R107 Drain Holes: Where They Are and How to Clear Them

Blocked drains are one of the main reasons R107s rust from the inside. Water that should leave the car stays in the cowl, the doors, the sills or the soft top well, and slowly rusts the metal. Clearing the drains takes an afternoon and is one of the best things you can do for the car.

Cowl drains

The cowl is the area below the windshield where the wiper linkage and the fresh-air intake are. Leaves and dirt collect here and block the drains. When blocked, water can overflow into the blower housing, the footwells or the bulkhead. Remove the cowl cover and clean out the debris, then check that water flows out freely.

Door drains

Each door has drain holes along its bottom edge. If they are blocked, water stays inside the door and rusts the bottom from the inside. Clear them with a thin plastic tool or a piece of stiff wire, carefully, without damaging the paint.

Top well drains

The soft top compartment behind the seats has drains to carry water away. If they are blocked, water collects in the well and can enter the trunk or the cabin. Open the top cover and check the drains at the bottom of the well. Clear them with compressed air or a flexible tool.

Sill and body drains

The rocker panels (sills) and other body areas have drain holes and plugs. Check that they are clear and that plugs fitted at the factory are still in place. Some areas are meant to drain, others are meant to be sealed; follow the factory layout. Also see rust check.

How to clear drains

1. Use a flexible plastic cleaning tool, a thin brush or compressed air.
2. Avoid sharp tools that scratch paint and start rust.
3. Pour water slowly into the area and confirm it drains out.
4. Repeat every season, especially in autumn when leaves fall.

Why it matters

A blocked drain does damage slowly and out of sight. By the time you see bubbling paint, the metal underneath may already be badly rusted. Clearing drains is cheap compared with rust repair. See rust repair cost.

Quick answers

• How often should I clear drains? At least once or twice a year, and after parking under trees.
• Can a blocked drain cause water in the footwell? Yes, especially the cowl drains.
• Do I need special tools? A flexible drain cleaning tool helps, but a thin plastic tube and compressed air work too.
• What if water still collects? Check for leaking seals; see door and window seals.