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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

dakargelb
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by dakargelb » Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:54 am

I'm still drying the battery well out, this weather isn't helping though...

I've got some of those bags of silica gel in there too to help take any moisture out of the air.

I may have had a hint as to where the water is getting in: I noticed some drips coming in over the curved metal at the top of the battery well on the left hand side as you look at it.

I had to fiddle with a rear brake bulb which hadn't been seated correctly and I was surprised that there really isn't much between the inside of the boot and the elements, save for that rubber seal that you guys have all kindly mentioned.

My current guess is still that the selling garage had jet washed the shut lines / gaps around the rear lights.

On a positive note, I've driven the car a few times now and that engine is amazing!

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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by clarker63 » Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:48 pm

dakargelb wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:54 am I may have had a hint as to where the water is getting in: I noticed some drips coming in over the curved metal at the top of the battery well on the left hand side as you look at it.
that was my issue. water was getting into the space below the small opening hatch/storage area on the left hand side of the boot (either from above from the top seal, or through the lights). Once the water is there, is can go into the chassis rail and then "spew" out when moving, despite no obvious water getting in anywhere else. took me a while for this to go (see my linked thread above). I left the boot trim out for quite some time to ensure no water was anywhere in there. it hides under all the trims/pump foam/etc so its not easy to track down otherwise. :thumbsup:

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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by Busaboyjd » Wed Oct 05, 2022 2:03 pm

Less than 2 months of ownership and this.
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F*#@!!!
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:51 pm

Oh s**t!

At first take the hydraulic pump out of the water. Remove the two foams and get it replaced by new parts. Open the 2 screws of the pump's e-motor on the right and remove the silver cover. Not the motor itself, only the metal cover to get the water out of the motor and let it dry carefully.
Check the red fuse box on the right with a multimeter: each pin on top should be on +12V. If any pin fails, the complete box has to be replaced as well.

If the motor has dried, check if it has a short or works correctly. Don't connect it to the (renewed) fuse box before you are sure there is no short on the motor.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:54 pm

Has the vehicle been repainted at the rear, wrapped in foil or have the taillights been renewed?

Then one or both tail light clusters got mounted wrongly.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by Busaboyjd » Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:37 am

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@RobbiZ4, Thank you so much for the reply. I removed the battery Monday afternoon, it was completely dead. I dried the trunk with a shop vac and left it sitting in the sun Monday evening, Tuesday, and today until 4:00 PM. The trunk looked completely dry, and the battery took a full charge, so I reconnected and drove the car. Everything seems to function except the top.

On your advice, I removed the motor cover, which was full of water; thank you for that tip! The relays, along with all of the 12v connectors on the red junction/fuse box, are covered with corrosion. I have not tested the red fuse box for power, it has been years since I worked on things, and I no longer own a multimeter.

I am not certain this was not a known issue with this car, which is why the dealer failed to supply me with the 78 service records they boasted of. The car was a single owner with a clean vehicle history report, and I don't see any evidence of paint work.

I am wondering if there are stopped-up drain tubes that are designed to allow water that escapes the top seal of the fender to drain out. And that is how I got so much water in the trunk. It rained hard for three days and I had just had new wheels and tires installed Friday; today's test drive had a few curves to check the new tires, and more water appeared in the battery compartment.

Thank you for the engagement and for probably saving me the cost of the motor! I will keep you and the thread updated on my progress and maybe my frustrations :)
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by Smartbear » Thu Oct 06, 2022 4:01 am

I wouldn’t refit those salmon relays, it can be curtains for the roof motor if they fail in use.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:45 am

Smartbear wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 4:01 am I wouldn’t refit those salmon relays, it can be curtains for the roof motor if they fail in use.
Rob
Correct!
Please renew:
  • 2 salmon relays (12631742690)
  • 1 red power distribution box (61149192124)
  • pump's foam (51479139043) and cover (51477225246)
Part numbers can be found here...
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/showpart ... Id=54_0402
... and here:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/showpart ... Id=61_1860

You will find additional water in the following days after your next test drive. Currently it sits in the long frame rails from the back to the front of the car and will drop out slowly. Get all plastic covers removed out of the trunk (use a nail iron for all the black pins) , as water will be in the outer spaces below the ECU's on the right and the little box on the left. Place tissues everywhere to catch each drop.

Nail iron:
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Use an anti corrosion spray for all the big plugs of the red fuse box and try to clean each with a small brass(!) brush. Same procedure with the 2 relay sockets as well as the pump's motor.
Dry all parts with air pressure and tissues. You will get all these tools and spray cans in a hardware store next to you (hopefully).
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:51 am

This massive corrosion is the result of months of water in the trunk, not only from the last three days.

