Boot leak fixed

G

GJR

Member
Thanks again to this forum for getting me looking in the right sort of area, finally found and fixed boot leak.
Most of my water ingress occurred when the car was parked up in the rain. Had all the boot carpets out to check the air vents on either side. Both had a loose fit and very obvious the water was coming in round the edge. Ordered 2 new ones from BMW, £11.50 the pair with VAT. Had a look again as something did not seem right, the rubber flaps opened into the boot from the outside. This did not make sense as I think they are to let air out the car (air drawn or blown in front, leaves through rear) also when the doors are closed lets air out.
Had a good look on the net for Z4s with rear bumper off and it turns out mine had been fitted the wrong way round. This of course meant the seal was on inside of car and not outside.
Fitted new ones correct way round and boot totally dry no matter how much water I pour over the body joints and boot channel.
On looking at the old ones I would suggest they have been like that for some time but as far as I can see the rear end is all original so no real reason for someone to remove and refit incorrectly. I therefore guess they had been installed incorrect from new. The previous owner had car from new and stored in his garage, I am guessing he never noticed any leak. Anyway happy now but will leave the carpets out for a week or so just t make 100% sure!
 
Yes very easy to find, they are behind the boot sidewall carpets, lots of photos of them on here as well. They are actually fitted from the outside of car but again someone on this forum confirmed they can be fitted from the inside without therefore having to remove the rear bumper. Feed them through the hole at an angle then line up and pull them into place until clips engage (hardest part, hurts fingers pulling on them to get clips to engage) Make sure all 4 clips are holding the unit and although it did not happen to me don't drop it when on the other side of panel before clipped in, I would guess bumper off to get it out.
Update one week later, car has sat on drive in all sorts of wind and rain with no water ingress. Carpets back in today I think.
 
Thanks all, In my hast to get the carpets back in today I did not take photos of them fitted! I have the old ones so will get a photo of them or just pull the carpet out and get a photo of the new ones in situ.........watch this space for photos hopefully tomorrow
 
Here you go, drivers side vent in place as it should be. you will see it pushes in from the outside with plastic spring clips to hold it in (2 on each side) My original units had been pushed into place from the inside of the car. The water was leaking past the seals and creating a puddle in the floor pan well below it. The bottom of the foam underlay material on the suspension strut was sitting in it and soaking it up like any good sponge so the water was travelling up! With so much water in the boot it was evaporating and condensating on the under side of the boot lid and raining down on the rest of the carpet. In fact created my very own mini-climate!

 
Hi,

I sealed around the vents on the inside of the boot too for a second barrier so that if one fails for whatever reason then the backup will prevent flooding.
 
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