-90- 0 Report post Posted May 8, 2014 Hey guys,Have the classic e39 water in footwell prob.( Passenger side )Thought I had the problem solved after resealing the vapour seals and drying the car out. I had also put some tape along the bottom of the windows as some heavy rain of late . just to be sureBut much to my surprise or not !! im back to square one.. I know another known issue is the AC drains.. But AC not being used and the drains were checked and seemed ok along with engine bay drains, It has no sunroof.So suggestions on what to check next ?Door seals ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1874 Report post Posted May 8, 2014 In the front pass. footwell? If so, you'll need to start removing trim pieces to try and find where it starts coming in. Have heard the rear door vapours are a common issue, but for the front it's got to be a door seal, or a missing gromet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-90- 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 In the front pass. footwell? If so, you'll need to start removing trim pieces to try and find where it starts coming in. Have heard the rear door vapours are a common issue, but for the front it's got to be a door seal, or a missing gromet. Yes its front & rear. Has been parked on the flat during the last heavy spell of rain.... Have it parked on an incline now to drain the water towards the rear with a wet vac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Have you checked the sunroof drains? If these get blocked water gets in easily and will pool in the foot wells - although you'd usually notice it around the roof and door/windscreen pillars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-90- 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Have you checked the sunroof drains? If these get blocked water gets in easily and will pool in the foot wells - although you'd usually notice it around the roof and door/windscreen pillars. Car has no sunroof. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Rules that out then. Almost certainly vapour seals behind the door cards as door seals have to be virtually completely disintegrated to leak that much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Did you do all 4 barriers behind the doors? (the rears are the usual suspects, but they can all leak) What did you seal them with??? If not done well, they can come off again - butyl tape is the "correct" way, though I used butyl sealer in a mastic gun (So I can get them off agin, if required) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-90- 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Did you do all 4 barriers behind the doors? (the rears are the usual suspects, but they can all leak) What did you seal them with??? If not done well, they can come off again - butyl tape is the "correct" way, though I used butyl sealer in a mastic gun (So I can get them off agin, if required) Just the passenger side. Drivers side is bone dry. There was a good amount of butyl on the door where it had come free ( rear door) Re stuck it with a heat gun, seemed to make a good seal again. I guess the point is, With the lower windows taped up for now, how would the water get through ? Leads me to think it may be coming through somewhere other that the vapour seals...... #Stumped Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted May 9, 2014 Google is your friend in these situations. If it's happened to you, it's happened to someone else... And they will have done all the hard yakka finding out where the leak is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-90- 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Might as well update this, may be helpful to others experiencing the same prob, with the cause being something other than the vapour seal. SO, After pulling the interior apart I have isolated the leak after some more downpours Water is not being channelled away correctly from the windshield. Obviously something is blocked somewhere, water builds up and breaches the firewall and into the cabin. So need to figure out the plumbing so to speak.. to see what's going on...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
allan 295 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Hi, if it is of any help on the e46 the water runs off the windscreen either side in to a channel /duct formed by plastic panels into a collection piece which has a rectangular outlet does a 90 degree turn this then passes through the inner metal guard and is dumped into the space between it and the wheel arch liner in the same area as you have noted Yellow arrow . The size of the outlet is not very large and could easily get blocked with accumulated rubbish if not cleared and a sudden rush of water would not help your situation. Also if any of the joins on the channel are weak or leaking further trouble for you. Would remove the cabin filter housing and check the channels are clear as well it might give you a bit more space to check the complete drainage system out for any possible trouble. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twisted 45 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Remove cabin filter housings, and you'll find some rubber drains. These block up with leaves and General grime. Check them and the openings they drain in to. If they block, you'll get a footwell full of water. Common e39 problem. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Remove cabin filter housings, and you'll find some rubber drains. These block up with leaves and General grime. Check them and the openings they drain in to. If they block, you'll get a footwell full of water. Common e39 problem. ^ This. If it been parked under trees or something, they clog. There are little duckbill things that fill up..... actually, Even E30's had the same issues - I remember doing Dads 15 or so years ago wait there.... From Bimmer forums: But also, as mentioned above, it is supposed to drain in a similar fashion to the E46 the other Allan (tim 325) speaks of. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-90- 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Remove cabin filter housings, and you'll find some rubber drains. These block up with leaves and General grime. Check them and the openings they drain in to. If they block, you'll get a footwell full of water. Common e39 problem. ^ This. If it been parked under trees or something, they clog. There are little duckbill things that fill up..... actually, Even E30's had the same issues - I remember doing Dads 15 or so years ago wait there.... From Bimmer forums: But also, as mentioned above, it is supposed to drain in a similar fashion to the E46 the other Allan (tim 325) speaks of. Yes, checked these and were OK. Just having a look through realoem to see what I can come up with ! Thanks for the input, much appreciated ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Navin 180 Report post Posted May 16, 2014 Is there a foam seal under that plastic cowling direct below the windscreen? It's common for the foam seal to deteriorate and water to leak into the cabin for a lot of other makes, not too sure about the e39 but worth a look? Similar to the foam seal in this thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1334705-DIY-Replacing-the-windshield-cowl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