I'm pretty sure, that neither the first owner nor the dealer knew this issue and had a look into this area of the trunk, if the roof still worked until you bought the car about 2 months ago.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by Chippie » Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:05 am

Check the rubber seal along the top or the boot/trunk (below the rear window/screen) as that’s possible where the water is getting in, the jointing/sealing compound with have broken down, mine had.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:14 am

By the way, what about a warranty from the dealer?

It should be his issue, not yours!
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:25 am

Busaboyjd wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:37 am I am wondering if there are stopped-up drain tubes that are designed to allow water that escapes the top seal of the fender to drain out.
No, there aren't.

Source of water mostly is/are
  • wrongly mounted tail light clusters
  • dirt and mud between the body and the rear light clusters as intended drains
  • rear ventilations (left&right, 64226909340) on 2009/2010 Z4
  • and at least the already named top rubber seals in rare cases (only after very heavy rains)
Rear ventilations:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/part?id= ... 4226909340

RobbiZ4 wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:51 pm If the motor has dried, check if it has a short or works correctly. Don't connect it to the (renewed) fuse box before you are sure there is no short on the motor.
Very, very important to not blow up a new fuse box again!
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by javis20 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 12:48 pm

Chippie wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:05 am Check the rubber seal along the top or the boot/trunk (below the rear window/screen) as that’s possible where the water is getting in, the jointing/sealing compound with have broken down, mine had.
That was the issue with my car. Seal was split in two places. You can replace the seal (expensive) or repair it. He is my fix.

https://youtu.be/-0LUeMhHwWw

Some suggested gluing after inserting the foam filler. I wouldn't, because after a few years the foam gradually compresses. You want to be able to easily replace it.

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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by Busaboyjd » Fri Oct 07, 2022 12:11 pm

@RobbiZ4,

I could not say either way if the dealer knew it was taking this much water in without the service history (which they promised, and I have requested on at least 5 occasions and emails). I would guess it was known as they had an extensive list of serviced items before the sale including a new battery, and as you point out, there is a LOT of corrosion and rust on the terminals of the fused distro block.

The great news is @RobbiZ4, @Smartbear, @Chippie, and @Javis20; you helped me get my new-to-me car to a functional state. Thanks to your excellent advice, RobbiZ4, I found the motor with some water; you saved me a bag full of money here in the US ($4800.00 dealer price and $700.00 remanufactured)!!! You Rock!

I purchased the Salmon solenoids at the local dealer and ordered the red fused-distro box, vents, rear-light gaskets, top fender gaskets, and a new foam box for the hydraulic unit. I cleaned and checked the continuity of the existing red distro box, installed the solenoids, and re-assembled the hydraulic unit's drive motor and the top functions as before.

I wrapped the hydraulic unit in a bath towel and took the car for a spirited ride last night and did have a minimal amount of water reappear, I will continue the drying process today since I can now get the trim parts out that required the deck lid to pivot backward.

RobbiZ4, I purchased the car as-is based on the years and 163k miles of used - no warranty; this means I would have to hire an Attorney to try to get relief from the dealer if they do not do it from the leverage of a damaged reputation; they are large with 200 locations (Google reviews can be powerful).

Now here is what you all already know; this car is wonderful to drive. I feel like I have one of my old 280's back, only nice! and the GT6s and TR6s never felt like this car (I am telling my age now). I have multiple decades of professional experience in the Automobile business and have driven hundreds of cars, and I am very pleased; this car drives like it has 20k miles on it. The new tires I installed last week are great, and it looks wonderful (235/40R18 and 265/35/R18 Potenza RE980AS on new BMW 276 style 8" and 8.5").

Thank you all so much for helping me through this water issue, I will try to reproduce the leak when I can get all the interior trim removed from the trunk and I get the replacement parts that were ordered.
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BMW Z4 E89 3.Oi 2011 - Water Ingress but no leaks

Post by RobbiZ4 » Sat Oct 08, 2022 11:06 am

Busaboyjd wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2022 12:11 pm ...and the top functions as before.
Perfect!
Be happy with the car from now on.

f the roof worked fine when you got the car 2 months ago, then the dealer or any warranty is out of responsibility. I would not invest more digging into it's history, as you've solved already this issue.

A final hint:
Place a plastic bag around the new pump's foam to protect it from further water. Not around the pump, but the foam!
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BTW,
Interesting black "tool" lying above the red fuse box.
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