Here's an odd one.

I have developed a leak of lime green oily fluid (guessing brake fluid) from the driver's side rear body quarter panel, from the last weep hole at the rearmost lowest point.

The odd thing is, it seems to be above and behind the brake parts, as if somebody left an open container of brake fluid in the trunk.

No leaks near the closest brake assy. (Left rear wheel.)

A guess that comes to mind is a leak in a line that maybe goes through the body.

Any ideas?


Thanks.

Does yours have the hydropneumatic suspension? If so, they can develop hydraulic leaks over time. It is the only other thing taht comes to mind.

To be honest, I don't know if I do or not.

But... I do notice that when I shift into and out of gear with the foot on the brake that the chassis seems to lift and drop. When going into drive it seems to drop an inch. Guessing yes.

The fluid is very clean, very green, and very oily. Have about a 10 inch circle on the newspaper that I laid there after a 30 minute drive on Wednesday.

No sign of any trouble around the nearest brake assy. No obvious drop in the brake fluid resevoir level.

The hydro suspension may be the culprit (and is sounds like you have it). I had a 560SEC a few years ago that developed a leak in the system due to a ruptured shock. For the life of me I can't remember what color the fluid was (been about 8 years). I have been lucky to have a very good tech that worked on mine, he used to work for Mercedes in Germany and he diagnosed it right away.

How does your top work? The main cylinder sit in that area and is known to fail...

Ohhh, good idea. I had forgotten that the 560SL had the hydraulic top. I believe that fluid is indeed green. My 380SL did not have the hydro top and was manual. I had forgotten all about that.

560SL is a manual top too unless it's aftermarket. The W129 was the first factory SL with hydraulic top.

Sounds like suspension fluid, it is a special mineral oil. Could be a line, shock, or accumulator.

Thanks guys. It seems impossible that it is coming from the braking system.
I have a good mercedes guy (serviced it for the prior owner) but with all the salt on the roads I don't want to take it in yet.

Now there is an 18" circle under there, so I think that it must have bled out.

I need to get a shop book for this bastage.

The location would have been good as a possible source, but my top is manual.