant be cleaned it cost me 1200 canadian for new one .so sealing tray to rails very important

Hi I had a 2006 ML320 and it was the rear side windows rubber seals failed and can leak also real bad and fill up the sub floor area and flood the whole lower area of car!!!!

@kelabrown9373

Жыл бұрын

How did you fix the problem? Samething happened to my 2008 Mercedes ml350

@cliffraymond2564

Жыл бұрын

@@kelabrown9373 I sold it but you would have to resilicone the rubber around the edge of the body somehow or remove windows and repair with new seals

I had the same issues. The rain was getting in through my tail lights. My horn was going off all the time, back left gate was always open, gas gauge doesn’t work and my battery always dies. We unplugged a few of the wires so now the horn and lift gate isn’t a problem but I still can lock my doors because my battery dies and no gas gauge still. What a pain. Mine is a 2008 ML350 4 Matic

@sammylegaspi2214

Жыл бұрын

You might need to replace your Sam unit that’s the only way it fixes all that and also the water comes in through the drain system the rubber needs to be replaced to stop this from happening bc the water runs down inside and there’s a pretty big gap on top of your taillight as well so water could go in

If you have to replace the SAM, can you swap in a used one? or does it need some kind of programming?

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

I think the replacement used SAM would require for it to be reprogrammed.

@albertrodriguez6539

2 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage That is correct. I had the same issue on a 2009 Gl450 leaking from a cracked rear moon roof and by the time I figure the issue out my Sam was a gone bad. I bought a new one for 350 and after installation everything worked fine besides the fuel gauge so I went to a near European car shop and they did programed and after that I was good to go . Advice If you own a GL450 pay attention to the rear not the front moonroof because they crack and water will find the way into the rear Sam acquisition. If that happens by the time you realized the humidity will corrode the electricals inside and the Sam will be gone in a short period of time .

Is it common issue with this car? Is it widely spread?I am going to buy this model w164 but a diesel ?Is it reliable?

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

The leaking rear SAM issue is common with the W164. The leaking sunroof may not be as common but its something to look out for. I'm not too familiar with the diesel version. I would just look out to see if it has any previous history and see what service records it may have. I haven't really had any electrical issues since sorting this out.

How did you end up fixing the problem. I'm having the exact same issue. Did you manage to stop the leak using the 3m weather strip

@philipsgarage

2 жыл бұрын

I actually have a followup video on the channel that covers alot of it. The leak can vary in cause from each car. But you really need to try to identify where the leak is coming in from visually. I kept having to trace the water further up until I was able to trace it to the sunroof. Let me know if you have any questions after checking that video out, I can try my best to help. I have not had any issues since.

90% chance your sunroof drains are clogged so water is backing up and leaking from that connection in the hose… I would snake and clean them out, best to do it from the bottom inside the wheel well and it will probably fix your car. This is common on a lot of cars and people just don’t know it, there are a bunch of videos online how to clean our sunroof drains.

@philipsgarage

2 жыл бұрын

Correct, my other video shows the issue.

@shannonflood2303

Жыл бұрын

Drains not clogged collector tray that meets the drain rails seal fails look like black silicone

The SAM gets hot so be careful not to seal it in plastic

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I didn’t put any in there. I actually bought a moisture detector that runs on batteries I’m going to keep in there.

@lejeuvideo

3 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage interesting. Which model detector? Have you checked the boot motor below the spare wheel? Mine was soaking wet. Thankfully Sam seems fine so far. I have a sunroof but moisture comes from down below, I suspect tail lights like most

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

@@lejeuvideo It was just a cheap battery powered one off amazon. amzn.to/3jzqJ3t Yeah I checked it, it was actually perfectly clean. I had some water spots behind the left side panels when I removed them, so I guess it had been previously overfilling on both side drains.

@lejeuvideo

3 жыл бұрын

@@philipsgarage Just sealed both my rear tail lights with silicone. No more water comes through the lights. All dry now. Hopefully this helps someone, that is where my water came from. One night of heavy rain and inside is completely dry. My tailgate motor is corroded and will need fixed. Sam seems fine, I didn't open it but I moved it higher and on the side, and put a protective sheet of plastic over the top of it

90% chance your sunroof drained are clogged so water is backing up and leaking from that connection in the hose… I would snake and clean them out and it will probably fix your car. This is common on a lot of cars and people just don’t know it.

We have water sloshing around and won't drain. No one seems to know what to do.

@philipsgarage

Жыл бұрын

Thats definitely not good, you need to get that water vacuumed out asap. Theres definitely water coming in from some place you need to address. I posted another video after this that can cover some possibilities. To try to track it down, you may have someone get inside the car with that panel removed and a flashlight. Get a water hose with waterfall attachment or something gentle and spray that area from different angles. . Thats the best way to see if its coming in from a specific spot, it may take some trial and error but its necessary. I can try to help if you have more questions on it.

So was it better?. I went to Mercedes and they told me it it the tray. And it was $7000 to fix say it was a defect in the tray and it need a to be entirely replaced. So was it the white reservoir? Seal? Covering the computer with plastic is your best bet. Because I cannot get a straight answer where this coming from.

@philipsgarage

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure what tray you may be referring to. I have not had any more water entering the car since fixes. Best thing would be to make sure that the sunroof seal is properly keeping water out. You can do a series of water tests to see if there is any moisture entering. You can fill up the sunroof drains with the headliner pulled down to be able to see if the drains are properly working or overfilling. Both side drains were completely filled with leaves. It was a combination of the leaves, a slight crack in the white drain which was fixed with epoxy and a gap in the sunroof seal likely due to heat. It may not be the case with your car but it may just take some testing with water in different areas to see where exactly its entering. You want to follow the highest point of where water is coming from when testing.

Omg Mercedes is really garbage.....